Thursday 4/27, we’ll talk more about the outline and focus on more research in class. Here are our upcoming deadlines:

• Outline 5/2; Podcasting tech overview
• Annotated Bibliography 5/9 [eclassroom not avail. from 11:30 to 12:30]
• Share Research Findings 5/11
• Final Deliverable Assignments 5/16 (script + prelim recording) LAB recording
• LAB recording 5/18 
• Formal Presentation of Podcast 5/23
• Rf 5/25

In advance, please take a couple of minutes to explore the digitized material in the MTA Archives. Rebecca, one of the two archivists who work there, tells me that most of their material is not digitized! They also have another location on 130 Livingston Street near to City Tech which has a lot of Brooklyn material but can’t accommodate an entire class at once. You can visit either, as with any archive, by appointment. We will get more information when we are on site.

Since it will be raining, we will meet in the actual archives which are on the 4th floor of an office building (details below). Please be ready with questions especially if you are researching a transportation topic. As usual, bring a pencil and no flash on photography. You are expected to do the usual Archives site visit assignment.

The MTA Archives are located at 882 3rd Ave., Brooklyn 4th Floor, [between 32nd and 33rd Streets], Sunset Park/Greenwood Heights area

1. Nearest subway station: 36th St. D, N, or R [express station] [R train takes you back to City Tech]
2. The archives are in Industry City (if you have time, check it out afterwards)
3. tell the guard at the sign-in desk that you’re going to the MTA Archives
4. take the elevator
5. door on the left when exiting the archives, ring the bell to enter
6. call 718 613-0575 if you can’t get in to contact Rebecca or 718 613-0577 to contact Desiree the other archivist

Consider visiting the Transit Museum if possible on your own. We don’t think they give CUNY students a discount but ask.

For homework for 3/30, please develop three to five bullet points in a preliminary outline. This means identifying three to five subtopics to your research question/topic.

Add it to your cloud doc for your research question after the work you’ve done so far. see https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/aptekar-berger2205sp2017/assignments/11-328-in-class-research/ for instructions …

If you did not link to your document on the shared timeline, do so now!!!

We will go over this with you again next time we’re having class on campus but try your best.

Please take a look at these overviews to New York Public Library Map division and NYC Maps. Spend a little time taking a look at these: they will make Tuesday’s class more meaningful.

You can see from the overview to the library’s map collection that they have many useful resources, both in print and online, that you can use for your research. They also have software tools onsite if you eventually want to play around with comparing maps or incorporating quantitative data with maps.

Please make more of an effort to be on time this Tuesday–we want to start all our archives visits no later than 10:45.

When we go to an archive or library, try to do the following:

1. get there early and leave late–use that time to do some research or talk to the expert librarians and archivists who work there
2. check out their website
3. try to search for material related to your research topic by using the our research page
4. don’t forget to use the MTA trip planner and not just Google Maps. Try to get travel information in real time on your phone using the many free travel apps available.

Please meet in Room 216 of New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building [the main library with the lions in front] at 10:30 sharp. We are not meeting in the Map Room. 

Be ready with questions related to your research for Artis, the librarian who will be showing the maps to us. I’ve asked him to also talk a little bit about technology tools that work with maps and data that will help you analyze how neighborhoods have changed. We will be looking more at fire insurance maps and more.

Here is a link to the Google map to get to New York Public Library.

Most of you used the wrong form for our visit to NY Historical Society. I bumped everyone up a few points to accommodate for the confusion related to that. For our next three field trips, which are all to archives or libraries, use the correct template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1azQk6tgMPlfcjpuxWI-OtcQAO6o6V_KnVC9JKngDnhg/edit?usp=sharing

This link is in the right side bar on the homepage for the class.

Also, focus on what you are learning from the archival objects and do not sketch or draw the building or other objects that have nothing to do with our visit. Try, generally, to ask questions stimulated by the archival items. Many of you, I noticed, asked great general questions about archives so that was nice! But next time, try to focus on what you can learn from the objects.

If you haven’t completed any of the homework, it is due this FRIDAY, April 1.

Preparing a little for Tuesday’s field trip, I found these overviews to New York Public Library Map division and NYC Maps. Spend a little time taking a look at these: they will make Tuesday’s class more meaningful.

You can see from the overview to the library’s map collection that they have many useful resources, both in print and online, that you can use for your research. They also have software tools onsite if you eventually want to play around with comparing maps or incorporating quantitative data with maps.

I am waiting to hear back from Artis, the librarian who will do our workshop, about details related to coat check and other restrictions like pens. I will post a map and other details when I know more.

Please make more of an effort to be on time this Tuesday–we want to start all our archives visits no later than 10:45.

Update! Thurs. 3/9/17 we’re going to the NY Historical Society 77th St. & Central Park West.

Meet specifically at the entrance on Central Park West. Remember to bring: 5 sheets of paper and a pencil! We may also be able to bring in our sketchbooks. Photography is allowed without flash. We will be expected to check out bags, coats, etc.