Forsythia, photo by A. LaVertu, 2022
Hard to believe that spring is just around the corner…but here comes March…and more workshops@Hirsh! This month’s workshops have a focus on skills for larger, more complex literature review projects, such as systematic reviews. If you are at the beginning of such a project, or contemplating one, then March workshops@Hirsh are not to be missed!
Workshops are held on Wednesdays from 2-3pm via Zoom, unless otherwise noted. Registration for workshops is required. A Zoom link and password will be sent to registrants.
Click on the workshop link to learn more about the workshop and to register .
Please note that workshops are open to only Tufts-affiliated individuals.
Systematic, narrative, scoping… oh my!: Selecting a Literature Review Project Online
Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110595
Description: Systematic, narrative, scoping… oh my! This workshop will provide an introduction to various types of scientific literature review projects and help you decide which is the best fit for your own research. Open to researchers of all experience levels.
Documenting your literature search methods
Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110633?hs=a
Description: There are many reasons to document your literature search methods, including:
- Some publication types require it (i.e., systematic and scoping reviews)
- Having a record for future search updates
- Transparency and increased understanding of one’s discovery process
This workshop will discuss the reasons why it is important document your literature search methods. It will also review how to draft a narrative description of one’s search methods, tools for documenting one’s search strategy and results, including PRISMA flowcharts.
Python for Data Visualization Online
Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110636
Description: Python is a powerful, open-source and popular programming language with a wide variety of applications. In this workshop, we’ll cover everything you need to know in order to create graphs – no previous experience required!
Systematic Reviews: Laying the Groundwork
Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Registration: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10103743?hs=a
Description: Come to this workshop to learn about systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and other types of high-level research reviews. We will discuss topics such as the elements of a systematic review, protocols, resources, timelines, and suggested databases.
Essentials of Data Management
Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Registration: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110622?hs=a
Description: In this workshop, we will review best practices for naming, organizing, storing, depositing your research data, and creating a Data Management Plan. Managing your data before you begin your research and throughout its life cycle is essential to ensure its current usability and long-run preservation and access.
Help ease back in from the long weekend and join us for a study break tea on Tuesday 2/21 at 2:30pm down at the Library Service Desk! We’ll have some treats to make your Tuesday easier.
Effective today, (February 15, 2023) items that are returned more than 30 minutes after their due time will be considered overdue and you will receive a block. If you are having an issue with returning an item on time, please contact the Library Service Desk as soon as possible and we can do our best to accommodate. We can be reached at hhsl@tufts.edu, 617-636-6705 (phone), or 617-477-8439 (text). Please visit our Policy for Overdue Items page for more information about this policy.
In observance of Presidents Day, we will be operating with a modified schedule on Monday, February 20th. The Library Service Desk will be open from 12pm – 7pm and Library Offices will be closed. We will open for our usual hours on Tuesday. Enjoy the mild weather and have a good weekend!
Photo by Craig Curtis on Unsplash
Believe it or not, it’s time to start applying for summer internships and other opportunities that require a personal statement. Are panicking about your personal statement? Worry not! Help is on the way!
Join us for a special Zoom workshop with Christine Smith, MS, RD, a Health Sciences Writing Consultant on the Boston Campus. Christine will provide advice on writing personal statements, as well as her top writing tips. We will also share resources on application writing and interviewing.
Writing Personal Statements
Date: Monday, February 27, 2023
Time: 11:000m – 12:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10117693
Description: Join us for a special workshop with Christine Smith, MS, RD, a Health Sciences Writing Consultant on the Boston Campus. Christine will provide advice on writing personal statements, as well as her top writing tips. We will also share resources on application writing and interviewing.
We’re in the thick of the semester, so why not take a moment to de-stress and send some love? Next Thursday and Friday we’ll have a variety of supplies out at the Library Service Desk so you can make valentines for yourself, your friends, or that special someone (your favorite librarian, perhaps?). We’ll have all the glitter and doilies you need to let someone know how much you appreciate them! Supplies will go out at 12pm and stay up through the evening.
Please join us in welcoming our new Reference Assistant, Katie Kidwell! She started just before the winter holiday break and has already seamlessly integrated herself into our staff.
Originally from the Midwest, she moved to Boston a decade ago. She has a masters in higher education and spent the last 8 years working in college housing and residence in the city before deciding she wanted to be a librarian when she grew up. She’s currently earning her MLIS from Simmons and also works part-time at the Somerville Public Library. When she’s not working or studying, she loves to watch movies and argue about them with friends, enjoys cooking but not baking, and can be found digging through records and vintage glassware at antique shops around the country.
If you haven’t met her yet, say hello next time you stop by the Desk!
Thanks to Valentine’s Day, February is the month of love – and you are going to fall in love with February Workshops@Hirsh!!!!
February Workshops@Hirsh have a special focus on research projects, such as theses and dissertations. We will be reviewing everything from how to approach the literature review, to exploring copyright issues for theses/dissertations, and to how to format your theses/dissertation.
And because we love you , we have a very special workshops presented by Christine Smith, the Health Sciences Writing Consult, on personal statements. This one is not to be missed!
Workshops are held on Wednesdays from 2-3pm via Zoom, unless otherwise noted. Registration for workshops is required. A Zoom link and password will be sent to registrants.
Click on the workshop link to learn more about the workshop and to register .
Please note that workshops are open to only Tufts-affiliated individuals.
Approaching the Lit Review
Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10104549?hs=a
Description: In this workshop, students will learn how to approach the literature review. Topics covered include database selection, devising effective search techniques, limiting articles to relevant study-types, and tools for keeping track of results.
Beyond PubMed: Scopus and Web of Science
Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110657?hs=a
Description: Learn why Scopus and Web of Science are worth adding to your search toolkit. In addition to extensive coverage of the biomedical literature these databases are a fantastic way to look at journal impact, gain insight into how many times an article has been cited, and identify potential collaborators. This workshop will also compare Web of Science and Scopus to help you decide which database is best for you.
Copyright & Your Thesis
Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10103761
Description: This workshop will provide guidance navigating the various copyright questions and decisions that come up during the capstone, thesis, or dissertation process regarding your rights and the rights of others. Whether you are including other people’s content, such as adapting graphs or images, reusing some of your own work, or publishing all or part of your manuscript before or after submitting, there are copyright considerations that can seem challenging and daunting to address. We’re here to help!
Formatting Your Thesis/Dissertation
Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110826
Description: You have not ‘crossed the finish line’ on your thesis or dissertation until it has been properly formatted for submission. Have questions or are unsure what formatting your thesis or dissertation entails? Then, this workshop is for you! In this workshop, we will review the most important elements of a properly formatted thesis or dissertation. We will reviewed using Word to format your manuscript as well as how to use citation management tools to works cited sections, including how to create chapter bibliographies. No matter where you are in the thesis/dissertation process, this is a workshop worth your time.
******SPECIAL EVENT******
Writing Personal Statements Online
Date: Monday, February 27, 2023
Time: 11:000m – 12:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10117693
Description: Join us for a special workshop with Christine Smith, MS, RD, a Health Sciences Writing Consultant on the Boston Campus. Christine will provide advice on writing personal statements, as well as her top writing tips. We will also share resources on application writing and interviewing.
We’re offering a new service this semester: Virtual data management office hours! Our librarians Allie and Paige are here to help with your tricky data management questions at any stage of the research cycle. Whether you have to write a data management plan for a grant, find somewhere to share the data you’ve collected, or just realized you need a better system for organizing your files, come chat with us for ideas and guidance.
We will be holding office hours at 11am on the first and third Fridays of every month up to June. Office hours are open for anyone affiliated with Tufts Health Sciences – students, faculty, and staff. Once you register, you will receive a link to the Zoom room. If the room is empty when you join, don’t worry – we’ll get an email that you’re waiting and be right there!
If you have a complex question that might need more time to untangle, or just want to make sure that you have our undivided attention, you can always book a private appointment with Allie or Paige.
The spring semester is underway and everyone is back from break! Come and catch up with a study break tea at the Library Service Desk on Tuesday, 1/31 at 2:30pm. We’ll have a variety of teas and treats. Grab a cup to go or stay and chat for a bit!
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