Author Archives: Stephen Francoeur

Help Us Rename Our Noise Zones

by Stephen Francoeur

Illustration of sound wave lines

This summer, as we are evaluating our library noise policy we’re considering renaming the two zones in the library. Since fall 2024, we have been using “Quiet Group Zone” and “Quiet Zone.” As detailed on the noise policy page on our website, the two zones are differentiated as follows:

  • Quiet group zones are found on the 2nd and 3rd floors. They allow for low levels of noise so that students can work or study together.
  • Quiet zones are found on the 4th and 5th floors. They are meant to be much quieter than the other two floors; only whispering is allowed.

We have some ideas for a clearer way to rename these two zones and would like your feedback on them. On this online survey, you’ll be asked to rank the options we currently have and suggest additional options. The survey will close on Monday, June 30.

Learn How to Use AI-Enabled Financial Databases

by Stephen Francoeur

Overlapping screens showing numbers representing financial data

Prof. Michele Costello will be teaching an innovative and new workshop for Baruch students on Monday, May 12, from 12:45 PM – 2:00 PM, on Zoom. This workshop explores how artificial intelligence (“AI”) can be used in financial database research. It covers timely topics such as AI-enabled transcript analysis, which extracts valuable insights from earnings calls and financial reports, and AI-enabled sentiment analysis, which quantifies market sentiment from various information sources.

Register here.

We’re Open During Spring Break!

by Stephen Francoeur

Spring time daffodils on a hillside

While you’re getting a much-needed break from classes, we’ll still be here keeping the library open our regular daily hours of 7 AM to 11 PM. And if you’re not able to come in, we can still answer your questions and help you with your research from our suite of online “Ask a Librarian” services:

  • Chat online with a librarian (no bots here!) 24 hours a day
  • Email us your question (replies sent same or next day)
  • Call us at 646-312-1620 when the reference desk is open
  • Schedule a research consultation on Zoom

New Advertising/Marketing Resource: Vivvix

by Stephen Francoeur

Logo for Vivvix

We have added a new database to our growing collection of resources helpful to students working on marketing and advertising assignments: Vivvix. This database provides spending data on advertising via seven media channels and subgroups by brand, company, and industry and features other rankings reports.

This database is available from on and off campus. Links to it can be found on:

Mon., Feb. 17: Library Closed

by Stephen Francoeur

Illustration of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln shaking hands

Like the rest of the college, the library will be closed on Monday, February 17, in honor of Presidents Day.

Our online chat service, available on the library home page in the Ask a Librarian box, will be open all day (it is in fact open 24/7 every day of the year).

Image: Currier & Ives portrait of Washington and Lincoln. Currier & Ives, New York, n. d. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/scsm000405/.

New Resource: The Chicago Manual of Style

by Stephen Francoeur

Cover of print edition of The Chicago Manual of Style

We’re pleased to announce a new online resource: The Chicago Manual of Style. Thanks to your feedback during our trial access to it, we have decided to start a subscription.

While many may be familiar with it as the source of definitive information on the Chicago style of citing sources, it also is an essential reference source for anyone writing a book or in need of guidance for language usage.

You find links to it on our A-Z list of databases and also if you search for it in OneSearch.

Wednesday, Feb. 12: Library Closed

by Stephen Francoeur

Photograph of Abraham Lincoln seated at a table with his elbow resting on a book

The library is closed today in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. We will reopen for our usual spring semester hours tomorrow at 7 AM. If you need assistance from a librarian today, please use the chat service in the Ask a Librarian box on the library home page; this service is available 24 hours a day.

Image: Gardner, Alexander, photographer. Abraham Lincoln. [Washington, D.C., 9 August] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/2015645458/.

Register for Subotnick Financial Services Center Workshops

by Stephen Francoeur

Image of financial data on multiple computer screens

The Subotnick Financial Services Center and the library are hosting in-person and online workshops on financial markets during spring 2025. The workshop schedule is posted below. Click on a workshop title for a description and registration link for the event. Members of the Baruch community may register online.

WorkshopDateTimeDayLocationInstructor
Bloomberg: Introduction to Bloomberg Professional for Equities02/05/202512:45pm-2:00pmWedTrading FloorCostello
S&P Capital IQ02/11/202512:45pm-2:00pmTueTrading FloorGee
Bloomberg: Introduction to Bloomberg Professional for Equities02/18/202512:45pm-2:00pmTueTrading FloorGee
Bloomberg Excel Add-In02/25/202512:45pm-2:00pmTueTrading FloorPell
Bloomberg: Introduction to Bloomberg Professional for Equities02/26/202512:45pm-2:00pmWedTrading FloorCostello
FactSet: Introduction to Equity03/03/202512:45pm-2:00pmMonOnline*Costello
Investment Analysis in Bloomberg03/11/202512:45pm-2:00pmTueTrading FloorPell
S&P Capital IQ03/17/202512:45pm-2:00pmMonOnline*Costello
Valuation of Futures & Options04/01/202512:45pm-2:00pmTueTrading FloorPell
Bloomberg: Introduction to Bloomberg Professional for Equities04/02/202512:45pm-2:00pmWedTrading FloorPhillips
FactSet: Introduction to Equity04/07/202512:45pm-2:00pmMonTrading FloorPhillips
Bloomberg: Introduction to Bloomberg Professional for Equities04/28/202512:45pm-2:00pmMonTrading FloorCostello
Refinitiv Workspace04/29/202512:45pm-2:00pmTueOnline*Phillips
Indexing: Introduction to Financial and Economic Indices05/06/202512:45pm-2:00pmTueOnline*Phillips
S&P Capital IQ05/07/202512:45pm-2:00pmWedTrading FloorPhillips
Bloomberg: Introduction to Bloomberg Professional for Equities05/13/202512:45pm-2:00pmTueTrading FloorGee

*Online workshops: registrants will receive a link to join the session on Zoom the day prior to the session. Registrants need a personal computer or laptop with access to a CUNY Zoom account.

Library Hours for the Winter Session

by Stephen Francoeur

Stairs in lobby leading up to 2nd floor entrance of the library

Yes, the library is open! During the winter session (through January 23), the library is open from 9 AM to 10 PM seven days a week (except on January 20 when we’ll be closed for the holiday). As noted on the hours page on the library website, each of the service desks in the library have their own hours:

  • Circulation Desk: 9 AM – 5 PM (Mon-Fri), closed Saturday-Sunday
  • Tech Loan Desk: closed (all tech items loaned from the Circulation Desk instead)
  • Reference Desk: 10 AM – 5 PM (Mon-Fri), closed Saturday-Sunday

On Friday, January 24, the library will be essentially closed. Students who have materials checked out that they want to return can do so at the Circulation Desk between 9 AM and 5 PM that day but there are no other services available in the library (no use of computers, printers, scanners, study tables, or checking out items). Faculty, though, can enter the library and use our services as they prepare for the spring semester.

Speaking of spring, we’ll re-open fully on Saturday, January 25, and will have our usual hours of 7 AM to 11 PM seven days a week.