University Libraries offers a wide variety of free workshops open to students, faculty and staff from the Montclair and Bloomfield campuses. Below is a list and descriptions of workshops that are typically offered. We can also accommodate customized workshops upon request. For more information, or to request a workshop for your research team or department, contact Bonnie Fong, Head for Research & Reference Services, at fongb@montclair.edu.
To see the current schedule of workshops and to register, visit the Library Workshops Event Calendar.
Library 101
This workshop is your introduction to all the ways Montclair State University Libraries support your academic success. It covers what resources are available to you (e.g., books, articles, films, databases) and how you can access them, including through interlibrary loan. You’ll learn how to navigate the library website, distinguish between popular and scholarly sources, and get help from a librarian when working on a research assignment.
Library 101 for Graduate Students
Whether you’re straight out of undergrad and are looking for a basic refresher, or if it’s been several years and you need a complete re-introduction, come to this workshop for an overview of library resources available to you as a graduate student at Montclair State University. In this workshop, we will cover: library databases and search strategies, research consultations, interlibrary services and more.
Find a Research Topic You’ll Actually Like (previously Discover Your Topic)
Struggling to come up with a research topic? Join us at a hands-on workshop where you’ll explore strategies (and library tools) to help you brainstorm ideas and narrow or broaden your focus to identify a topic that’s both interesting and researchable.
Find the Sources You Need (previously Gathering Your Sources)
Learn where and how to find books, articles, and more! We’ll break down the differences between primary and secondary sources; when to use books vs. newspapers vs. scholarly journals vs. the internet; and share search strategies so you are locating sources smarter (not harder). Perfect if you’re new to college-level research or just want to sharpen your skills before your next assignment.
Evaluating Sources
Join our workshop to learn the art of evaluating sources. Learn to discern credible sources, spot bias, and assess the strengths, weaknesses, and/or limitations of information sources. Gain critical thinking skills vital for academic success and informed lifelong decision-making.
Annotated Bibliographies
Learn about the different types of annotated bibliographies, what information is included in each type, and how to format your annotated bibliography.
Database Research Strategies and Advanced Search Tips
In this workshop, learn some practical ways to increase the effectiveness of your database searches. As databases have become larger, searching has actually become more difficult to do well without knowing more about how these databases are being developed and managed today. We’ll discuss using Boolean searching tools to manipulate search results, how to engage with database thesauri and a controlled vocabulary, linked subject headings, setting up search alerts, and more. A useful workshop for any research-oriented faculty or graduate students, and for those who teach research in their courses.
Introduction to Literature Reviews (Part 1)
Literature reviews can be one of the most challenging parts of the research process. This workshop will help orient novice researchers to the basic concepts of planning and organizing a literature review, and is intended for seniors and graduate students. Active participation is strongly encouraged, so come prepared to engage in some fun interactive exercises. For more experienced student researchers, Part 2 of this workshop series is recommended.
Introduction to Literature Reviews (Part 2)
The second part in the Sprague Library literature review series will explore some of the more advanced concepts like synthesis matrices and vocabulary. This workshop is recommended for seniors and graduate students who have already attended Part 1 or have basic to intermediate experience with literature reviews.
Subject Focused Research
These sessions will cover disciplinary search strategies and search tools, such as Education Research or Business Research.
Fact-Checking and Misinformation
This workshop will discuss the art of fact-checking sources. By learning to recognize bias, disinformation, and misinformation, you will gain the critical thinking skills vital for the information age and informed decision-making.
Research Time Management
Research Time Management is an essential skill for academic success. In this workshop, participants will:
- Learn the steps of the research process
- Create a research timeline
- Set SMART goals
- Learn strategies to avoid procrastination
- Learn about library “shortcuts”
Getting Started with Endnote
Using a citation manager like EndNote to organize your references has numerous advantages, including but not limited to: collect references as you browse the web or databases; organize, highlight, and annotate your PDFs, all in one place; sync between your devices; automatically rename PDF files you’ve downloaded; generate citations instantly and change style formats with a few clicks. This is a hands-on workshop, so please bring your laptop with you. By the end of this workshop, you will be able to import your existing references into the program, collect references from the library databases, and be able to generate citations using the “Cite While You Write” plugin. If you can, please download the EndNote installation files in advance from the Software Repository.
Intro to Scholarly Publishing for Graduate Students
This workshop will introduce you to scholarly publishing with a focus on scholarly journals and a brief overview of important concepts such as open access.
Discovering and Evaluating Scholarly Journals for Graduate Students
This workshop will introduce you to scholarly journals, journal rankings, impact factors and using both the journal’s homepage as well as library databases to access journal articles.
Predatory Publishing for Grad Students
This workshop will introduce you to predatory publishing, why it exists and how early career researchers are targeted, as well as identifying low quality predatory journals.
Advanced Google Scholar
Google Scholar is more than just a search engine for scholarly content. Find out how to use Google Scholar more efficiently, increase your access to full-text articles, and make use of additional features to keep your research organized.