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Guest post by Kristina De Voe, English and communication librarian

Temple University Libraries is celebrating National News Literacy Week from January 22 to January 26, 2024. National News Literacy Week is an annual initiative that turns a spotlight on local news and its role in a healthy democracy.

What is News Literacy?

News literacy, according to News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan education nonprofit, is “the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information and to recognize the standards of fact-based journalism to know what to trust, share and act on.”

In our current era of mis-and disinformation, news literacy is a critical skill. It teaches you how to think about the news and information you come across daily but not necessarily what to think about any particular source. News literacy also helps you develop a healthy skepticism about the quality of news and information you encounter, without becoming cynical about it.

Access Digital Newspapers and Magazines

Do you know that the Libraries offer access to many digital newspapers and magazines? Titles including The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and The Washington Post are freely available to the Temple community via our library databases. These digital resources can help you stay up to date on news, current events, and timely conversations all from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Discover our news-focused databases using our Find Newspapers guide.

Pro Tip: Curious whether the Libraries offer access to a particular magazine or newspaper online? You can search Library Search by title to find out. If the library has a particular publication, there will be a list of the databases to which the library provides access along with a link to the publication.

National News Literacy Events at Temple

To mark National News Literacy Week, the Libraries will offer the following online workshops:

Guest post by Kristina De Voe, English and communication librarian with the Open Education Group 

Did you know that each semester Temple University Libraries provide a list of textbooks that are available as library ebooks? The list is based on information Temple faculty submit to the campus bookstore. These materials are free for Temple students. Use our Etextbooks Available Through the Libraries page to find your course and see if your textbook is on the list! 

Why the Libraries Collect Textbooks 

Since 2017, the Libraries have purchased ebook copies of course texts whenever possible. The Libraries are committed to reducing barriers to access a rich array of resources for our campus and the wider community. One way we work to achieve this is by supporting textbook affordability. For example, in the 2022-23 academic year, the Libraries offered electronic access to 33% of course texts, saving students an estimated $732,500. 

The number of ebooks that the Libraries acquire each semester varies as not everything is available in electronic format. Textbook publishers like Pearson or Cengage usually do not sell ebooks to libraries. When an ebook is available to us, we prefer to get licenses that allow multiple simultaneous users, however, in some cases, we need to purchase single-user licenses, which means they can only be read or used by one person at a time.  

Get Help 

Students: Have questions about whether a textbook for your Temple class is available via the Libraries? Contact us!

Faculty: Did you know you can use the Barnes & Noble Adoption Insight Portal (AIP) to adopt a library ebook for your course? Have questions about whether the Libraries can purchase materials for your class? Need help determining what is already available? Looking for instructions on how to link a library ebook in Canvas? Contact your subject librarian or specialist.  

My name is Emily Foster, and I’ve had the honor of completing my field study for my Master of Library & Information Sciences from the University of Maryland at the Ginsburg Health Sciences Library this semester. Being at Temple for these past few months has been a strange kind of homecoming for me, since I’m originally a Temple owl (History ‘21)! 

Medical librarianship isn’t a particularly popular career goal in my cohort (in fact, as far as I know, I’m the only one pursuing it!) but after working for two years as an emergency department technician, then a public library assistant, I got to thinking: is there a way to combine these two interests? After starting my MLIS and realizing this was something I’d like to do, I reached out to Rebecca Lloyd, the History Subject Librarian at Charles Library, and she put me in contact with Jenny Pierce, Head of Research, Education and Outreach Services at Ginsburg Library, and the rest is history. 

I feel so lucky to have experienced so many different things at the Health Sciences Libraries. One of the major projects I worked on was entering metadata for research posters created by new-to-practice nurses in the nurse residency program at Temple University Hospital. This evidence-based research is conducted over one year and culminates in a poster highlighting a problem—and a potential solution to that problem—identified within the hospital, typically on the floor that nurse resident works on. The nurses are then expected to implement their findings on their floors. The metadata I generated was used to enter the posters into TUScholarShare, Temple’s institutional repository. This was a really exciting project because not only does it showcase the hard work of past nurse residents, but it also makes the results of their research available to future scholars. 

Ginsburg Library is truly fascinating behind the scenes. I met everyone who works here, got my hands on a little bit of everything, and received patient and extremely knowledgeable guidance along the way. I was given an amazing chance to put into practice the skills I gained during my program, as well as to add new skills that only on-the-job training could provide. While leaving is bittersweet, I’m so happy and grateful for the time I spent here. 

It’s that time of the semester—when research papers are due, exams are taken, and you need to hunker down and finish up your work. We are here to remind you that the Libraries have the resources you need to help you finish the semester strong.

A good place to start is our website, where you can use Library Search for all your questions. You can also see our hours (including extended hour offerings) for all library locations. Or you can go directly to our undergraduate and graduate user guides containing details of library resources tailored for you!

Ways to De-Stress

We are hosting a few opportunities for you to take a break from the busyness of this time of year that we hope you’ll take advantage of!  

On Friday, December 12 at 2pm, stop by the Makerspace for our Holiday Décor Workshop. Make gifts and décor for the holidays with help from staff on the laser cutter and 3D printers. Some possible ideas include: 3D printed trinkets, custom greeting cards, 3D printed cookie cutters, laser cut ornaments, and more. 

And what’s a better way to take your mind off things than playing around….with our games. Calling all game players…digital and board! On December 13 starting at 11 am, we’ll have our Virtual Reality Lab open and ready for video gaming on the consoles and PC,  as well as some tables set aside for playing board games. Bring your study group for a much needed break, or play some library staff and fellow students. You can see some of the games we have available to play and check out in the library’s online catalog.

24/7 Live Online Chat

Want to get online help right now…anytime on any day? You can contact us 24/7 via chat to get answers to your questions.

Find Your Study Space

Both Charles Library and Ginsburg Library have rooms that you can book to work alone or in a group. At Charles Library, you choose what kind of studying environment you like best–—whether that’s a quiet place to study, a view of our green roof on the fourth floor, or you prefer to plop down in a comfy bean bag chair, we have you covered. 

Snack cart

During the week of December 11, be on the lookout for the snack cart at Charles Library. We’ll be giving out free goodies to help you stay fueled and focused. We will also be available to answer questions and point you in the right direction regarding library resources. 

Wellness Resource Center

Our friends at the Wellness Resource Center have several offerings to help you through this time of the semester. You can get details on their various activities planned for the week of December 11. Be sure to also look into other campus resources designed to help students de-stress and take preventive measures to avoid end-of-the-semester burnout.  

The End Is Near

We know this time of year can be difficult. We hope this roundup of library assistance gives you some relief. And if not, just know that soon you’ll be heading into your well-deserved winter break. Even then, the Libraries will be here for you during break and when we return for the spring. You got this!

On October 24^th, 2023 Charles Library hosted the first ever Research Resources Day, a collaboration between Temple University Libraries and University Press (TULUP), the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), and Information Technology Services (ITS). The two-and-a-half hour catered event showcased the resources and tools available to researchers to help them throughout the research lifecycle.  

Library staff members, Felipe Valdez and Van Tran, greet attendees at the welcome table
(photo credit: Olivia Given Castello)

Brief speeches from three campus research and technology leaders, Josh Gladden, vice-president for research, Dean Joe Lucia, Temple Libraries, and Larry Brandolph, vice-president for information technologies, addressed the importance of collaboration and information sharing across the University, along with adapting to the changing needs of the research community. Though this was the first event of its kind, the three leaders pledged to work closely to meet the needs of researchers, and continue hosting similar public events to promote resources, build connections, and provide support. 

Tables from the triumvirate of support departments advertised a wide variety of resources to assist researchers with their work regardless of their field and method of research. Services and topics that were highlighted included: Pivot, SciENcv, Grants Administration, Research Compliance, Innovation Nest, ERA, research data management, planning and sharing, LabArchives, ORCID, TUScholarShare, GIS and mapping, publishing support, qualitative data support, the evidence synthesis and systematic reviews service, Microsoft Teams, storing data, HIPAA compliance, and sharing data with external entities. 

From conceptualizing research ideas and applying for funding to sharing and preserving research data, support staff were on hand with information and answers to a broad swath of research-related questions. The fifty or so attendees spanned Temple’s schools and campuses, represented researchers from the Fox School of Business, the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication, the College of Public Health, and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. The discussion and questions covered an array of topics, such as how to manage research funding, the grant application process, open access publishing, secure data storage, choosing an appropriate data repository, and the importance of registering for an ORCID iD. 

Library staff members Rebecca Lloyd, Alicia Pucci and Travis Nace share information about ORCID iDs
(photo credit: Olivia Given Castello)

For those that missed the inaugural event, future iterations are planned in different locations across the University. Consider attending to learn about the available resources and meet people who can help support Temple research projects. 

Thanks to funding from the Libraries, Temple University recently became an institutional member of the Qualitative Data Repository (QDR). QDR is a dedicated archive for storing and sharing qualitative and mixed-method research data, and accompanying documentation, hosted by the Center for Qualitative and Multi-Method Inquiry at Syracuse University. 

Temple researchers can discover qualitative datasets in QDR for research and teaching.  Temple affiliates can also share and preserve their own research data in QDR to satisfy publisher and funder requirements, including the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. QDR is a CoreTrustSeal certified repository that helps researchers share data responsibly and has the infrastructure and expertise to host sensitive data with restricted access. 

Benefits of QDR 

Sharing qualitative data takes advanced preparation to ensure participant consent is in place, and that data has been properly prepared and anonymized. QDR staff specialize in qualitative research methods and data curation and are able to assist Temple researchers throughout the research process.  

Benefits of using QDR include: 

• Detailed data curation assistance to ensure deposited data is fully de-identified, annotated, and ready for sharing 
• Tiered levels of data access including the ability to restrict access to sensitive data 
• Persistent identifiers to make data discoverable and citable 
• Data metrics including views, downloads, and citations to track impact 
• Guidance and documentation on qualitative research and data management topic such as working with human participant data, data management planning, deidentifying data, and conducting disclosure risk review  

Our membership supports a limited number of no-cost data deposits per year by Temple researchers. Researchers should register for a QDR account using their Temple email address to download or deposit data.  

Ideally, potential depositors should contact QDR early in their project, before data collection occurs, to receive guidance on designing data collection and data management planning for grant submissions.  

If you are applying for a large or multi-year grant, please consult with QDR before designating them as a repository. There may be additional costs for large-scale or multi-year projects. 

Data Sharing at Temple 

Given the increase in funder-mandated data management planning and sharing requirements, researchers must carefully consider how they will responsibly share their research data. In addition to the Qualitative Data Repository, Temple University is also a member of ICPSR, and has its own institutional repository, TUScholarShare, that can curate deidentified data. We also provide guidance on selecting the right general or disciplinary repository for your data. 

Get Help 

Have questions about sharing data or using QDR? See our guide to the Qualitative Data Repository, or contact Temple’s institutional representative, Olivia Given Castello, at olivia.castello@temple.edu. 

To learn more about data management planning, see our research data management guide and tutorials on data management planning with DMPTool. To learn more about qualitative data, see our qualitative data analysis (QDA) guide and consider attending one of our upcoming library workshops on QDA. 

Welcome to the fall 2023 semester at Temple University! Temple Libraries is here to support you with a variety of resources, materials, and services to get you started and keep you on track as the semester unfolds. 

This post highlights just a few of the ways you can use the Libraries this academic year. Be sure to check our website for more resources, and visit our contact us page to learn about all the ways to get in touch to ask questions. 

Find the materials you need 

The Libraries provide access to a broad range of physical and online materials—including books, journals, articles, music, and movies—all searchable through our website: library.temple.edu. 

If it’s rare or unique archival materials you’re after, learn more about the Special Collections Research Center and the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection and peruse our digital collections. 

Each semester the Libraries compiles a list of digitally available textbooks that may substitute for required or recommended course textbooks. They are available to students at no cost.

Get personalized research help 

Librarians are here to offer personalized assistance as you work on your research papers and projects. No matter what you are studying or what major you pursue, we have a librarian who specializes in your field. 

Getting in touch with your librarian is easy: you can chat, email, or schedule a virtual or in-person appointment. Our chat service is 24/7, so no matter when you are working, someone will be here to answer your questions. 

Research, at your pace 

Once you’ve scoped out your syllabi, head over to our comprehensive Research Guides for each of your course subjects (curated by our subject librarians!).  

Our self-paced library tutorials can you help you develop your research skills. 

We also have tailored undergraduate and graduate user guides to help get you started. 

Explore spaces to study and work 

We offer a variety of open seating options to satisfy student needs for individual and group study. Students can book study rooms ahead of time at Charles Library and the Ginsburg Health Sciences Library. 

If you are interested in making use of the Libraries’ advanced equipment and technology, visit the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio in Charles Library and the Innovation Space at Ginsburg Health Sciences Library. 

Access tech 

Need to print or use a computer? Take advantage of the laptop lending program and charging options, and look into Temple’s Print on the Go service for all your printing needs. 

Attend free events and workshops  

We host a variety of events and workshops throughout the academic year. In addition, we’ll be offering a lineup of concerts, conversations, and specialized workshops, on everything from CV writing to graphic design for visual abstracts to 3D printing. 

As always, our events and workshops are free and open to all. 

Stay up to date! 

Follow us on social media and sign up for our mailing list to get future updates from the Libraries, including upcoming events, featured resources, and more.