Author: Nandi Prince

No appointment needed, get research help when you need it. This flexible series offers multiple formats so you can connect with a librarian in the way that works best for your schedule and location. Get help with research, finding articles, citations and library questions.

Online Drop-In (Weekend Option)

Join online for real-time help with research, citations, and library tools. Ideal for weekend students or anyone who prefers remote support.

Date: Saturday, May 9^th, 1:00 – 2:00PM

Facilitator: Prof. Nandi Prince

Contact: Nandi.Prince25@citytech.cuny.edu

Roving Campus Support (On-the-Go Help)

Library help comes to you. Find pop-up research stations at different campus locations for added convenience. Laptops and devices will be available, and a librarian will be on hand to assist with research.

Date: Wednesday, May 13th 1:00 – 4:00PM (locations include: Atrium, Cafeteria, Library entrance, Student Center, Academic Building lobby, Voorhees Cafeteria)

(On MAY 13 scan the QR code at various spots on campus  for live location updates throughout the day).

Facilitator: Prof. Nandi Prince

Contact: Nandi.Prince25@citytech.cuny.edu

In-Person Drop-In, (Classroom Support)

Stop by for in-person assistance leading-up-to finals week. Get help with sources, citations (APA/MLA), or last-minute questions in a traditional classroom setting.

Date: Thursday, May 14th 1:00 – 2:00PM

Location: L441A

Facilitator: Prof. Nandi Prince

Contact: Nandi.Prince25@citytech.cuny.edu

May Day, observed on May 1, is recognized around the world as International Workers’ Day, a time to commemorate the historic struggles and achievements of workers and the labor movement. In the United States and Canada, however, a similar observance, Labor Day, is officially celebrated on the first Monday in September. This distinction reflects a shift in how labor history has been recognized nationally, even though May Day has deep roots in American history.

The origins of May Day in the U.S. are closely tied to the Haymarket Affair, a pivotal moment in the fight for the eight-hour workday and improved working conditions. While May 1 remains a significant date globally, its prominence in the United States has diminished over time, with Labor Day becoming the more widely recognized holiday.

Today, May Day continues to serve as a point of reflection and renewed attention to workers’ rights and labor conditions. Recent labor activity, both nationally and locally, has highlighted ongoing concerns related to workplace safety, fair wages, and collective bargaining. In the New York City area, recent and potential labor action developments in sectors such as healthcare, building services, and transportation underscore how these issues remain relevant to everyday life.

Explore May Day Through Library Resources

Interested in learning more? You may explore labor history and current events through the library’s collections:

• Find books in our library on labor movements, workers’ rights, and social history, including:
  • Avrich, P. (1984). The Haymarket tragedy. Princeton University Press.

Shelf Location: HX846.C4 A97 1984

• David, H. (1958) The history of the Haymarket affair: A study in the American social-revolutionary and labor movements (2^nd). Russell & Russell.

Shelf Location: HX846.C4 D3 1958

• Messer-Kruse, T. (2012). The Haymarket conspiracy: Transatlantic anarchist networks (1^st) University of Illinois Press.

Available online

• Explore international newspapers to gain a global perspective on May Day and labor movements through library databases such as Nexis Uni.
• The library also offers a free subscription to The New York Times, available with your City Tech email.

Students are encouraged to visit the library website to discover more resources or stop by in person to browse the shelves and explore related titles in the HX (labor and social movements) section.

As the semester comes to a close, the library ‘s Workshop Committee is offering its final workshop series designed to support students through finals, research projects, and end-of-term assignments. Building on a semester of programming focused on literacy, research skills, and cultural engagement, these sessions provide practical tools and timely support when it matters most.

We begin on Wednesday, April 22 (1:00 – 2:00PM) with our Ecopoetry & Earth Day workshop., where students can explore environmental themes through poetry, discover research resources, and participate in a clothing swap, highlighting how sustainability can be both creative and actionable.

On Thursday, April 30 (1:00 -2:00PM) join Last-Minute Research Rescue, a fast -paced session designed to help students quickly locate credible sources, refine topics, and complete research efficiently, ideal for final papers and projects under tight deadlines.

Our May programming continues with May Day & Labor Research Workshop on Friday, May 1 (2:00 -3:00PM)., exploring the history and ongoing relevance of labor movements, including the Haymarket affair, and how these issues connect to present-day work and society.

On Tuesday, May 5 (1:00 – 2:00PM), our cultural series concludes with Cinco de Mayo: History, Culture & Research, offering students the opportunity to explore the historical and cultural significance of the holiday while learning how to find reliable sources on Mexican history and identity.

Drop-In Research Help Series

For flexible, last-minute support, the library is also offering a Drop-In Research Series:

• Online (Saturday, May 9, 1:00 – 2:00 PM) Real-time virtual assistance
• Roving Campus support (Wednesday, May 13, 1:00 – 2:00 PM) Pop-up help stations across campus
• In-Person (Thursday, May 14, 1:00 – 2:00 PM) Classroom-based finals support

No registration necessary, just drop in with your questions.

Whether you need help finding sources, or using electronic tools, the library is here to support your success through the final stretch of the semester.

For workshop times, locations, and registration (where applicable, please visit the library’s website. Contact Prof. Nandi Prince  (Nandi.Prince25@citytech.cuny.edu) for more information.

As Earth Day approaches, the Library’s Workshop Committee invites students to participate on April 22, 1:00 – 2:15PM in our Ecopoetry & Earth Day Workshop, which brings together creative expression and sustainability. Through ecopoetry, poetry that engages with nature, climate, and environmental justice, students will explore environmental themes while discovering research resources. Some notable ecopoetry titles to explore include The Complete Poetry of Aime Cesaire and Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry, which offer powerful perspectives on the relationship between environment, history, and identity.
Earth Day, observed on April 22, encourages reflection on our shared responsibility to care for the environment. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” emphasizes the role individuals and communities play in creating change. Across New York City, there are many opportunities to engage. Recent car-free Earth Day programming in Downtown Brooklyn transformed public spaces into hubs for sustainability-focused activities, including recycling events and upcycled art workshops. The citywide event continues April 25, when streets across all five boroughs, including Brooklyn Fifth avenue, will open to pedestrians and cyclist, promoting environmental awareness and alternative transportation. Students can also participate in park clean-ups, environmental festivals, and community-based initiatives that make sustainability accessible and practical.
At the policy level, New York City is advancing environmental efforts. On April 16, 2026, the City Council passed a comprehensive legislative package aimed at expanding green space, improving water quality testing, supporting wildlife, and strengthening organic waste recycling requirements.
Earth Day reminds us that awareness is only the beginning, meaningful change comes through participation, reflection, and informed action.

The Ursula C. Schwerin Library offers a 24/7 live chat service for reference and research support, staffed by City Tech Librarians librarians during specific hours and by other academic librarians outside those hours. Chat with a Librarian 24/7 to help 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 an online librarian anything you would normally seek their help for at the library service desk. To initiate a chat and ask questions, follow these steps:

1. You will automatically be connected to the Ask-A-Librarian page page with a short form for you to fill out your name and contact information
2. After filling out the form, click “Start Chat” and you can provide any information about your assignment or research topic will be helpful.
3. This  will connect you shortly with a live City Tech Librarian, or a librarian from another CUNY college or other academic institutions who participate in this cooperative reference service.

Librarians provide real-time assistance to help you with research assistance and the use of the collections. You can also use our form to: schedule a research appointment; search our FAQ’s to find the answers to frequently asked questions about the Ursula C. Schwerin Library, our services and resources, research help, and more; access the list of research guides with recommended resources for various subjects and topics; and register for a number of workshops offered during the spring and fall.

Current students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to use this service anytime!

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 (4^th 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

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.