The BԪ Libraries are gearing up for National Library Week, April 7-13, with activities that celebrate the many contributions libraries and librarians make daily to improve and enhance learning, skill-building and cultural enjoyment.
“The theme for the 2019 National Library Week is ‘Libraries = Strong Communities,’ and that’s exactly what we see every day,” said Mustafa Sakarya, Associate Professor and Director of Libraries. Considering Mercy’s four libraries (Dobbs Ferry, Bronx, Manhattan and Yorktown Heights) accommodate an average of 43,000 visits per month, this lively and engaged community of learners rightly deserves a week of recognition.
On display through April 13, BԪ will host continuous showings of featuring Mercy librarians talking about their passion for finding new ways to enhance the student experience. Whether it’s access to technology like 3-D printing, research databases and poster printing, or one-to-one support that allows students to do “less searching and more digesting” of the vast resources available, the BԪ librarians demonstrate deep and broad expertise and a commitment to promoting student success.
Throughout the week, the libraries will also make information available on how to apply online for a free New York Public Library (NYPL) card and SimplyE e-reader app, tools that give students ready access to an enormous range of materials, including nearly 53 million items at 92 locations in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. NYPL cardholder benefits include Culture Pass, which provides free access to dozens of museums and other cultural institutions throughout the city. In addition to borrowing books in every format (many for instant download to any device), cardholders can stream movies from a 30,000-item catalog, access test preparation materials and interactive practice exams and even learn, or brush up on, a second language online using real-life conversations for quick fluency. All services are free.
“Here at the library, we are always looking for ways to energize the library experience,” Sakarya said. “Throughout the Mercy community, you’ll see a commitment to the entire student—understanding who they are, where they come from and how we can help them acquire skills and knowledge they can apply to their lives that will help them become better citizens of the world.”
In honor of National Library Week, here are videos featuring BԪ librarians explaining how the libraries contribute to students' success: