Tag Archives: Kim Stymest

So much #BBLlove

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Kim Stymest, Business Librarian, Bronfman Business Library

Published Wednesday July 17th, 2013

Heart drawn on chalkboard

We got some love the other day online (wahoo!), and I think that these two posts bring to light a really important issue about our space here at Bronfman: not only is it beautiful and well suited for study, but it’s open to all students, regardless of the program that you are enrolled in.

The first post on YU Awesome highlights that we are open to all business students, drawing your attention to all of our awesome business-related services: research help, materials, group study rooms, and our silent study room (when not even typing will do! – it’s completely silent in there, no laptops allowed).

The second post on Your Libraries at York blog is actually a student comment made in response to a first blog post by our University Librarian on the coolest place to study at York. In this post, Sobia notes the beautiful space and natural lighting of Bronfman that really help her to get the best out of her studying.

EDIT: I forgot to mention this from @wwoolrich that had us laughing out loud!!!

 

 

 

Easy Peasy

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Our Little FriendsSo… We know that times, right now, they are stressful. It’s exam season. It’s to be expected.You’re finishing up papers, studying your metaphorical brains out for exams, and that’s probably all amongst working, commuting, family life, and generally just still trying to have a little bit of fun!

But, have you seen our little squeezy friends at the Reference Desk in Bronfman?

These were brought to us one evening secretly by some kind of magical elves, obviously, because one moment we were working away helping some students with research questions and borrowing books and they were suddenly there!

I’m kidding, but it’s true that we weren’t sure at first where they came from. It turns out they were brought to us by the folks over at Mental Health at York University. They have noted on their website that a recent study found that “64% of current York U students find academic work traumatic or stressful.”1

We’ve found (anecdotally, of course) that these two little friends at the desk have been helpful friends to some of you! Some students have come and borrowed one for a squeeze during some study time, and then promptly returned it back to us when they were finished up! And, we… well, we just think this is excellent!

So, if it’s not just easy peasy, try these little ones at the desk. Or you can always try googling ‘basset hounds running’ – that’s always good for a light-hearted chuckle. After a few minutes there, you should be well prepped to get back to the books.

Take care! And remember, we’re here to help.

Getting to know you…

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Handshake by Aidan Jones, via Flickr

It’s a very ancient saying,
But a true and honest thought,
That if you become a teacher,
By your pupils you’ll be taught.

Anyone? Anyone? No? Le sigh. Okay, well that was from The King and I. Wait… how about this?

♪ ♫Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.♫ ♪

Any better? You’re supposed to be singing this in your head… Maybe? I thought so.

So, yes, I am a giant geek. But I am also a new librarian here at the Bronfman Library. And yes, I would like to get to know you.

But why would you like to get to know me??? An excellent question; thank you for asking.

I come to you from positions with the federal and provincial governments, where I had been working as a Research Specialist. I like to think myself pretty good with company, industry and economic information and generally, a creative researcher. Before all that, I worked as the Business Librarian at UOIT and worked primarily with students in Accounting and Finance (but we have a Finance Librarian here, Xuemei – she’s pretty awesome and I suggest you try working with her!). Now that I’m at Bronfman, I will be working in the areas of Accounting & Audit, Taxation, Corporate Governance and a few others. I’m also responsible for Bronfman’s social media presence, like this here blog, our tweetertweeter and Facebook.

Hmmm…. Let me think. What else can I tell you… My educational background is not in business, but Women’s Studies and Social & Political Thought here at York. I did my Master’s in Information Studies (what we need to become full-fledged librarians) at the University of Toronto. What else, what else, what else? I’m learning to knit, enjoy cooking, recently got married, and I grew up on a farm. It’s true. We even still have a donkey.

Stop by my office or while I’m at the Reference Desk and we can chat some more if
you like. And I’d be really happy to help you out with any of the research that you’ll be working on or hear any comments or ideas that you might have for our social media endeavours!