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Northeastern Illinois University librarians presented on intellectual freedom and inclusive librarianship at the 2019 Annual Illinois Library Association Conference this past October.

Ed Remus presented his experiences hosting library events featuring speakers with diverse perspectives on controversial topics at Chicago Public Libraries and at NEIU, noting the promises and pitfalls of such events. Two of the events organized by Ed, "Chicago's Minimum Wage: Which Way Forward" and "Political Realignment: Differing Perspectives" are available for viewing through the Chicago Access Network Television YouTube Channel.

Alyssa Vincent, Robin Harris, and Michelle Oh (pictured below) reflected on how NEIU librarians strive to be more inclusive, citing examples from working with individuals of different races, genders, and ability on issues ranging from providing directions to the bathroom to questioning authority in academic publishing.

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Congrats to the Winners of the 2025 NEIU Libraries Award for Excellence in Research

Each year, the NEIU Libraries hosts the Library Research Awards to celebrate the excellent research of NEIU students! We're thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 award as well as a shoutout to our honorable mentions!WinnersSana Kausar HabiyaIt's been over two years since I started my master's in public health in spring 2023 at NEIU. I am almost done with my master's, expecting to graduate in Fall 2025. I became a more active student when I started working as a research assistant last fall, 2024. Since then I have worked on many research projects on campus that focus on students' well-being, including studies on neurodivergent students, sleep quality, and substance use.I would like to acknowledge my faculty advisor, Dr. Chika Ejike, for her invaluable guidance throughout this project. I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to my mentor, Dr. Christina Ciecierski for her support and mentorship in helping me achieve these milestones. Lastly, I want to thank Lisa Wallis from the NEIU library for her assistance in guiding me through the fundamentals of research. Courtney MoranI worked with Dr. Geddes as an NEIU Honors Scholar researching cattail DNA for my undergraduate research. I graduated in 2014 and just returned this semester to pursue my MS in Biology. I started this semester with a deep dive into literature research and jumped at the chance to present because I believe that sharing my research with others, in any stage of the process, will enhance it.I'd like to thank my mentor, Dr. Geddes, has provided excellent guidance so far as I begin my graduate journey. Research librarian Lisa Wallis helped me refine my research process and introduced me to Zotero, a reference management software, which has proven to be a great asset.Congrats to our winners, who will each receive a $300 cash prize!Honorable MentionsThis year the Committee also chose to award several honorable mention awards. These students will receive $50 each as a prize for their excellent work!Danya Adhami & Celeste Lopez (Co-Investigators, Honorable Mention for Bibliography)Diana Mireille Ortiz Rojo (Honorable Mention for Short Essay)Congratulations from the NEIU Libraries!...

Fuel for Finals & NEIU Libraries end-of-semester wrap-up

As the semester draws to a close, a few reminders about the NEIU Libraries:Power through the semester with Fuel for FinalsFree coffee and snacks in the Ronald Williams Library café, May 5-8, 6:30-8:30 p.m.Take a break from studying. Visit the café space in the Ronald Williams Library to do some coloring or work on a puzzle.Remember to return your library books and materials before you head out for your summer!Also remember to return laptops by appointment (or lockers) between May 5-9th. Email libtech@neiu.edu with questions!Watch your Nmail for more information on long-term laptop loans for next semester!Normal library hours continue through the summer. ...

Student workshop: Using GenAI Effectively, April 29

Students: Are you struggling to get artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT to actually help with your assignments? Curious about how AI fits into your studies and what it can’t do? Join NEIU Libraries for a workshop:Using GenAI Effectively – Creating PromptsTuesday, April 293 p.m.Main Campus, Ronald Williams Library, 3rd floor classroom Why you should attendIn just one hour, you’ll learn how to:Write better prompts to get better resultsSpot errors in AI-generated contentUse AI responsibly and ethically for schoolworkTurn GenAI into your brainstorming and studying sidekick This isn’t just theory. We’ll do hands-on practice, compare real prompts and show how small tweaks can lead to better output.AI is already a part of school, work and life. Knowing how to use it well gives you an edge. Plus, we’ll show you how to avoid academic pitfalls and make AI work for you, not against you.Can’t make the workshop? Check out our Student Guide to ChatGPT and other AI Resources. Contact Robin Harris at r-harris14@neiu.edu or Lisa Wallis at l-wallis@neiu.edu with any questions....

Does dark matter exist? A virtual discussion!

Physicists Scott Dodelson and Stacy McGaugh explored this topic during a virtual discussion on Monday, April 7, 2025.Professor Dodelson defends the standard cosmological model, according to which the laws of general relativity taken together with dark matter can adequately account for the evolution of the universe up to the present.Professor McGaugh, by contrast, argues that evidence supports the need to modify our understanding of how matter behaves under the influence of gravity, without invoking any need for the existence of dark matter.Each speaker delivered a 20-minute opening presentation followed by a response round and audience Q&A. This event was moderated by NEIU Associate Professor of Physics Orin Harris.This event was sponsored by the Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) Department of Physics, the NEIU Libraries, and the NEIU Heterodox Academy Campus Community.Speaker biographies:Scott Dodelson is a Fermilab scientist and professor in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. His primary research interest is in analyzing data from cosmic surveys to inform our understanding of dark matter/dark energy neutrinos, primarily within standard cosmological model.Stacy McGaugh is a professor in the Department of Astronomy at Case Western Reserve University. His primary research interest is the study of low-surface-brightness galaxies, which connects more broadly to his work in using astronomical and cosmological data to test the predictions of dark matter versus modified Newtonian dynamics.Moderator biography:Orin Harris did his PhD work on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider before switching fields, in 2013, to using bubble chambers to search for dark matter. He is a member of the PICO and SBC collaborations, and he’s an Associate Professor of Physics at NEIU....

NEIU Librarians present at the 2019 Illinois Library Association Conference

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