From one student to another: helpful tips for your first few weeks at York

Posted on September 10, 2013 by sobiaali

Welcome to York. It’s the first week of school and some of you must be freaking out. Do not worry, this week is going to be the most memorable one down the road. I have done all my shopping for school, mapped my classes and am still getting over frosh week. But there is still one thing that I need for my first week: energy! Why? Because there is still a lot to do!

The first few weeks of school usually offers so many opportunities to ask for help and support or to meet new friends/classmates – which really makes a difference. After my first day back I have: found a partner to study with, asked for help with some confusing course material, grabbed a coffee during the break, and most importantly, found someone I know in my class!

I never miss a class in the first few weeks. I try to get to know my professors and if I don’t like that class, I change it right away. Just like Cynthia said in her last blog, I have never regretted changing classes.

I also tend to make a list of things I need to do every school year, or things that I didn’t do last year. Time management is at the top of my “goals” list this year. I work part-time and study at the same time. It is sometimes hard to finish school work by their due dates because I get caught up with all sorts of other things. But that’s what the university experience is all about. I need to set goals, get focused and get done with it. School work is always a priority.

Most importantly I make sure I am getting enough sleep and I am eating well. It simply allows me to seize opportunities and do everything on time.

Don’t be afraid to make changes

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Cynthia B Archer

Transition is a key word this week. Many of you are new to York and looking for a path to your future. I guess everyone is giving you advice. My suggestion is: if you really do not like a class, quickly change it. I probably changed one course each year and never regretted it. In fact, I often discovered new interests and strengths. For example, I dropped Introduction to Political Science and took Introduction to Biology instead and ended up majoring in Biology.

Welcome to York. It is the sixth university where I have worked or studied. I truly love this school. My job as University Librarian is to give you great library services, collections and spaces. This blog is one endeavour to get your feedback and guidance to improve your libraries at York; Scott Library, Bronfman Business Library, Frost Library, Steacie Science and Engineering Library, and, let us not forget the “virtual” York University Libraries (the library website). Feel free to review and respond to previous blog posts that talked about IT, my new iPad-mini and study spaces in the library.

Cynthia
Your University Librarian

Saying good-bye to the summer

Posted on August 26, 2013 by sobiaali

Am I ready for another school year? Not yet. I feel that we did not get enough of summer this year. Do you agree with me? Maybe it feels that way because I have been busy doing other things than basking in the sun! As the summer comes to an end, I feel I still have more to do.

My brother gave me a book last week. It’s called “LEAN IN” by Sheryl Sandberg, currently the chief operating officer at Facebook. The book is about women, work and the will to lead. I have just finished the first chapter and I am so inspired. I can’t say I woke up the next day a totally different person but surely this book will change the way I see things. I feel every powerful book does that to me. Have you been reading a lot this summer?

I haven’t been able to get back to my book for a few days, though, because I went to Canada’s Wonderland this weekend for the first time. Such an awesome experience! I went on most of the rides including the Extreme Sky Flyer which apparently is Canada’s largest free-fall swing. I felt my heart was swinging more than myself. To add to that, I woke up having no voice the next morning.

Despite all the fun, the two most exciting things to the end my summer with are: 1) that I successfully finished another shadow painting and it’s ready to go on the wall! Most people don’t know that I am an artist. I like to paint for fun. I have shared the picture and would love your feedback on it. 2) I am going to a cottage this long weekend in Bruce Peninsula. I haven’t been to a cottage before.

Do you have any suggestions on how to make the most of the end to summer? Do you have any plans before another busy year?

Talking about technology

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Cynthia B Archer

I just got a tablet, an iPad mini. My laptop, a MacBook Air, was too heavy to lug around the campus. My job is a lot like being a student (except that I don’t have exams). Every week I have to read documents and articles and write reports and communications. I also have to go to meetings all across the campus and thus opted to carry my laptop in lieu of paper. Lately I have concluded paper would be lighter. The intent is that the iPad/tablet will be used every week to read my documents and hopefully to write small reports. Ideally it will be useful for many other things too.

One goal is relying less on printed materials while another is learning to enjoy the iPad’s many online options. I am addicted to paper books so thought I might embrace reading online by reading some graphic novels. My daughter loves reading online because as soon as she finishes a book she can acquire a new one over the web. I will report back in the fall how hooked to the tablet I have become. Meanwhile do you have any tips to get me started? I checked out Goodreads but the selection is too limited and I have read a lot of the titles in my favourite genres. So, now I have to learn how to remove an app.

A sneak peek at SPARK

Posted on August 12, 2013 by sobiaali

Last Thursday, I attended a very interesting focus group. Do you think it was about getting a spark from the library? It actually was not. It was about the upcoming Virtual Learning Commons project known as SPARK, which stands for “Student Papers and Academic Research Kit.” SPARK is, quite simply, a 24/7 eLearning resource for students that need help with any aspect of completing an assignment.

Basic concerns such as how to start an assignment and where to look for the right materials for an assignment are all addressed by the SPARK modules. Most students including myself don’t know where to start. I am usually bombarded by ideas and I don’t know which one to use! SPARK addresses all these issues.

Its 3 major categories of “Getting Started”, “Exploring” and “Pulling It Together” are broken down into 13 excellent modules. Many of these modules contain short videos to demonstrate the needs. Can you believe there is an “essay editing” module under the “Pulling It Together” tab? Wouldn’t you love that? Most importantly, SPARK can be accessed from anywhere and anytime from multiple devices.

There were other students who attended the focus group to share their ideas and how they see SPARK making a difference in their academic career. In their words, they saw SPARK as: intuitive, helpful, a time-manager, guide, like Google but more efficient, not overwhelming, easy to navigate, etc. The modules are not just limited to writing papers, but any kind of assignment. They encourage you to ask different questions to yourself to find out what you actually need to complete the assignment as well as how to manage time between assignments.

To share with you, I am quite excited to use this service. Are you as excited as me? What do you think about this service? Do you think students would rely on SPARK when they are on the verge of breaking down due to overwhelming assignments?

Focus group participants needed! Enter to win a $50 gift card

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Cynthia B Archer

Your feedback on the library IT issue was so very thoughtful and helpful that I would like to use this blog to ask for undergraduate student volunteers to formally assess a new 24/7 eLearning resource named SPARK, designed to help students with the completion of any aspect of an academic assignment. Would you please consider volunteering to help us develop ideas on how to effectively market this tool to you and your fellow students this upcoming school year?

The details for the SPARK demonstration and focus group are as follows:

Date: Thursday, August 8th
Time: 2:00-3:30pm
Location: Scott Library
RSVP (or for more information): Libraries’ communications officer, Jocelyn at jlager@yorku.ca.

Refreshments will be served and all participants will receive a thank you gift card. In addition, participants will be entered into a draw to win a $50 York Bookstore gift card.

Thanks for your feedback re: “Tell us what qualifies as “good” library IT” post

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Cynthia B Archer

Thank your for the thoughtful feedback on library IT. I was on vacation up North (see photo) with very poor internet connectivity. I will respond to your suggestions now that I am back. Some of your ideas require research on my behalf. For example, how much did the scanner in the map library cost versus the scanners in other areas?

I will respond to you all shortly, but in the meantime I wanted to thank you all for your wonderful suggestions.

Cynthia

Looking for a seat?

Posted on July 29, 2013 by sobiaali

By Sobia Ali

I am sure this discussion has been touched on by many others. My topic today is about the current status of seating in the library. Summer is almost over! As usual, libraries are less busy in terms of students during this time but those starting school in September will be looking for places to study.

While there are 4 other libraries on campus, students still aren’t able to find a seat in the library. I know that is a unique problem in its own and at the same time it’s a campus wide issue. What is the library doing to help students find a seat? I struggle to find a seat during regular hours but I don’t try and find one when I have to study for exams or work on my own laptop. Those are the only times when I don’t care about a seat. I would simply sit on the floor and work on things. But I find students doing this most of the time. Why do you think they do that?

I do it because I like studying in the library and any other space on campus doesn’t have the feel of a library. Libraries are a motivation in itself. Secondly, because that is how I study at home. I get lots of space to spread out my material and stretch my legs as opposed to dangling from the chair if I was sitting.

Fortunately, I have been able to make a studying plan for the upcoming year. I am going to plan ahead where and when I am going to study. At the same time I will explore what times the library isn’t greatly busy so I can drop by to for a print resources or go through materials when I have a break between classes. I have also decided to diversify and explore spaces in other libraries. Do you think this plan will work? What are your suggestions for students looking for a space? What would you have done?

Tell us what qualifies as “good” library IT?

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Cynthia B Archer

By Cynthia Archer

This week my question to you and the problem I am trying to tackle is more complex than last week’s topic. Four years ago in a survey, students tagged the quality of library computing as an issue that needed attention. In response York University Libraries moved from a plan that replaced computers every five years to one that replaces them every three years in an attempt to make them faster. We also very modestly increased the number of computers available to students. I was therefore totally surprised to see that in the same survey conducted last year student assessment on the quality of library information technology services was (slightly) lower than ever before.

I would sincerely appreciate your feedback to understand what York University Libraries might do to improve our rating. Some comments from students highlighted difficulty getting access to a library workstation which correlates with a similar complaint that many students cannot always find a place to sit and study in the library during the fall and winter terms. Some people commented on the speed of printing. Others talked about difficulties accessing library online journals when not using library workstations. If we could try to correct one or two library IT issues in 2013/14, what would you suggest and why?

Please feel free to leave your comments by clicking on the “chat bubble” at the top of this post. We want to know where we can improve.

Need help with your studies? Come to the Library!

Posted on July 17, 2013 by sobiaali

By Sobia Ali

Not sure where to start? Baffled by what to do? Don’t worry!

I always require help outside classrooms and tutorials. If you’re struggling with homework and projects, need help with any kind of research and learning materials, where do you go?

Scott Library brings you “The Learning Commons” – a great addition to the library services to support your learning in school. Currently providing 3 kinds of services, I have been able to use just 1 of them.

First of all and my most favored one is the Research service. I have used the research help desk in my first year for a marketing project. I had to research an existing public company, its values and cultures and introduce a new product that the company currently didn’t produce. The expert helped me plan my research, develop research questions, find resources and sort through ideas. I was also taught how to take quality notes, cite sources correctly, and share my findings effectively.

Next is the Learning Skills hub which integrates programs to enable faster learning approaches and balance school and school work. For example, time management skills, classroom and note taking skills as well as strategies to study for exams are few of them. You won’t believe how many students in university have difficulties managing time and I am certainly one of them. And that’s one reason I have never been able to use this service. Have you used a similar service or know of anyone who has? If yes, then is this service in the library or outside? How was your experience?

I am usually confused about where to begin an assignment or where to go when in such a situation. I hope I am not the only one feeling this way. But sometimes the internet doesn’t provide much help. The Writing skills area helps you produce a wide variety of documents including dissertations, theses, organizing essays as well as improving your analytical skills.

These are excellent services that I recommend to anyone who needs. Did you know that these services were free of cost for all students? Most students I meet are not aware of this. Below is a video of the Learning Commons at Scott Library!

Your Libraries at York

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