The 2016 Hostos Library Newsletter
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Hostos Wins Grant to Support Open Educational Resources 1 New Study Rooms Address Student Needs 1 Greetings from Madeline Ford, Chief Librarian 2 What’s New? Our Instruction Program! 2 Recommended Books for 2016 3 Information and the Election Event 4
New Librarian at Hostos Library: Welcome Linda Miles 8 Reminder: Download Your Hostos App! 6 NYC Museum Features 1976 “Save Hostos” Flyer 9 Escriba Wants Your Student’s Writing & Artwork! 10
NEW STUDY ROOMS ADDRESS NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
S
tudy rooms have been popular with library patrons for years, thanks to
their privacy, convenience and useful-
ness. In response to this demand, the
T
HOSTOS WINS GRANT TO SUPPORT OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
he high cost of textbooks and its impact on the financial well-being of students has long been a concern for educators. According to a study by Public Agenda, a nonprofit group that addresses
issues such as education, the typical full-time community
college student can expect to shell out about $1300 per year to buy textbooks. Students who don’t complete college are over 50 percent more likely than those who graduated to cite textbook costs as a major barrier. Hostos is proud to announce it’s now a part of a CUNYwide and nation-wide Open Educational Resources (OER) Degree Initiative. The college is sharing a $300,000 grant providing free educational resources for the College’s Early -Childhood Education Associate Degree program. As part of the CUNY OER Consortium, Hostos joins the Borough of Manhattan Community College and Bronx Community College in this endeavor. This generous grant is provided by Achieving the Dream, Inc, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping community college students, particularly low-income and those of color, stay in school and complete their education. ATD is involved with 38 colleges in 13 states. It partners with Lumen Learning, a com-
pany that provides technical assistance, and SRI International, which will evaluate the implementation. The Community College Consortium of Open Educational Resources Library has expanded the number of rooms
(CCCOER) will facilitate a community of practice.
tion, which formerly took up most of the space
enhance classroom curriculum. From Spring 2017 to Fall
available. Last summer, the Reference collecin the Information Learning Commons area (continued on page 7)
The funds will help ECE students save money as well as (continued on page 5)
Greetings and Happy Holidays!
As the Fall 2016 semester comes to a close, I am pleased to share with you some of the latest news about the Library. This semester, we stopped offering regularly scheduled library workshops in favor of workshops tailored more to student and faculty needs. Hostos also received a grant to support faculty in their efforts to incorporate OERs (Open Resources) into their classrooms, thereby helping students save money on expensive textbooks. We also hosted a special event about the contentious Presidential election that encouraged faculty, students and staff to fact-check the assertions of both candidates and highlighted the importance of finding reliable and trustworthy resources. And we also welcomed Prof. Linda Miles, our newest librarian, to our Library family. This has been a year of changes and upheavals but as always, the Library is here to help you with your academic or personal pursuits of knowledge. As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions regarding future research assignments and check out the wealth of resources that will support your learning, teaching, and research. Happy Holidays!
T
NEW INSTRUCTION PROGRAM OFFERS MORE FLEXIBILITY AND CUSTOMIZATION
his semester, the Hostos
ment, and should request a work-
particular point in the research
new program for its
work in their class. In addition to
them (depending on the assign-
introductory research
getting students ready to tackled
ment, different types of sources
of Prof. Haruko Yamauchi, the
Yamauchi, “the new workshops
to take place when students were
tor, our workshops have been re-
cation core competencies, as well
dents a chance to analyze best
Library has instituted a
workshops. Under the supervision Library’s new teaching coordina-
shops to coincide with the relevant process, and learn strategies to find
specific assignments, says Prof.
will address Hostos’ general edu-
vamped in terms of content as well as encourage critical thinking as in scheduling, and replace the previous system of stand-alone
skills.”
were addressed). Others, scheduled in the writing process, gave stupractices for integrating others' words and ideas into one's own
The library has partnered with writing effectively, as well as
“open” workshops.
the English Department to offer
the new workshops will better
workshops as a pilot program this
support student learning by being
fall. Some of the initial workshops, rating with departmental faculty scheduled to take place when
to support students as they develop
assignment. Course professors are
students begin the research pro-
their skills as independent
share their sudent learning objec-
familiar with different kinds of
chi.
tives for research as well as the
resources for research, determine
Prof. Yamauchi explained that
tailored to a specific research
invited to contact the library to
details of thier particular assign-
these new introductory research
cess, helped students become
which would be most helpful at a
hands-on time to write and critique each other's work.
"We look forward to collabo-
researchers," added Prof. Yamau-
(continued on page 6)
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NEW AND NOTEWORTHY BOOKS
Becoming Nicole: the Transformation of an American Family (2015)
My Life on the Road (2015)
by Amy Ellis Nutt
Location: Stacks
Location: Stacks
HQ1413 .S675 A3 2015b
by Gloria Steinem
HQ77.95 .U6 N87 2015
In the Unlikely Event (2015) by Judy Blume Location: Leisure Reading PS3552 .L843 I5 2015
MAD MEN: A Cultural History (2016)
by M. Keith Booker Location: Stacks PN1992.77 .M226 B66 2016
Ocean: a Photicular Book (2014)
Location: Juvenile Collection QL125.5 .O24 2014
Black Hollywood: From Butlers to Superheroes, the Changing Role of African-American Men in the Movies (2015) by Kimberly Fain Location: Stacks PN1995.9 .N4 F36 2015
Tyler Perry's America: Inside His Films (2015)
The Con Men: Hustling in New York City (2015)
by Shayne Lee
by Terry M. Williams
Location: Stacks
Location: Stacks
PN1998.3 .P4575 L44 2015
HV6795 .N5 W55 2015
Girl in Glass: How My "Distressed Baby" Defied the Odds, Shamed a CEO, and Taught Me the Essence of Love, Heartbreak, and Miracles (2015) by Deanna Fei Location: Stacks RJ253.5 .F45 2015
Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up (2016) by Marie Kondo Location: Stacks TX309 .K6613 2016 3
“
INFORMATION LITERACY AND THE ELECTION EVENT
Who’s lying? Who’s telling
mock debate the day before. Prof.
the truth?” Faculty, stu-
Manuel Livingston, a member of
dents and staff who attend-
the Senate Committee, also imper-
ed the Library’s
sonated Trump by wearing a life-
“Information Literacy and the Elec-
like Halloween mask, which
tion” event on November 2, 2016 learned how to answer that quesPresident Gomez and Hillary Clinton (paper cutout)
number of useful websites. In addition, participants were invited to read “ElectionWatch”, a special Libguide created by Prof. Miriam Laskin, Reference Librarian. To emphasize the importance of voting, participants were invited
to take selfies beside life-size cardtion. Taking place a week before
board cutouts of the two Presiden-
the election, the event encouraged
Prof. Kathleen Ronca
participants to fact-check the as-
proved to be a draw at the event.
sertions of Hillary Clinton and
Among those who stopped by were
Donald J. Trump by visiting rec-
President Gomez and Provost
ommended websites and other re-
Christine Mangino.
sources.
“With all this misinformation,
The event was held from 3-5
it’s important that we highlight
p.m. in the A-Atrium and was sponsored by Hostos Library and the Senate Library Committee.
trustworthy and nonpartisan reProfs. William Casari and Julio Figueroa
sources,” commented Prof. Jennifer Tang, the Chair of the Senate
Librarians recommended resources tial candidates. These items were
Library committee. “The
that could be found at the Library
provided via the generosity of Ms.
importance of information literacy
as well as online and attendees
Lizette Colon from the Counseling
has never been greater.”
were given a program listing a
Department, who had sponsored a 4
HOSTOS WINS GRANT TO SUPPORT OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (continued from the front page)
2018, Hostos faculty will receive
der an intellectual property license will encourage non-participating
support to replace traditional text- that permits their free use and re-
institutions to consider using OERs
books with Open Educational Re-
purposing by others. OERs include as well.
sources (OER) in at least one sec-
full courses, course materials,
tion for each required course and
modules, textbooks, streaming vid- will also encourage faculty to teach
several electives of the Early Child- eos, tests, software, and any other
Since OERs are online only, it students in more engaging and
hood Education degree program.
tools, materials, or techniques used technologically dynamic ways and
OER sections of existing courses
to support access to knowledge.
are also in the process of being
invite students to become more ac-
Not only will the initiative help tively involved in their own learn-
created, based on the same student approximately 500 enrolled stu-
ing. The initiative’s requirement to
-learning outcomes of existing
dents save 80 to 100 percent of the create entire degree programs
courses.
cost of textbooks over the next few using OER will also trigger a re-
By the end of Fall 2018, a stu-
years, OER offerings will reinvig-
examination of course content that
dent may be able to complete an
orate teaching and raise course
will build cutting edge cohesive
Associate's Degree in Early Child-
completion rates, according to
degree programs. At the comple-
hood Education by taking classes
Hostos Provost and Vice President
tion of the initiative, all approved
using only OERs as required texts.
for Academic Affairs Christine
OER courses will be available
By Spring 2019, the ECE program
Mangino. The grant funds will also through a comprehensive and ac-
will hopefully have at least one
help Hostos keep up with modern
OER section of each course availa- teaching strategies and technoloble to students. “We hope to expand this Open
cessible online platform. Studies have shown that Colleg-
gies. By using this reservoir of high es and states that introduced OER quality content customized to the
initiatives have seen positive re-
Educational Resources project to
way today’s students learn best, it
sults such as higher grades, higher
other degrees beyond the life of
will help advance the knowledge
course completion rates, and faster
this grant,” commented Madeline
of both students and faculty.
degree completion. For example,
Ford, Chief Librarian.
Tidewater Community College in Creating a Library of Open
Virginia was the first community
What are OERs?
Resources
college to adopt an OER degree
Open Educational Resources are
The OER Degree Initiative will also which enabled students to com-
teaching, learning, and research
create a library of high-quality,
plete a two-year degree in business
resources that reside in the public
digital, open courses available to
administration with no textbook
domain or have been released un-
other institutions and the public. It
(continued on next page) 5
costs. Tidewater’s “Z-Degree” pro- books. If this holds, students using gram has experienced high student OER would complete their degrees
nity of practice. Profs. Ford and Jacqueline
satisfaction levels, improved stu-
a full year earlier for a 60 credit-
DiSanto, Education, are the con-
dent retention, and an estimated
hour degree.
tacts for this initiative. For info, go
25 percent reduction in college
to: http://www.hewlett.org/
costs for students. Northern
How the Initiative Will Work
programs/education/open-
Virginia Community College’s
ATD will help colleges make OER
educational-resources
pilot OER courses have increased
degrees critical elements of their
pass rates by nine percent com-
student success efforts. Lumen
Also, visit our OER Libguide: http://guides.hostos.cuny.edu/oer.
pared to non-OER courses. Anoth- Learning will provide technical
If you have any questions, please
er multi-school study found that
assistance, SRI International will
contact the guide's editors:
students using OER took an aver-
evaluate the implementation, and
Profs. Lisa Tappeiner, Rhonda
age fall semester credit load of
the Community College Consorti-
Johnson, or Madeline Ford.
13.3, compared to 11.1 credits for
um of Open Educational Resources
students using traditional text-
(CCCOER) will facilitate a commu-
REVAMPED INSTRUCTION PROGRAM (Continued from page 2)
To schedule a workshop, please contact Prof. Yamauchi at
HYamauchi@hostos.cuny.edu, or contact your departmental library liaison. The list of liaisons can be found at http://commons.hostos.cuny.edu/ library/department-liaisons). Either way, please contact the
librarian with at least two weeks' advance notice to allow for an appropriate workshop to be customized.
6
NEW STUDY ROOMS ADDRESS NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
(Continued from front page)
(ILC), was streamlined, freeing up
offered. These features were for-
areas could be installed. Designed
puters reserved in the Library for
in collaboration with the Accessi-
students with disabilities.
Technology and Campus Opera-
have Mac and Windows comput-
were designed specifically with the
a Smart TV, a 40-inch screen with
needs of disabled students in mind.
large text, while a CCTV (Closed
to bring services for disabled stu-
fier will allow students to see text
space so that two additional study
merly available only to two com-
bility Resource Center, Information
In the future, the rooms will
tions, the two new study rooms
ers. The first workstation will have
They also represent Hostos’ efforts st
Circuit television systems) magni-
dents into the 21 century.
Act (ADA),CUNY is among the
in large print.
out doors, so students in wheel-
working hard to integrate new
to be offered are noise reduction
chairs can fit through,” explained
technologies into facilities so that
headphones and Livescribe pens, in
Liaison to ARC. “They were built
tion to college.
over a sentence and have it read to
ommendations.”
nologies were developed with dis-
“They were constructed with-
Prof. Jorge Matos, the Library’s
according to ‘best practices’ recThe process to install these
thousands of colleges nationwide
Among the peripheral devices
disabled students can better transi- which users can take a pen, put it “Though these assistive tech-
you or printed out on a screen.
Lastly, these new doorless
abled students in mind, they can
rooms can be reserved for 3 hours
edge technologies began in Fall
ing,” added Prof. Matos. Not only
was offered for the Library’s other
2015, when Mr. Raymond Perez,
do these spaces offer more flexibil- study rooms.
rooms and equip them with cutting benefit all users to enhance learn-
the new director of ARC,
ity for disabled students, but all the
each, an extra hour beyond what
Funding for this technology is
approached the Library and Infor- PCs in the ILC area have been up-
currently being requested from the
mation Technology to talk about
the CUNY Strategic Technology
improving and updating accom-
graded with features such as
“zoom text” to help visually im-
modations for disabled students.
paired students. Dragon Natural-
of the Americans with Disabilities
recognition software, will also be
Institute for Accessibility.
Twenty five years after the passing lySpeaking, a popular speech
7
S
WECOME LINDA MILES, NEW LIBRARIAN AT HOSTOS LIBRARY
ay hello to our newest
agenda of reference and instruc-
librarian, Prof. Linda
tion librarians.”
Miles! She began August
She stressed that information
25, 2016 as Assistant
literacy encompasses a wide range
Professor/Reference Librarian.
of conceptual knowledge and skills
Born in Boulder, Colorado, Linda
beyond knowing where to click to
Michigan. Her research interests
“I really enjoy my job because I
grew up in a small town near Flint,
get peer-reviewed journal articles.
lie in the theater, as she graduated
can help students develop a nu-
from Hope College with a B.A. in Theatre and a Masters and Ph.D.
anced understanding of key issues to understand the differences be-
degree in Theatre History and Crit- tween types of resources and their
for the information age,” she said. With the recent controversy over
icism from the University of Texas
uses in the research process. “I
at Austin. She has also worked
consider each reference interaction “fake” websites from “reputable”
with small, non-profit theatre
a mini-lesson—providing
ones, she believes that the role of
tin, Texas.
serve the student beyond the cur-
literacy is more essential than ever.
NYC and graduated with a Masters need,” she said. In addition, she is
challenging time to be a librarian,”
companies in Chicago and in Aus- knowledge and strategies that will Since 2000, she has lived in
rent assignment or information
students’ difficulties in identifying
librarians in teaching information “This is an exciting and also
in Library Science from St. John’s
contributing to a pilot project inte- she added. “I am particularly en-
ing grew out of a natural curiosity
shops into first year English cours- struction duties, and collaborating
encouraged by her teachers. “One
es. She has also taken on a number with other library faculty to deep-
University. Linda’s love for read-
grating information literacy work- thused about taking on more in-
of my middle school science teach- of new initiatives aimed at provid- en the information literacy proers kept posing the question, ‘What ing support for student learning
gram,” she said. “Understanding
if?’” she recalled. “What if that
how information is organized and
speck of dust is a miniature world with a miniature society thriving on it?”
She brings this curiosity to her
and increasing access to library resources.
“Instruction and reference li-
brarians can be key partners for
classroom faculty across the disci-
made accessible helps us help students, who are finding their way
among a dizzying array of infor-
mation sources—sometimes for the
position as Reference Librarian.
plines,” she said. “I’d like faculty to first time in their academic lives.”
working on specific research as-
ergy between the student learning
signments, helps them explore
agenda they develop for their
Linda assists students who are
their topics and encourages them
be more aware that there’s a syn-
courses and the student learning
8
A
NYC MUSEUM FEATURES 1976 “SAVE HOSTOS” FLYER
1976 flyer from the
1976.
Gerald Meyer “Save
In November 2016, the Museum
Hostos” Collection
of the City of New York unveiled
will be displayed in
the exhibit “New York at Its Core”
an upcoming exhibit at the
which covers four centuries of
Museum of the City of New York
New York City history. The
and featured in a new book about
museum’s website indicates that
the1970s fiscal crisis in New York
the exhibit was five years in the
City.
making and will present a compel-
The Emergency Financial
ling story of New York’s rise from
Control Board (EFCB) was formed
a striving Dutch village to today’s
in Fall 1975 to make difficult
preeminent global city. The EFCB
funding decisions regarding city
Flyer created by the Community Coalition to Save Hostos (CCSH)
expenses. Many measures were
headquarters of the Emergency Financial Control Board located at
taken to control spending,
Collection, Hostos Community College Archives and Special
including increasing subway fares
for the May 10, 1976 march that proceeded from El Barrio to the 56th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. Gerald J. Meyer Collections/The City University of New York
flyer will help document the fiscal crisis and highlight the unique role Hostos played in the local community.
and cutting the budget of the City
Gerald Meyer recalls that “the
New York University Professor
University of New York (CUNY).
CCSH targeted the banks and the
Kim Phillips-Fein, a historian of
One of the EFCB’s decisions was
EFCB as opposed to political sites
twentieth century American
to close Hostos Community
and individuals.”
politics, is the author of Fear City:
The New York City Fiscal Crisis
College and merge it with Bronx
Another Hostos group that
Community College. In response,
played an integral role in saving
and the Rise of the Age of Austerity,
Hostos Professor Ramon Jimenez
the college was the Save Hostos
scheduled for publication by Met-
formed the Community Coalition
Committee (SHC), chaired by
ropolitan Books in 2017. It will
to Save Hostos (CCSH).
Professor Meyer and supported
contain the EFCB flyer.
One of the coalition’s first
by six subcommittees including
William Casari, College Archi-
major actions was to hold a
letter writing and community
vist and Librarian, assisted with the
demonstration in front of the
outreach committees. Ultimately,
recovery of the 1975 flyer.
midtown headquarters of the
through actions of several
EFCB and put pressure on it to
community groups, clergy and
rescind the decision to close
the faculty, students and staff of
Hostos. Hostos Professor Emeritus
Hostos, the college was saved in
—Prof. William Casari
9
STUDENTS, GET YOUR WORK PUBLISHED!
¡ESCRIBA!/ WRITE!
Visit http://commons.hostos.cuny.edu/escriba/2011/02/10/aboutus/ EACH YEAR WE PUBLISH YOUR WRITING AND ART. SUBMIT ANY TIME UP TO May 30, 2016.
Attach to an email to Prof. Miriam Laskin your writing (as a Word or RTF document), and art (in digital format), or
contact her with questions. All the information you need about ¡Escriba! is on the website, as well as previous issues to look at or print out.
Prof. Miriam Laskin, Hostos Library Editor of Escirba!/Write!
Room A213H in the Library
(718) 518-4207 office phone
mlaskin@hostos.cuny.edu
Hostos Immigrant Voices: a special issue of ¡Escriba!/Write! Attention students: submit essays, poetry, fiction, artwork, or memoir to this special themed issue of ¡Escriba! celebrating the lives and stories of immigrants. Tell us your stories and let your voices be heard! Please submit your work in Word or RTF (art in .JPG format) to Prof. Miriam Laskin at mlaskin@hostos.cuny.edu. Deadline for submission is March 17, 2017 Expected date of publication is May 2017
Barcodes and Bookends Editor-in-Chief
Hostos Community College Library
Jennifer Tang, Assistant Professor
475 Grand Concourse
Layout Advisor
Bronx, NY 10451
Madeline Ford, Chief Librarian
http://commons.hostos.cuny.edu/library/
Useful Numbers:
Library Hours
Circulation: (718) 518 4222 Archives: (718) 518 4220
Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm
Fri 9am-5pm** Sat and Sun 12-5 p.m.**
A/V Office: (718) 518 4225
This schedule is subject to change—please check the Hostos
Instruction: (718) 518 4207
library web site for the latest updates**
Reference: (718) 518 4215 Reserves: (718) 518 4224
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