University Library News

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a far-off concept or sci-fi fantasy—it’s already changing how we work and teach in 2025. Join Heidi Cramer from the FGCU Small Business Development Center and Librarian Rachel Cooke for their upcoming workshop, “Beyond the Hype: Demystifying AI for Educators and Professionals,” on Monday, November 17 from 11 a.m. to noon.

This engaging session will cut through the hype and myths to offer a clean, plain-language introduction to AI’s core concepts. You’ll learn what AI really means (and what it doesn’t mean), gaining an accessible understanding of how today’s AI tools operate without the technical jargon.

We will also explore how AI is being used right now in higher education and the workplace from smart classroom assistants to time-saving office tools. You will also see a peak at what the next year of AI might bring.

Whether you’re curious, cautious or already experimenting with AI, you’ll come away with practical insights, examples and confidence to navigate AI’s opportunities in your teaching and professional life.

This workshop will be held in person in LIB Room 222 and online. You may register here! Come join us to demystify the world of AI together!

About the presenter:

Cramer is a technology strategist and business consultant who translates over 35 years of high-impact technology leadership into practical AI solutions. A go-to-market expert, her experience spans Fortune 10 companies, private equity firms and high-growth ventures. She has launched over $2B in new technology products and markets.

Today, as a consultant for the SBDC at FGCU, she demystifies emerging technology, helping organizations adopt AI to streamline operations and ignite strategic growth.

Holding an MBA and currently pursuing a doctorate focused on AI in learning, Cramer is a dynamic speaker who makes complex technology accessible, and most importantly, actionable.

Grey Literature is often overlooked, yet it is a vital component of evidence synthesis. The Evidence Synthesis Collaborative invites you to an engaging workshop where you’ll explore the role of Grey Literature in strengthening systematic reviews and evidence syntheses. 

Workshop: Grey Literature in Systematic Reviews & Evidence Synthesis 
Presenters: Kim Reycraft & Traci Mays 
Date/Time: Friday, November 14, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 
Location: LIB 222 (in-person) or via Zoom 

Grey Literature refers to research and information not controlled by commercial publishers—such as reports, dissertations, conference proceedings and policy papers. Including these sources leads to more comprehensive, robust reviews. 

In this interactive session, you’ll gain an overview of Grey Literature and be introduced to tools and strategies for effectively finding and incorporating it into your research. 

We warmly encourage faculty and graduate students to join us for this opportunity to expand your evidence synthesis toolkit. Please register here! 

Interested in starting a new business? Join Steve Rokusek (Social Sciences Librarian) and Dr. Robert Diotalevi (Associate Professor of the Department of Justice Studies) on Wednesday, October 29 from 11:30 a.m. to noon for a virtual Forms of Business Ownership workshop.

This presentation will serve as an examination of business entities available for those interested in possibly starting a new business or learning more about business ventures in general, including but not limited to, sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations. A focus will be on determining which organization will best suit individual needs.

At the conclusion of this presentation participants will be able to:

• Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of different types of legal business entities

• Summarize the structure of sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations

• Understand the consequences of taxation and state and local taxes applicable to types of businesses

• Analyze recent court decisions as well as hypothetical situations in the field

• Identify current legislation involving the regulation of business

You may register for this workshop on the library's calendar page here. We hope to see you there!

Are you tired of juggling endless articles and struggling to organize your research? Discover powerful tools that can streamline your workflow and elevate your evidence synthesis in this upcoming workshop!

Join Kim Reycraft and Traci Mays from the Evidence Synthesis team on Thursday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for an exciting workshop designed to help you master tools for systematic reviews and evidence synthesis.

What is Evidence Synthesis?
It’s a method of gathering, selecting and combining results from multiple studies to paint a clear, comprehensive picture of all the scholarly research on a topic—including published and unpublished work.

Why attend?
This workshop will introduce you to online tools that simplify the complex process of systematic reviews — from screening studies to managing citations. You’ll leave equipped with practical knowledge about the latest tools to make your research faster, easier and more effective.

How to join?
Registration is required. You may choose to attend either in-person or online. Sign up now on the library’s calendar page.

Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your research process. We look forward to seeing you there!

Every week until the end of the semester, our library student ambassadors will be giving 15-minute presentations about different library resources. Each mini workshop will feature one of the following topics:

• Library Databases: Our databases contain multitudes of information! But how do you find the articles you need for your research paper with so much area to cover? In this presentation, our student ambassadors will demonstrate how to search for articles that your professors want to see on your bibliography. 

• Library Spaces: We are more than just books! Did you know we have spaces where you can engage in 3D printing, podcasting, see a museum-quality exhibit and more? Our student ambassadors will guide you through the stacks to the Makerspace, the Media Production Studios, the Archives and more in just 15 minutes.

• Printing and Technology: There isn’t much you can’t print at the library! Stop by to get all the details on how easy, quick and inexpensive it is to get prints of your work. From classic black and white to color to 3D, you’ll become a printing expert in 15 minutes.

• Equipment for Checkout: Did you know you can check out way more than books? You can check out cameras, calculators, laptops, dry erase markers, skeletons and the list goes on. In 15 minutes, our student ambassadors will add it up for you and show you just how easy it is to get your hands on them.

• Books & Call Numbers: There are A LOT of books in the stacks on the upper floors. How do you even find the right one? Our student ambassadors have you covered, and in 15 minutes, they will show you how easy it is to look up a title, understand the call number and find it on the shelf.

Join them on the first floor of Library West by the Data Visualization Wall area. These will be the best spent minutes of your day! Check out the library’s calendar page here to see the full schedule of our mini workshops!

Dive into the basics of legal research and writing skills with our upcoming Introduction to Legal Research workshop! Join Social Sciences Librarian, Steve Rokusek, and FGCU’s Founding Program Coordinator of Legal Studies, Dr. Robert N. Diotalevi, on Wednesday, October 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Students and faculty are welcome to attend this virtual workshop. Topics include a survey of the American Legal System, case and statute citation and the various types of authorities and how they apply in legal research. Rokusek and Diotalevi will also briefly discuss the library’s online legal resources. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation.

After attending this session participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance of legal research and writing related to the legal professional
• Appreciate the complexities of case and statute citation applicable to legal and legal-related practices
• Realize that legal research methods change and are challenged by new realities, global issues and emerging technologies
• Apply constitutional, case and statutory law in legal research and writing situations

About the presenters:

Diotalevi has been an Associate Professor of Legal Studies for 23 years. His works have been published in SMU School of Law’s Computer Law Review and Technology Journal, The Paralegal Educator, The Journal of Paralegal Education and Practice and The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration among other nationally recognized publications. He has been a lawyer for 40 years as a member of the Massachusetts and Florida bars. He possesses degrees in law, accounting, communication and taxation.

Rokusek has been FGCU’s Social Sciences Librarian for 11 years, serving as the liaison to multiple departments and programs, including Legal Studies, Criminal Justice, Forensic Studies and Political Science. He is the Sociology editor for Resources for College Libraries and has published articles on electronic library resources and collection development.

Register on the library’s calendar page HERE to get the link to this virtual workshop!

Are you an instructor that uses library books or articles as readings for your courses? Join us for a virtual DIY Course Reserves workshop this Friday, September 19 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The University Library has made it easier than ever to add online articles or print books to course reserve "reading lists" using a platform called Leganto. Leganto reading lists can be embedded into Canvas courses using an LTI and can be reused easily year after year with minimal maintenance by instructors. More information about the reading lists can be found here.

This session will show you how you can place physical course reserves requests or digitization requests with the library using Leganto.  We will also talk about how you can add your own files and links to create comprehensive and student-friendly course materials lists.

Registration on the library's calendar page is required. Click here to receive the link for this virtual workshop!