Piecing It All Together: Reporting on a Semester of Research and Teaching

This past Fall semester, Reference and Reader Services has been a hub of activity, supporting the rich and diverse research landscape of Teachers College. From exploring the nuances of bilingual education to navigating the complexities of scoping reviews, it has been fantastic to witness the academic growth and intellectual curiosity of our students, faculty, and alumni.

In this report, I stitch together aspects of resources and support the library provided during the Fall 2025 semester.

Image credit: Lincoln County News, 2017

Professional Development

During the Fall semester, I hosted Columbia University Libraries' Teaching & Learning Committee here at Gottesman Libraries. Over the course of the semester, librarians from TC, Columbia, and Barnard met three times on the topic of recommender algorithms, AI, and access to the libraries' electronic resources. 

In November, I presented at two academic conferences focused on the intersections of librarianship, anthropology, and education. At LOEX Fall Focus 2025, I co-presented a session on integrating Generative AI into graduate workshops as a "normal" research tool, teaching students to use AI alongside traditional methods like Boolean searching. I also participated in a panel at the American Anthropological Association (AAA) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, where I explored the "panoptic" nature of modern libraries. My talk specifically examined the tension between privacy and surveillance, highlighting how librarians navigate feelings of paranoia and self-censorship given the rise in book bans and anti-DEI ideology. Learn more about these conferences and my presentations in last month’s blog post. 

Research Guides

One of Gottesman Libraries’ most valuable research resources remains our research guides. These curated collections serve as a starting point for every program at TC, as well as specialized topics. Students frequently share how these guides help streamline their research process, providing a roadmap through the library's vast digital and physical resources at TC and Columbia. 

Research Consultations

This semester, we conducted 121 research consultations, working one-on-one with a diverse group of researchers. These sessions, split nearly evenly between in-person meetings and virtual video calls, allowed for deep dives into specific methodologies and topics.

• Methodological Trends: While systematic reviews remain a staple of graduate research, this semester saw a significant uptick in interest regarding scoping reviews. We worked with many students on initial search strands, screening processes, and refining research questions to meet the rigorous standards of these methodologies.
• Literature Reviews & Dissertation Support: We continued to provide dedicated support for those in the thick of their dissertations or inquiry proposals. Whether it was identifying relevant journals for English Education or refining research questions for projects in Public Health Education, helping students move from a broad interest to a focused review is always a highlight of our work.
• Specialized Topics: The breadth of research at TC never ceases to amaze us. This semester’s consultations covered unique and challenging topics such as:
• “Gen AI research tools to support literature synthesis”
• "Asian American assimilation, education, and socioeconomic status"
• "Inter-professional collaboration in school psychology"
• “The affordances of speculative fiction and imagined futures in the high school english classroom”
• “Inclusion criteria and methods for meta-analysis”
• "The impact of early childhood trauma on reading literacy and neurocognitive development"

We don’t only meet with students, but also TC faculty, staff, and alumni, assisting with everything from manuscript preparation to navigating library resources for professional development.

Information Sessions: Expanding Our Reach

Beyond one-on-one support, I was active in the classroom across departments. This semester, I provided 20 tailored information sessions, reaching a total of 333 attendees. These sessions allow us to provide targeted resources to specific cohorts, ensuring that students have the tools they need for their specific fields of study, from Curriculum & Teaching to Neuroscience and Education.

Workshops: Building Your Research Toolkit

The library offered a robust program of 17 workshops this semester, with 252 participants joining us to enhance their research skills.

A major highlight this semester was the debut of a new workshop: "Piecing it Together: Deconstructing and Interpreting Systematic Reviews." Systematic reviews are a core part of evidence-based research, but how are they made? This workshop was designed for graduate students to learn the methods and concepts that make up systematic and scoping reviews. By deconstructing published reviews, attendees gained a deeper understanding of how evidence is synthesized and learned how to critically evaluate and use these reviews in their own research. 

In addition to this new offering, our workshops covered foundational research topics such as:

• Searching Strategies: Navigating the catalog and specialized databases.
• Literature Reviews: Techniques for organizing and synthesizing scholarly work.
• Citation Management: Helping students master tools to organize their research efficiently.
• Citation Analysis and Research Metrics: Understanding bibliometrics to evaluate the impact and influence of knowledge. 

Promoting AI Literacy

As generative AI continues to reshape the academic landscape, the library has taken an active role in supporting AI literacy. This semester, we addressed AI from multiple angles across our services:

• Consultations: We met with students to discuss the appropriate use of AI tools, the mechanics of recommender algorithms, and how to critically evaluate AI-generated summaries.
• Instruction: In our workshops and information sessions, we’ve emphasized the importance of understanding the "black box" of AI, helping researchers distinguish between algorithmic prediction and scholarly evidence. Our goal is to ensure that the TC community can engage with these emerging technologies thoughtfully and effectively.

Reference Inquiry and Ticket Support

In addition to scheduled sessions, our team remained available for immediate assistance. I answered 100 tickets and handled 87 reference inquiries over email, tackling everything from access issues to quick citation questions. Every interaction is an opportunity to help a researcher overcome a hurdle and move their project forward.

As we look ahead to the Spring semester, we remain committed to meeting the evolving information needs of the Teachers College community. Whether you are beginning a new project or putting the finishing touches on a dissertation, the library is here to support you.

Ava Kaplan

Research and Instruction Librarian