Library News - the Evelyn S. Field Library Newsletter

RVCC Librarian wins NJAL's 2025 Distinguished Service award

Congratulations to RVCC's very own Electronic Resources & Web Services Librarian Alyssa Valenti, who has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Service award from NJAL, the Academic Librarians section of the NJ Library Association. This award honors a librarian who, by their outstanding contributions, has directly enriched the profession of librarianship in New Jersey. Please join us in congratulating Alyssa on receiving this prestigious and well-deserved award!

You can read the full award announcement in the Spring 2025 NJAL Newsletter, available at: https://docs.google.com.mcas.ms/document/d/1WYqTapUaBKYpOh3B9EIKAHsSKz3oPVQD9hCw0wZBTfs/edit?tab=t.teqihnnu77xz#heading=h.8fimwp76t8e7

Therapy Dogs coming to Library for Finals - May 5th from 1:30-2:30pm!

What better way to de-stress during finals than to spend some time with a gentle and lovable therapy dog? Stop by the library next Monday 5/5, and visit with dogs Buddy and Maddie-Mae. Dogs will be in the leisure reading lounge, right near the main library entrance. 

New & Improved Group Study Rooms!

Over the past few weeks, we've been busy here in the library upgrading our group study rooms.  We've added new collaborative tables, new adjustable chairs, and LCD monitors for sharing computer screens with your group.  Here's a look at some of the progress, in pictures!
 

Library study rooms (pre-renovation):
 

Step 1: Old furniture removed:

New Chairs waiting to be installed:

New tables with integrated USB/AC power outlets:

Completed rooms - new furniture and monitors in place:

Whiteboard question of the week ("is it lunchtime yet?" edition)

Take a Study Break at the library!

As we approach the very busy end-of-semester rush, don't forget to take an occasional break to de-stress!  Stop by the library and try your hand at a jigsaw puzzle, some drawing, sodoku, chess, and more! Taking some time to relax will help recharge your batteries for your research papers and final exams!

The library also has a supply of free anti-stress toys available to all - stop by and pick one up next time you're in the library!

Library Database Spotlight: ProQuest Ebook Central

Looking for high-quality, authoritative books on your topic?  Don't forget about the RVCC library's extensive collection of Ebooks! For example, the ProQuest Ebook Central database contains tens of thousands of academic titles, covering most subjects. 

A complete table of contents is provided for each book, so you can easily jump to the chapter or section you are looking for.  Also available is a “Search within book” feature, to easily scan through the entire text of the book to find sections where specific words or phrases are discussed. Individual pages and chapters can be printed or downloaded as PDFs.  

 

The library's Ebooks are available 24/7 from anywhere, with your RVCC G# and password. So when searching for information on your topic, give ProQuest Ebook Central a try!  

Website spotlight: ZoteroBib

Have you ever needed to generate a quick citation or bibliography for a paper?  ZoteroBib can help!  ZoteroBib helps you build a bibliography instantly from any computer or device, without creating an account or installing any software. It’s brought to you by the team behind Zotero, a powerful open-source research tool recommended by thousands of universities worldwide.

ZoteroBib makes it easy to cite different types of sources.  If you are citing a book, you can simply enter the book's ISBN, and click the “Cite” button:

It will generate the citation and add it to your bibliography (be sure to select your desired citation style from the menu - in this example I am using MLA style, 9th edition):

You can add journal articles by entering the article's DOI (digital object identifier).  You can usually find the DOI on the front page of the article, or listed in the library database record where you found the article - if you need help finding the DOI for an article, ask a librarian.  A DOI looks something like this:

Click Cite and ZoteroBib will add the article to your bibliography:

You can also enter URL's to cite websites, or use the “Manual Entry” button to enter the information for your source manually. Once you are finished entering all of your sources, you will have a complete bibliography:

You can then just click the “Copy to Clipboard” button to copy your entire bibliography, and paste it into your document:

So if you're looking for a quick and easy way to generate a bibliography or reference list, give ZoteroBib a try, at https://zbib.org.  It's free and easy, and doesn't require any password, account, or downloads.

Whiteboard Question of the Month: Favorite Movie edition

Our library group study rooms are currently being painted, and brand new tables, chairs, and tech equipment will be installed soon.  While this work is being done, the group study rooms will temporarily have reduced availability.  Rooms will be available (on a walk-in basis only) from 10am-9pm, Monday through Thursday only.  Rooms will be closed prior to 10am Mon-Thu, and all day on Fridays and Saturdays.  Advance online room reservations will be unavailable until work is completed, which should be within the next 2-3 weeks.

We apologize for any inconvenience as we make these necessary improvements to our group study rooms. Check back here and on our library Facebook page for the latest updates.

Upgrades coming to the Library's group study rooms!

We're excited to announce that some big changes are coming to the RVCC Library's group study rooms on the 2nd floor! New study tables will allow for groups to share work easily, and to collaborate on projects and assignments. Tabletops will have multiple built-in power and USB outlets, so you can keep all your laptops and devices powered up while working. Study rooms will also feature flat-screen LCD monitors, to allow you to easily connect your laptop and share your screen with the group while collaborating.  Lastly, we'll be upgrading the seating with modern, adjustable (and yes, comfortable!) task chairs.

We are hoping to complete these upgrades by the end of March. Please note that while the rooms are being upgraded and new furniture is being installed, some or all of our study rooms may be out of service temporarily.  We will try our best to minimize the amount of time any study rooms will be unavailable - we know they are very popular spots in our library!

Need help with research?  Let's chat! (Or zoom, or email, or text, or meet in person…)
 

Whether you are doing research from home, or from here on campus, help from a friendly librarian is as close as your keyboard.  Live chat reference help is available during any hours the library is open.  Librarians are on hand to help you navigate our databases, find quality resources, and answer your questions.  

You can access the library's chat service by clicking on the “Get Answers” icon on our library's home page.  This page also has instructions on how to reach a librarian via email and text.  See screenshot below:

And, should you need more in depth research help, you can also schedule a one-on-one research consultation with a librarian, either in-person or via Zoom.  The links to make an appointment are also on our “Get Answers” page.

And of course, in-person help is always available! Just stop by the library's Reference Desk, and speak with a librarian!  

So whether you prefer in-person, chat, zoom, or email - the library's got you covered, and we're here to help!

6 Things You Should Know about Proquest’s AI Research Assistant 

By Megan Dempsey with assistance from Claude AI*

Proquest has launched Research Assistant across its platform, an AI tool intended to support your research tasks while searching Proquest databases. Here are 6 things you should know about Research Assistant if you plan on using any of the AI features. 

            1. How to Level Up Your Search Terms with Assistance 🔍

Suggested search terms will appear below the search bar once you have results. These are based on your initial search and can help you discover related concepts you might not have thought of and identify more specific concepts related to your research topic, with each term easily added to your search as a keyword. 

           2. Why the Key Takeaways Are Helpful (But Don't Quote Them!) 📝

When you open an article, the Key Takeaways offer an AI-generated summary that may be more readable than the article’s abstract and can help you better understand the article’s main ideas. Just remember - while these takeaways are great for deciding if an article is worth your time, you shouldn't quote them in your paper since they're not actually from the original text.

           3. Using Subject Tags to Find the Good Stuff Fast 🎯

Below the key takeaways, you'll find indexing terms (aka subject headings) that are like hashtags for academic articles. Clicking these terms helps you run a narrower search with highly relevant results but remember - combining many terms will reduce the number of results since articles must contain all selected terms.

           4. The Brainstorm Button Is Mostly Recycled Info 💡

When you let the AI “Brainstorm related research topics,” each suggestion includes info about why it might be interesting to research that topic, but it doesn’t really add new ideas to what is already given in the key takeaways. But if you use it and find one of the suggested topics is valuable, you can click the magnifying glass icon to run a new search on that topic.

           5. Making Sense of What Terms Mean in the Article 🌟

The "Describe important concepts" feature ranks terms by importance and explains them using the document's own context. Think of it as getting a mini-glossary customized just for your article. 

           6. What to Skip: The Research Assistant Feature That's Not Worth Your Time ⚠️

While the "Find sources about these concepts" button sounds promising, it's actually a bit too enthusiastic - it'll flood you with millions of results by searching for any article that mentions any of the important concepts. Stick to using the more focused search options instead.

Database Spotlight: Testaments to the Holocaust: Documents and Rare Printed Materials from the Wiener Library, London

Testaments to the Holocaust is the online publication of the archives of the Wiener Library, London, the first archive to collect evidence of the Holocaust and the anti-semitic activities of the German Nazi Party. It contains documentary evidence collected in several different programmes: the eyewitness accounts which were collected before, during and after the Second World War, from people fleeing the Nazi oppression, a large collection of photographs of pre-war Jewish life, the activities of the Nazis, and the ghettoes and camps, a collection of postcards of synagogues in Germany and eastern Europe, most since destroyed, a unique collection of Nazi propaganda publications including a large collection of 'educational' children's' books, and the card index of biographical details of prominent figures in Nazi Germany, many with portrait photographs.

This collection makes it possible for students, researchers, and anyone interested in learning more about this dark period in history, to view these unique primary source photos and historical documents, many of which are unavailable elsewhere outside of the Wiener Library in London.  The collection presents an important record of the Holocaust, and is available to all students and faculty via the RVCC Library website.

To access the collection, go to https://library.raritanval.edu/testamentstotheholocaust.

This collection is made available through the Hirsch Library of the RVCC Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Whiteboard question of the month (what's on your lock screen?)

Library Scavenger Hunt - win a Starbucks gift card!
Feb 3 - Feb 14

Learn about the library, have some fun, and be entered for a chance to win a Starbucks gift card!  Stop by the library between Mon Feb 3 and Fri Feb 14 to complete the library scavenger hunt.  Two winners will be drawn from among the completed entries.  Open to new and returning students!

"Anne Frank in Translation" exhibit - now on display in The Morris and Dorothy Hirsch Research Library (2nd floor of RVCC library)

We are excited to announce a wonderful exhibit currently on display in the Hirsch Research Library, located on the 2nd floor of the RVCC Library.  The exhibit, titled “Anne Frank in Translation”, sheds light on Anne Frank's enduring legacy, and her role as a powerful symbol of the Holocaust.  The exhibit will run through May 15, and is open to the public.

As part of this ongoing exhibit, The Hirsch Library will also be hosting a special screening of the film “White Bird”, on Thursday January 30 from 1-3pm.  The screening is open to all, however registration is required.  Please scan the QR code on the flyer below to register, or visit the website of the RVCC Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies for more information and a link to register.

Located on the 2nd floor of the RVCC Library, the Morris and Dorothy Hirsch Research Library contains a curated collection of books and media related to the subjects and study of the Holocaust, genocide, and racism.  The Hirsch Library is open during library hours, and most books in the collection are available to be checked out.  If you need any help using the collection, do not hesitate to ask a librarian!

Database Spotlight: Nursing Education in Video

The Nursing Education in Video database (formerly Medcom) is an up-to-date collection of demonstration and training videos designed to help nursing students improve their clinical skills.  It contains a library of over 500 videos covering all aspects of clinical nursing and patient care.

Videos can be searched by title or keyword.  And if you sign up for a personal account, you can save videos to your own playlists, as well as create your own library of customized clips from different videos.  It's a great resource for any nursing student!

Whiteboard Question of the Month (gratitude is good for you!)

This week, we've transformed our library classroom into a "Relaxation Room". Stop by and de-stress during Finals  with crafts, puzzles, games, comfy chairs, and free tea and snacks!

Therapy Dogs in Library - Thursday Dec 5 from 1-2pm
 

The rush of the Holiday season, plus studying for Final Exams, can sometimes equal stress. Stop by the library on Thursday Dec 5th from 1-2pm and de-stress by visiting with a friendly therapy dog!  

Visit the library's new Leisure Reading area!

The library is pleased to announce our new “Leisure Reading” area, located right near the entrance to the library.  It's a great place to discover a new popular novel to read, challenge a friend to a game of chess, or just sit in a comfy chair and relax between classes.  

And, did you know that reading for pleasure is good for you?  It's true.  Studies have shown that leisure reading can enhance mental health and reduce stress among college students.  We've got novels by popular authors in all different genres, so there's something for everyone. And if you're looking for a specific book or author - just ask a librarian!

Database Spotlight: Opposing Viewpoints in Context

If you're looking for research and opinion on current hotly debated or controversial topics, Gale's Opposing Viewpoints database can be a great resource.  It includes articles and essays written by subject experts, which argue both sides of an issue to help students gain a broader understanding and learn from differing perspectives.

Topic pages give a general overview, and provide a list of in-depth pro/con viewpoints, as well as links to related articles from newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals.

A list of viewpoint articles which argue both sides of the topic are available.  These can be a great way to encourage critically thinking about all sides of a hotly-debated issue.

You can find Opposing Viewpoints on our library's Databases page.  And as always, if you need any help - just ask a librarian!

Whiteboard question of the month (from apples to… lizards? 😳)

Need a charge? (Or a calculator? Or headphones?…)

Need to charge up your phone or device?  The library's got you covered.  You can now borrow charging cables and blocks at the library's circulation desk! Cables can be checked out for up to 3 hours.

The library also loans out other useful items, including calculators and noise-canceling headphones. (Headphones are for in-library use only.)

There is also a handy charging station mounted on the pillar near the library's reference desk, if your device needs a quick charge while you're working in the library: 

Chess anyone?
 

Looking to take a quick study break? Why not challenge a friend to a game of chess? It's fun and competitive. The library now has a chess set available in our leisure reading area - it's just to the left as you enter the library.

 

Database spotlight: Digital Theatre Plus

The library recently added a new database to our online streaming collections - Digital Theatre+. Geared towards literature and theatre students, DT+ offers full-length filmed stage performances of classic and modern plays, along with interviews and workshops with playwrights, directors, designers, actors, musicians, and others involved in the playmaking process. Selections range from classic Shakespeare to contemporary productions.  The content is available to all students, faculty, and staff.  

Website Spotlight: The Banned Book Club
 

Here's a sad truth: book banning is still a prevalent issue in the United States in 2024.  Schools and libraries from many parts of the country are seeing efforts to ban books, and are being forced to remove titles from their shelves.  The Banned Book Club is a project from the Digital Public Library of America which aims to make all banned books freely available to all, as digital copies.
 

All NJ residents can download the free Palace e-book app to gain access to all titles in the Banned Book Club.  For step-by-step instructions, please see https://thepalaceproject.org/banned-book-club/.

Whiteboard Question of the Month (music lover's edition)
 

Extra, extra!  Free NY Times digital access!

Did you know that all RVCC students, faculty, and staff have free access to the New York Times online? Be sure to take advantage of this great resource!  Just go to https://library.raritanval.edu/NYTimes. If prompted to login, use your G# and password.  Then, when you reach the NY Times site, create your personal NYTimes account using your email address. You're all set!  Once your NY Times account is set up, you can just go directly to the NY Times website and sign in with your email and password, to gain full access to all NY Times content.

Looking for help with citations and bibliographies?  Give NoodleTools a try!
 

Looking for a way to make creating your citations and bibliographies in MLA, APA, or Chicago style easier? NoodleTools can help! NoodleTools allows you to easily download citations from most library databases, and will format them in the style you choose - and even create a full bibliography that can be pasted into your research paper!  Just look for the “cite” option when using a library database, and then look for the link that says “Export to NoodleTools":

If you are using a source that did not come from a library database (such as a website or print book), you can easily enter the information manually,and let NoodleTools format the citation. It's a great way to make your research easier, more organized, and more accurate!

To sign into NoodleTools, just go to https://library.raritanval.edu/noodletools and sign in using the “Microsoft 365” link, and enter your G# and password when prompted.

Need more help with NoodleTools?  Check out our online NoodleTools help, or ask a librarian!

Website spotlight: Fighting election misinformation

With Election Day fast approaching, it is more important than ever to be aware of election misinformation.  The News Literacy Project is a non-partisan organization dedicated to helping young people become educated, well-informed voters and critical thinkers. 

As part of this mission, the News Literacy Project has created an Election 2024 Misinformation Dashboard.  It provides a way to stay informed regarding the falsehoods and misinformation that surround the 2024 election cycle.  

Fight the tactics of misinformation and become an informed voter!  And, if you're not registered yet - be sure to register to vote! 

Library Scavenger Hunt winners!
 

Congratulations to Daniela Villadiego, Te'Anna Neptune, Seeun Kim, and Ashley Reyes!  Each won a Starbucks gift card in the RVCC Library scavenger hunt - while learning about our library and having some fun!  Thanks to all of our students who participated!

Whiteboard Question of the Month - Farewell Summer '24 (good times!)

Stop by and share your own thoughts on the library whiteboard near the entrance - there's a new question every week!

Attention students!  Please help RVCC's librarians to improve our services, by taking this brief survey.  Thank you!

Survey link: https://forms.office.com/r/hhFrStXaFv