Are films more trusted than the book?

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Cynthia B Archer

Film has been a hot topic in Toronto the past few weeks. A librarian once asked students what they trusted more, what they read in a book or what they saw in a film? More than 50% said they trusted the film more than the text for research. It would seem to make sense, yes? And yet more recently in a futuristic novel I was reading, the character had access to both original film clips from an event in history and written commentary. The person started with the film clips but quickly went on to read about the events noting that she did not have the background knowledge, nor the context, to fully understand the implications of what she was viewing in the film footage. I guess that is why documentaries are so wonderful. They provide both.

And we have one of the strongest collections of documentaries in Canada in our Sound and Moving Image Library (SMIL). If you do look at a film, be sure to cite it in your essays. Your professor could be very impressed. Do you have a favourite documentary?

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

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.

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

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.

The coolest place to study

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Cynthia B Archer

By: Cynthia Archer

Thanks for checking out this blog. We are seeking the advice, feedback, suggestions and commentary from students about York University Libraries buildings, collections and services.

Where is the coolest place to study?

During summer classes it is relatively easy to find the perfect place in the library to study, complete assignments or collaborate with colleagues. Do you come to the library to study? Why or why not? Where is your favourite place? What do you like about it? What could make your favourite place even better?

My favourite study space must have lots of natural sunlight along with a great view. I will need a place to put my feet up and plenty of room to spread out my working materials. Fortunately for me I can “tune out” most noises so I don’t need to use music for white noise or seek out a truly silent area. Lastly I usually want something to drink and nibble on while working on papers and reports. I have to tell you my office in Scott Library is almost perfect. Its one shortcoming is that the windows don’t provide a panoramic view of the outdoors. Therefore the perfect place for me to work on assignments would be at one of the tables by the window in Fireside Reading Room at Frost Library, overlooking the rose garden with a cup of coffee and a handful of chocolate covered almonds.

If you haven’t seen the Fireside Reading Room since its renovation last November, take a look at this video we created that showcases the space.

Your Libraries at York

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Author Archives: Cynthia B Archer