Comments for Your Libraries at York

Comment on From one student to another: helpful tips for your first few weeks at York by Lisa Chen

Lisa Chen — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 16:45:37 +0000

I would like to add on to your comment about finding textbooks. The Toronto Public Library branches also are a good place to find readings/textbooks. As another alternative, I have used Interlibrary Loans to get texts too.

Comment on From one student to another: helpful tips for your first few weeks at York by Jessia

Jessia — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 00:37:54 +0000

I believe I accomplished the impossible this first week. Spent under $150 on textbooks for the term.

A lot of what I have to read is public domain so I just found free digital versions in the translation/edition I needed and put them on my Kobo or my laptop. In one of my courses I had already read one of the shorter books during the summer and I took notes while I read it. The rest were the usual wallet-missles textbooks tend to be.
I feel like I’m gloating but seriously, it IS possible fellow students.

Full disclosure: I didn’t have as many textbooks as I needed to buy. I am taking 24 credits, not the full 30.

I would advocate taking a lighter course load a la Reesha. It feels a lot easier to learn for the sake of learning. When you have so much you need to juggle whatever you need to do becomes a task. Not a reading or an interesting assignment like work at this level should be.

Comment on From one student to another: helpful tips for your first few weeks at York by Reesha

Reesha — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 15:48:35 +0000

Hi everyone.
I completely agree that finding someone to talk to in a class is important. I always ask people for their facebook or phone number so we can keep in touch.
Managing school with work can be challenging, and I encourage students to take a lighter class load so they can gain from both work and school experience

Comment on From one student to another: helpful tips for your first few weeks at York by Cynthia Archer

Cynthia Archer — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:11:04 +0000

Hi Sobia

What an amazing week you are having. It is interesting that the little things can make such a big difference, like knowing one person in a new class.

York is a big campus. A lot of students learn to make one of the libraries “their place” on campus. There are four to choose from. When you check out Scott Library go to the fifth floor and look out over the campus. It is a large library with over a million books. Frost and Bronfman both have fireplaces. Steacie has a science and engineering side to it and offers a variety of interesting items on reserve for students to try out.

We are glad you are back Sobia … and all the other students too. It is too quiet without you.

Cynthia

Comment on From one student to another: helpful tips for your first few weeks at York by Lisa Chen

Lisa Chen — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 17:37:10 +0000

The difference between what I knew about York’s libraries and what I know, four years later, is enormous.

I would recommend students to become familiar with the services that the library provides, such as checking out the reserve items that are made available to them. I would also tell them to be unafraid about visiting and studying at other libraries, as Scott is usually the most crowded library.

Comment on Don’t be afraid to make changes by Sobia Ali

Sobia Ali — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 15:30:59 +0000

I came to Canada and to York about a year and a half ago. I started during winter semester so I missed all the fun of frosh week. As an international student and being that this was my first time in Canada, I had no idea what this place would be like.

I settled in by starting to volunteer and got to know York and its services. I met new people and made good friends. I am also working with 2 different departments at York University. So my suggestion to you, as a student, is to get involved in your first year. You will learn how to balance academic and social life. Since then, I have been connecting and helping students engage in the university culture.

As an online student blogger, I hope to introduce you to services that the libraries have to offer and help you stay active and engaged with the libraries and the school.

Comment on Saying good-bye to the summer by Sobia Ali

Sobia Ali — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:35:55 +0000

Hi Lisa.
Thank you for your comments on the painting and your interest in seeing my other works. Unfortunately, I haven’t posted any of my works online. However, I have a website coming up for this other art that I do. I’m not sure if you have heard about henna designing. The website is all about that. But your idea is great for art works too. I will keep that mind.

Comment on Saying good-bye to the summer by Lisa Chen

Lisa Chen — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 12:04:41 +0000

This is a lovely and warm painting, Sobia!

Do you have any other art posted online? I would enjoy seeing your other works.

Comment on Talking about technology by Reesha

Reesha — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:01:50 +0000

Hi Cynthia,

If you’re looking for something new and exciting to read on your IPad, then I suggest using your local library’s online collection of ebooks. Sometimes, I tend to really gravitate towards the services provided by the public libraries such as online blogging (like we are doing now here), and email alerts for renewals and requests. They also may be able to suggest books for you based on the print books you checked out or requested, which is also really neat! Basically, the librarian suggests books for you based on the types of books you’ve already read. It’s great for when you want to read just for fun and when you have certain genres you prefer.

Comment on Talking about technology by Sobia Ali

Sobia Ali — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 20:40:24 +0000

Congratulations on the iPad mini Cynthia! I shall tell you right now, it’s totally worth having one. They’re beautiful! Personally, I don’t own an iPad mini but I often (luckily) get a chance to use my brother’s. It’s very easy to get hooked onto it. Beside reading documents and writing reports, you have over 300,000 apps to choose from. I am sure you will discover something new everyday.

While I have created business presentations, beautiful documents, impressive spreadsheets for school, I also use it for day-to-day activities such as playing games like Temple Run or Angry Birds as well as watch videos on Crackle. I don’t like to read books online since I am more into paper books just like you. But I have looked into iBooks which is almost a pocket-sized library as many of the books come for free.

I use the “ShowMe Interactive Whiteboard” which allows me to record voice-over whiteboard tutorials and the ability to share them online. It saves me great time during lectures/tutorials. You should definitely explore the Reading Tools where you can highlight or underline texts as well as make personal notes. I am quite the photographer so I cannot forget to mention the camera! I love taking pictures on the iPad mini. I like showing off my pictures from the iPad- I’m sure so will you. In addition to that, one of my favourites is the Google Maps app. I will leave that for you to try. It’s all about exploring the 3D world in the mini tech.