Author: Junior Tidal

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City Tech Science Fiction Collection Temporary Preservation Request

The City Tech Science Fiction Collection (SF Collection) consists of 765 linear feet of shelved material, including complete and near-complete runs of the major SF magazines going back to 1929, and 41 boxes (1.5 cu. ft. each) of unshelved material. It was established in 2016 by a large anonymous donation. It has grown thanks to subsequent donations. Scholars have made use of the collection’s materials for their research, museum curators have studied its materials for exhibits, and students in Science Fiction and Information Architecture classes have learned from the collection’s contents and organization.

The SF Collection has faced significant challenges to its existence and sustainability in recent years. First, mold infestations proliferated throughout the City Tech buildings during the first phase of the COVID shutdowns, which impacted some of the materials in the collection and the environment in general. Second, the environmental systems connected to the City Tech Archives where the SF Collection is housed are incapable of maintaining the proper temperature and humidity for the fragile materials in that space. Third, the space has experienced substantial water leaks from the building’s roof, which is directly above the archive space, in December 2025 and January 2026, which resulted in 120 books being discarded due to water damage and the introduction of water to the carpeted floor of the archive’s space.

The City Tech Library, under the leadership of Head Librarian and Professor Abubakar Tidal, Jr., is pursuing grant funding to improve the archive space. Unfortunately, there are no available, locked spaces at City Tech to hold the collection while the space is improved.

We are requesting urgently needed assistance to relocate, protect, and return the materials:

  • Climate controlled space suitable for archival materials (35-65°F and 30-50 percent relative humidity) to store the SF Collection (approximately 300 1.5 cu. ft. boxes) for two years.
  • 300 x 1.5 cu. ft. cardboard boxes.
  • 3600 yards of 1.88” packing tape (approximately 50 rolls).
  • Large van or box truck (storing).
  • Large van or box truck (returning).
  • Volunteers to box materials, move materials to loading dock, load truck, unload truck at destination, move materials to storage space (storing).
  • Volunteers to move materials to loading dock, load truck, unload truck at destination, move materials to storage space (returning).

Please reach out if you have questions, suggestions, or offers of support: Wanett Clyde, Associate Professor and Collections Management and Archives Librarian (wclyde@citytech.cuny.edu or 718.260.5496) and Jason Ellis, Associate Professor and SF Collection Coordinator (jellis@citytech.cuny.edu or 404.401.0342). Thank you for your consideration!

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Student Email Transition Over Spring Break 2026

CUNY is transitioning all student email over spring break 2026 to this new format:

firstname.lastname##@stu-mail.citytech.cuny.edu

For more information, visit the Office of Computing and Information Services site.

If you signed up for the New York Times Digital pass, update to your new address.

Be sure to:

  • Sign up for multi-factor authentication
  • Back up your OneDrive contents as these won’t be migrated
  • Update your password
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Beware of Multi-factor Authentication Phishing

Photo by Richard Patterson on Flickr. Available under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

City Tech has been made aware of phishing tactics to deceive students for the multi-factor authentication (MFA) codes.

Attackers will attempt to trick users into revealing their login credentials or authentication codes, through emails, text messages, or websites that mimic legitimate services.

Be aware that no one at CUNY will ask for your MFA code and no one should ever approve a MFA prompt they did not initiate.

If you have been contacted to reveal your MFA code or login credentials, please report these to the Office of Computer Information Services.

STUDENT IT HELP DESK
StudentHelpdesk@citytech.cuny.edu
718-260-4900
Library Building (L-114)

FACULTY/STAFF HELP DESK
Helpdesk@aleonard718-260-5626
NAMM Building (N-901)

You can recognize MFA phishing attempts by looking out for:

  • Unexpected requests
  • Poor grammar and spelling
  • Suspicious links
  • Urgent language
  • Unfamiliar senders

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#GivingTuesday Donate to the City Tech Library

#CUNYTUESDAY 2025

#CITYTECHTUESDAY: Support the City Tech Library!

The 2025 #CUNYTUESDAY campaign is here, and the faculty and staff of the Ursula C. Schwerin Library are proud to be part of this year’s effort to support student success at City Tech!

We’ve set an ambitious goal of $17,000 to help us expand our services, upgrade student study spaces, and deepen our programming.

But no matter the amount, every gift matters. Your support—whether large or small—makes a meaningful difference.

Here are just a few of the things your donation can help make possible:

  • White noise generators to support quiet, focused study
  • Upgrading our study rooms with new furniture and equipment
  • Supporting field research trips and guest lectures that enrich student learning
  • New display shelving for leisure reading and curated collections

These are just a few examples—your gift allows us to be responsive and flexible, meeting student needs as they emerge throughout the year.

The Library is a cornerstone of academic life at City Tech—connecting students with the resources, spaces, and support they need to succeed.

Help us meet this year’s ambitious goal.

Give what you can. Every gift counts. Every student benefits.

Thank you for being part of our community!

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Hidden Voices: LGBTQ+ Stories in United States History

You may have noticed some portraits on the side of the library’s shelves.

This collection was created through WeTeachNYC.org, an online space created by the New York City Department of Education. The portraits feature historical figures from the LGBTQ+ community. As indicated by the website, “The design and included resources allow teachers to integrate and explore inclusive learning experiences that validate the diverse perspectives and contributions of underrepresented individuals and groups. The Hidden Voices project is a product of collaboration between the NYCDOE and many scholars, institutions, and educators.” 

Historical figures such as Audre Lorde, Ma Rainey, and Albert Cashier are included in the portrait set. 

Poster of Librarian Barbara Gittings
Barbara Gittings – Hidden Voices Z – Library Science

 

Hugh Ryan conducted the historical research and wrote the captions of the project. Artists including Michelle Zhuang, Cristy Road, and others illustrated the portraits.

For further reading and resources and viewing the portraits themselves, visit WeTeachNYC.

Note that a previous post incorrectly credited Hugh Ryan as an artist. It should also be noted that the portrait of Albert Cashier is not displayed in the library.