Most students are aware that there are two libraries on campus, but very few know about the myriad services the libraries offer. Usually students only venture to the library during midterms and finals to cram for exams and write research papers.

While the library has computers and study rooms available to the students, they provide many other services that are not utilized by the Iona population. One such service is their Research Mini Workshop Series.

This semester’s Workshop Series started on Thursday, Feb. 9. The first workshop entitled “How to Google Better,” aimed at teaching students, faculty and staff just that—how to use the popular search engine more effectively. It is safe to say that everyone in college is aware of Google and how to search for content on it, but how many of the hits are actually helpful to the actual search content? This workshop taught students how to get better results from Google.

At the beginning of next month, the libraries will be offering a workshop on citing sources. Even though many students believe they can just go to external sites like easybib.com to receive accurate citations, this is not necessarily true.

When asked about professors’ reasons for having the librarians attend classes, librarian Callie Bergeris stated the professors see many students only citing Google, and this concerns them. “We have access to the highest scholarship out there,” Bergeris said, “and students are paying for these resources. They should take advantage of them.”

One workshop that will help particularly with citing sources is the RefWorks workshop on Thursday, March 22. RefWorks is a service the library subscribes to that allows students to export citations from articles found on the databases available.

Not only will it take these citations and compose a bibliography, but RefWorks will also insert the citations right into a student’s paper.

“It formats your paper as you go, but it does have a learning curve,” Bergeris said. Since it has this learning curve, the library is offering to help students learn to use this great resource.

All of the workshops only last half an hour during activity hour. They are made to be brief and fit into students’ busy schedules, while allowing them to have time for lunch or other activities.

If students have more questions and want more guidance afterwards, the library staff can assist them. The library’s Research Assistance Program allows students to meet a librarian for an hour, during which time the librarian will help the student with research roadblocks, composition of citations, utilization of RefWorks and other related queries. Students are encouraged to partake in the Research Assistance Program as much as they need, as the librarians seek to foster well developed scholarship by the Iona community.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for the library’s services. There is also a reference desk that has someone working during all hours of the library’s operations. Students can visit the desk in person, but they are also able to call and receive guidance via phone.

If the question is quick, students can also instant message a librarian at Ryanreference on AIM. For less urgent matters, an email can be sent via Ask a Librarian on the website and within 24 hours a librarian will respond.

Both the libraries and the librarians are there to help students in order to make their research as easy as possible. The next workshop, “Beyond Google,” will be on Thursday, Feb. 23 at noon in the Seminar Room of Ryan Library. For any questions or suggestions, students and staff can contact Callie Bergeris at [email protected] or 914-633-2227.