Your library is here for you!

Columbus Park in the Spring, Brooklyn.
Nandi Prince, Columbus Park in the Spring, Brooklyn, 2024. Author source.

We know that the week of finals can be stressful. During Finals week the City Tech Library has lots to offer:
Calculators that can be checked out and taken to class.
Extended hours.
Ask – A – Librarian 24/7 reference help, no commuting, speak to a librarian from where you are.
Free scholarly articles to complete end-of-semester projects.
Free workshops each day of finals 5/16 -5/22. They all start at noon, no registration required, join now from where you are!
5/16, 5/20, 5/22 are Unstructured Workshop Days – the learning activity is built around the attendees’ reference and research needs!
Additional details regarding workshops at the library can be obtained by emailing Prof. Prince –Nandi.Prince25@citytech.cuny.edu

Free scholarly articles to complete end-of-semester projects
Free workshops each day of finals 5/16 -5/22. They all start at noon, no registration required, join now from where you are!

5/16 – Unstructured Workshop Day
The learning activity is built around the attendees’ reference and research needs!

GET 1-2-3 ARTICLES NOW LIBRARY WORKSHOP
Don’t let last minute projects stress you out, login to today’s library workshop and leave with 2 articles!
May 17 @ noon

Database Searching Made Easier than Google
Learn how to click around a database and leave with relevant articles for your writing project.
May 18 @ noon

Library and College Jargon
Heard these terms and unsure of what they mean: Abstract, Boolean, Catalog, DOI, Peer-Review, Primary Source, Scholarly Source, Work Cited, Journals. Sign on and leave sounding like an academic library glossary.
May 19 @ noon

5/20- Unstructured Workshop Day
The learning activity is built around the attendees’ reference and research needs!

All about Newspapers
How to find local,regional and international newspapers. Citing Newspapers. Primary & Secondary Sources.Reviews.
May 21 @ noon

5/22 – Unstructured Workshop Day
The learning activity is built around the attendees’ reference and research needs!

Don’t Miss Out! Register now for Library Workshops

 

Last chance to register for the final workshop offerings for the Spring  Semester 2022. These workshops are the last in the series and they will help any student succeed with their research papers and projects. At the end of each workshop there will be an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA). Please feel free to submit your questions in advance, if you are not able to attend.

Additional questions? Reach out to Prof. Prince @ nprince@citytech.cuny.edu.

The entire workshop series are recommended, but they are designed to be stand-alone.

 

APA  & MLA Citation Workshop

This workshop teaches the importance of documenting sources when incorporating other’s research into your own. Learn the fundamentals of using the APA & MLA style.

When: Thursday, May 5, 2022, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Audience: students

Register now, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Conducted by:  Prof. Nandi Prince

 

Power Searching: What you need to know

Are you spending hours at your computer trying to find sources? Join us to maximize your searches! This workshop will provide tips to do advanced searching and do it efficiently. We will also cover how to organize your results.

When: Friday, May 6, 2022, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Audience: all

Register here, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Conducted by: Prof. Nandi Prince

 

Research Help for Your Paper: Drop-In sessions

Are you looking for research help with that final paper or assignment of the semester? If so, join us on these dates for our special drop-in sessions.

Thursday, May 12, 2022, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Friday, May 13, 2022, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Monday, May 16, 2022, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Where: A441 (4th floor in the library)

Audience: students

Conducted by:  Prof. Nandi Prince

 

Use Zotero to Create Your Reference List Quickly

Need a refresher on how to create a bibliography when you write? We can help. Learn how to export your completed bibliography to your paper. Zotero generates citations and builds a bibliography list in any of the popular styles, including APA and MLA instantly.

When: Monday, May 9, 2022, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Audience: students

Register here, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Conducted by:  Prof. Nandi Prince

Fall Workshops – Getting the most out of your library!

Welcome back all! There are a variety of online workshops this fall for every audience that provide information and training to help you develop skills for success. If you do not see a workshop on your interested topic, contact us and we will do our best to accommodate you. For additional information, please forward your inquiries to Prof. Nandi Prince at nprince@citytech.cuny.edu. Explore the library virtual workshops and discover one meant for you. Reserve your seat today!

Use ZoteroBib to Create Your Reference List Quickly

Need a refresher on how to create a bibliography when you write? We can help. Learn how to export your completed bibliography to your paper. ZoteroBib generates citations and builds a bibliography list in any of the popular styles, including APA and MLA instantly.

When: Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Audience: students

Register here, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Facilitator:  Prof. Nandi Prince

Power Searching: What you need to know

Are you spending hours at your computer trying to find sources? Join us to maximize your searches! This workshop will provide tips to do advance searching and do it efficiently. We will also cover how to organize your results.

When: Monday, November 1, 2021, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Audience: all

Register here, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Facilitator:  Prof. Nandi Prince 

Digital Privacy Workshop

Do you have concerns about corporate or government surveillance, the security of your financial data, or who can view your personal information online? Wondering why virtual advertisements follow you around? Worried about how to make secure passwords and not always forgetting them? Confused about social media privacy settings or what information the apps you use might be collecting about you?

Learn more about privacy and take control of your digital identity! In this hand-on workshop, City Tech faculty, students, and staff will learn how to protect themselves against surveillance and unwanted data collection. Specific topics covered will include: password security, social media privacy, browser settings, and alternative search engines

When: Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Audience: faculty and students

Register here, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the workshop.

Facilitators:  Professors Junior Tidal and Nora Almeida 

Algorithmic Autobiographies and Fictions Library Workshop

Ever wonder what Google thinks of what kind of person you are based on the ads you see? Does Facebook accurately reflect your true self? This library workshop explores how social media platforms and search engines create identities of our digital selves. Participants will learn about search engine and social media algorithms, how to access their ad preferences for Google, Facebook, and Instagram, and will then create a short story, poem, drawing, or other creative product about their “algorithmic self.” The workshop will conclude on ways to keep your data private.  It is not necessary, but it is highly encouraged that workshop attendees have a Google, Facebook, or Instagram account. 

This workshop has been adapted from the work of Dr. Sophie Bishop (King’s College, London) and Dr. Tanya Kant (University of Sussex).

When: Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Audience: For Everyone

Register here, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Facilitator:  Prof. Junior Tidal  

LinkedIn and Resume Writing Workshop

Make a lasting impression with a potential employer. Your resume and social media presence are the place to begin. Join us to see how you can get the most from the work experience you already have and convey it. Highlight your talents and what you have accomplished already to create a strong resume. Build the beginnings of a professional portfolio with LinkedIn.

When: Monday, November 29, 2021, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Audience: students

Register here, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the workshop.

Facilitators:  Professors Keith Muchowski and Nandi Prince 

Research Help for Your Paper: Drop-In sessions

Are you looking for research help with that final paper or assignment of the semester? If so, join us on these dates for our special drop-in sessions.

Register here for: Thursday, December 2, 2021, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Register here for:  Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Where: Zoom

Audience: students

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

 

New Library Workshop – Evaluating Social Media

The Evaluating Social Media workshop will be held virtually on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 2:00PM.  Prof. Junior Tidal will help you evaluate the trustworthiness of the news from your favorite social media platforms. All are welcome to attend. Do not miss this opportunity! To register, contact Prof. Tidal at jtidal@citytech.cuny.edu for the Zoom link or check the information on the poster.  

Library Workshop, Evaluating Social Media.
October 22, from 2 - 3 pm virtually
Register with Prof. Junior Tidal, jtidal@citytech.cuny.edu

Banned Books Week: Marginalized Authors and Censorship

“Banned Book Week 2014” by San Jose Public Library/ CC BY-SA 2.0

As a librarian, I find it a pity that we still need to celebrate Banned Books Week, which happens to be September 27th  – October 3rd this year. According to the American Library Association (ALA) Banned Books Week is a celebration of “current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools… The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.”

Banned Books Week started in 1982 with a dramatic display to highlight the problem. The American Booksellers Association (ABA) exhibited a display of 500 books in a padlocked cage at a trade show in Anaheim, California. As a tribute to that event 38 years later, books that have been banned or challenged for various reasons continue to be celebrated. The terms banned and challenged books are sometimes used interchangeably but they are some differences. Banned books refer to the removal of items, challenged  books are oppositional attempts by groups or individuals to restrict access to materials used in curriculum and libraries.

They are many reasons for censoring materials but some of the common ones are political views; racial content; lifestyle choices that people find objectionable; sexually explicit situations, profanity and violence; witchcraft, religious and blasphemous dialog. As we celebrate another year of Banned Books Week, I urged you to also think about debates on censorship and public outcry for retailers to remove works of authors who write about the experiences of marginalized groups outside of their own. What is your opinion on an author telling others narrative? Does a a public outcry from the offending group constitute censorship? How comfortable are you with the authenticity of the experiences when a writer from outside their group tells your story?

They are many situations why books are challenged; readers get passionate when they are challenges to intellectual freedom. For a list of banned or challenged works, check out the listing of titles that ALA maintains. In honor of Banned Books Week, I urged you to get involved in advocacy. Visit the City Tech library online collection and immerse yourself in one of our many e-books that have been deemed banned or challenged at some point. Happy reading!

Tick. Tock. Online-Classes Resumed, March 19!

Entrance to City Tech Library
Entrance to City Tech Library

Celebrate the first day of Spring! Suspended in-person classes resumed today, March 19 in an online format.

City Tech Library provides access to digital resources.

Are you working on a research project or have one upcoming?

Visit our website and click on the chat box to get started with your research.

I know that these distance techniques are a struggle to a new way of living for all of us; but they will keep you in touch with a librarian and online access to resources and services.

Welcome back! Librarians are online and are willing to help you.

Need Help? Chat with a Librarian 24/7

Did you know that the city tech library offers help 24 hours, seven days a week? Our online chat service helps you get started with research, and answer questions about the library services and policy. Receive the help you need from your mobile device. You may ask a librarian, anything you would normally seek their help for at the library service desk. Feel free to initiate a chat and ask questions such as:

I need help getting scholarly articles for my class.

Do you have my textbook?

How do I site my sources?

How do I renew my book from at home?

Now is the time to try online! Connect to us, by visiting our chat service at – https://library.citytech.cuny.edu/help/ask/index.php.

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Graduates : Career Resources

Congratulations soon-to-be grads of City Tech! Class of 2019, you will be the first students to graduate under the leadership of Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, the first chancellor of color in the 172-year history of the City University  of New York. You should be extremely proud of your accomplishments and the institution. Now that graduation is a few weeks away, it is time to launch your professional career. You are probably filled with a combination of excitement and apprehension about your future. Here are some career tips for newly minted graduates:

Alumni Privileges

Please sign up for an alumni card, unlimited access to the City Tech library among the many benefits, including free internet.

Career Help

The Professional Development Office offers job-search resources for college graduates, and is in L-114 of the Library building.

Professional Networking Sites

Social networking sites are a great resource for job hunters. Be sure to sign up for a LinkedIn account,  one of the career sites. Some companies have Twitter handles dedicated to recruiting, take advantage of this.

https://www.linkedin.com/
https://twitter.com/?lang=en

Job Search

I am ready to work, where should I start?  Start here, these sites have dedicated content for new graduates:

https://www.aftercollege.com/
https://www.collegerecruiter.com/
https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/students/

other General sites for job seekers are CareerBuilder, Indeed, and Avenica.

Interview Tips

Once you are invited for an interview you will need to prepare. Browse the CityTech library for great books to help you ace the tough questions and to help you prepare a list of questions to ask your potential employer. Come in today to check out your items, or scan and print up to 30 pages for free with your current ID card. Alumni may use books within the library during our open hours. Students also have off-campus access to subscription databases such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Occupational Outlook Handbook where you can find information on job outlook, career profile and salary information. Soon-to-be graduates, visit the City Tech databases page and sign up now. Your membership is one calendar year from sing-on date. Alumni visit the library and access the library’s resources on site.

Graduate School

If you are deciding whether to go to graduate school, then attend the CUNY master’s and doctoral fair on June 17 at John Jay College. The CUNY Graduate Studies web page is a great resource to explore programs of studies and coming events.

This is not a comprehensive list but a quick tool kit, for help with additional career resources visit the library. Graduates, you leave the City Tech with the legacy of a fine education and the optimism of hope captured in the CUNY motto eruditio populi liberi spes gentium translated, the education of free people is the hope of humanity.

May Day – International Workers’ Day

Visit the City Tech library to browse and borrow our books on display for May.  On display we have career and labor books. Explore the topics on display to learn more and discover additional books in our collection. You are sure to find something of interest. May Day, which is celebrated on May 1, has a rich history around the world. I remember it as a day of fairs, plaiting of the maypole and lots of celebration. Others may recognize it as a day of workers’ solidarity, civic engagement, protest and rallying for workers’ rights.it as a day of fairs, maypoles and lots of celebration, others may recognize it as a day of workers’ solidarity civic engagement, protest and rallying for workers’ rights.

Be sure to come by the CityTech library this month and spring into a good book.   Check out our online databases or connect with a librarian using our virtual chat available 24/7. We have extended hours this month, please view our online calendar. Take this time during the finals push, to stop by the library and read, de-stress, recharge and stay healthy in the midst of all your hard work.  Good luck to all the graduates.

We are open during the summer. Please note changes to our summer schedule.