In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, the library will be closed Saturday, May 25th though Monday, May 27th. We will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28th. For more information about our summer hours, please view the hours calendar.
On Display: #FindYourPark: National Parks & America's Public Land
“We need the possibility of escape as surely as we need hope.”
― Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire
The National Parks have been called “America’s Greatest Idea” and it is easy to see why. In 1916, President Wilson signed The Organic Act creating The National Parks Services whose “purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Today the National Park System covers more than 84 million acres including parks, shorelines, monuments, and historic sites.
This collection of books includes histories of the parks and the people who championed them, memoirs of time spent living in and walking among nature, depictions of conservationists efforts to protect these resources, and awe inspiring photography that captures just a fraction of what makes these landscapes so breathtaking. Check out one of our guide books covering everything from the major parks in the west or even just the rail trails of New England or read a history of the Boston Harbor Islands as you prepare for a local day trip. Whether you are heading to the Cape Cod National Seashore or the Great Smoky Mountains, or you’d rather be thrilled by the amazing feats of the rock climbers of the Yosemite Valley, as summer rolls in be inspired to get outside and explore.
Stop by the library lobby to browse or borrow May 13th – June 23rd.
Database of the Month: CQ Researcher
Getting started with CQ Researcher
CQ Researcher shines a bright light on the significance and legacy of the events and issues of the day. Use CQ Researcher for assignments in global studies, comparative government, and expository writing classes. Its strengths are international affairs, health, social trends, criminal justice, education, the environment, technology and the economy.
Here is a small sample of the questions that CQ Researcher has answered for users recently:
Q: I need sources on affirmative action and need more of the “Con” argument.
Q: Should college athletes be paid?
Q: I have a paper for expository writing on Texas Campus Carry Law and gun control, can you help me?
Q: Where can I find federal and local policies regarding legalization of marijuana?
Q: Can you help me find information on prison reform; I am trying to find two sides to the issue.
Q: I am having trouble choosing a topic for an upcoming research paper!
CQ Researcher offers short reports, long reports of 12,000 words, and “hot topics” which are constellations of all reports CQ Researcher has published on that particular topic, historic or current. Each report has one theme. Entering a search term such as “Brexit” fetches 50+ pieces, including a detailed and current account of the issue containing photographs, charts, and references.
Reports take care to balance the discussion. CQ Researcher is not peer-reviewed, but it is powerful because of its depth of discussion and thorough fact-checking. Embedded in each report are links to the bibliography and several additional readings, making the discovery process efficient and highly relevant.
Select and pursue a subject
CQ Researcher displays a list of 30+ topics in the pull down menu under “Browse Topics”. We recommend this section to someone seeking a topic to study.
For topics not immediately displayed under the broad categories, there is a search box at the top of the page and a link to an Advanced Search form.
To search for cybersecurity, your options include:
- Browse Topics for Science & Technology > Computers > Cybersecurity
- Enter cybersecurity in the search box
- Use the Advanced Search form to apply additional search filters and limiters
CQ Researcher is not focused on consumer goods nor industry profiles, but will provide demographic information in the context of a larger report, for example, the number of Europeans who see value in EU leadership in the years 2007- 2018.
Structured arguments
Users can expect to hear the voices of seasoned journalists presenting well-developed arguments in each entry. Debaters will love the valuable talking points in the Pro/Con section, and for users who want to form research questions, the forward- looking statements in each long report’s “outlook” section are especially helpful.
Their backstory
CQ Researcher has a strong visual aesthetic, reflecting its origins as Editorial Research Reports, a print publication begun in 1923. Co-founded by Richard M. Boeckel and Bertram Benedict, their publication was primarily for the benefit of editorial writers. As a young Capitol Hill correspondent for the New York Tribune covering the League of Nations debate after World War I, Boeckel realized how little he and his fellow reporters knew about the background of the issues they were following, so they formed a publication. It has evolved and changed names twice: first in 1956 to Congressional Quarterly and again in 1991 to CQ Researcher, its current name. Sage Publishing owns CQ Researcher today.
Awards
CQ Researcher has been recognized for excellence by the Society Of Professional Journalists and by the American Bar Association (Silver Gavel, 2002) for a nine-part series on liberty and justice issues.
Connect to the Database
Visit the library’s Databases A-Z page and select CQ Researcher. This database is also displayed in the subject lists for General Topics, Education, History, News, and Politics and Government.
Database of the Month provides a very brief introduction to a useful website or Library database, highlighting key features you should know about. If you would like more information about this resource (or any of the library’s databases), please contact us for research assistance. If you would like a demonstration of this resource for a class, please schedule a research instruction class using the instruction request form.
Special Library Hours: Thursday, May 9 - Monday, May 27
The spring semester is ending, which means our hours are changing. Please check our schedule before you visit! Hours for May 9 – 27, which encompasses summer intensive classes and the Memorial Day holiday weekend, are listed below. To see the library’s full summer schedule please view the online calendar.
Thursday, May 9
last day of final exams
close at 6:00 p.m.
please note that Einstein’s closes for the summer at at 2:00 p.m.
Friday, May 10 – Friday, May 24
summer intensives
Saturday & Sunday:
closed
Monday – Thursday
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday*
8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
*exception: close at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24
Saturday, May 25 – Monday, May 27
Memorial Day Holiday Weekend
closed
For more information about summer hours at the library and help desk please view the online hours calendar.
Book Dedications in Honor of Our Class of '19 Student Assistants
The Bentley Library’s doors are open 100+ hours a week because our student assistants arrive to work at 7:30am and leave at 2:00am. During exams period they work overnight to provide the 24-hour library access Bentley students desire. Books, DVDs, course reserves and other items are available because our student assistants have covered, labeled, and shelved them. Have you ever utilized Interlibrary Loan or Scan on Demand? Our student workers are an integral part of that process as well. The library could not function without our student employees.
At the end of the academic year we show appreciation to our graduating student assistants with a book or film dedication. Each student is invited to select an item that is meaningful to them, which is then affixed with a special bookplate in their name. A display of their selections will be available soon in the Popular Reading area. You can also view the photo album on Facebook and our Student Employee Dedications Pinterest board.
This year, dedications have been made on behalf of these Class of 2019 graduates:
Selena Almazan
Froggy Eats Out
Jennifer Calnan
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Alex Chin-Sukhdeo
The Giver
Kyle Geaney
Papi: My Story
Max Iannazzi
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Malia Lucas-Greene
The Great Gatsby
Parker McBride
Green Book
Naseef McCray
The Gift of Anger
Alex Stapelfeld
The Empire Strikes Back
Sarah Willoughby
Vienna Prelude
The Bentley Library staff thank all of our student assistants and send best wishes to our graduates. Congratulations!
Acquired in April: New Books, DVDs and Audiobooks
We acquired 200+ new books, DVDs, audiobooks, and OverDrive downloadable books in April! Go to the New Books & DVDs page to browse the new arrivals by subject or format. When you see something you want, click the “Request” button to place a hold on it.
If you have questions about OverDrive, please view their Getting Started page or visit the Reference Desk for personal assistance.
Extended Study Hours! 24-Hour Access Starts Tuesday, April 30
The library’s 24-hour access for final exams begins at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30 (the day before Reading Day) and ends at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 (the last day of exams), with one small Saturday-night exception.*
Tuesday, April 30 – Saturday, May 4:
Open at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday 4/30 and remain open until
9:00 p.m. on Saturday 5/4
Sunday, May 5 – Thursday, May 9:
Open at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday 5/5 and remain open until
6:00 p.m. on Thursday 5/9
What to expect during the extended hours:
- The library is implementing Bentley ID card-swipe access during the overnight hours. Only Bentley ID card holders will be able to enter the library between midnight and 7:30 a.m. Please use the card-swipe box at the building’s front entrance.
- The library will close at 9:00 p.m. Saturday night and reopen at 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning, because everyone should take a little break from studying and get a good night’s sleep!
- Reference services will not be available during the extended late-night hours.
For more information about the library, café, and help desk hours please view the full hours calendar online.
Good luck with your final exams, papers, and presentations. Have a wonderful summer break!
Reading Day Relief! Study Break, Therapy Dogs, Button Making and More.
The library is hosting four events on Reading Day (Wednesday, May 1) to encourage you to take some time off from studying to reboot your mind and body. Please drop in to as many as you can throughout the day.
OverDrive Drop-in Clinic
unwind with free ebooks & audiobooks
10:00 a.m. – noon | study room 101
Get your summer vacation reading here! Drop in to learn how to get downloadable ebooks and audiobooks from OverDrive. If you bring your laptop, Kindle, iPad, or other mobile device, we can help you get started.
Study Break
refuel & recharge
11:00 a.m. – until supplies last | library lobby
Coffee, tea and snacks will be available in the lobby from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (or until supplies last). Bring your own reusable water bottle to refill at one of our three water bottle filling stations.
Make Your Own Buttons
get creative & relieve some stress
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | art gallery
Take a break from studying to make-your-own buttons using the library’s button makers. We’ll provide pre-made designs, magazines, and coloring books for you to use, or you can put markers to paper and create your own design. This activity is sure to get your creative juices flowing!
Therapy Dogs
relax with Kodiak & Echo
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | art gallery
Our good friends Kodiak and Echo are returning to the library to spend some quality time with you! Drop in to the art gallery to unwind with these two giant, lovable Bernese Mountain Dogs.
