University Library News and Updates - The Chicago School Library at TCS Education System

Finals season approaching? Research papers piling up? Take a deep breath – The Chicago School Library has you covered with our upcoming Library De-Stress Week!

What Is Library De-Stress Week?

We know that academic life can be overwhelming, and sometimes you need more than just books and databases to succeed. That's why we've transformed our libraries into wellness havens for one special week, combining our love of learning with much-needed stress relief.

When: November 15 - 21
Where: All Chicago School campus libraries
Cost: Absolutely FREE for all students, faculty, and staff

Online De-Stress Week Guide

Can't make it to campus? Our De-Stress Week guide has you covered with the Brain Break Arcade for games and puzzles, the Crafty Calm Corner for coloring pages and crafts, and more. Don't miss our Paws to De-stress page - you can meet the pets of the Library and ASC!

On Campus Experiences

Visit any campus library and discover creative stations with hands-on activities like adult coloring, origami, and more. We're also providing complimentary snacks at every location (because treats make everything better), along with designated relaxation spaces where you can recharge and connect with fellow students.

Whether you need a 5-minute meditation break between classes or want to dive into a craft project during your lunch hour, we've created flexible options that fit your busy, stressful schedule. We're here to support you and help you succeed across your academic journey!

Recent Posts

Library De-Stress Week: November 15 - 21

Finals season approaching? Research papers piling up? Take a deep breath – The Chicago School Library has you covered with our upcoming Library De-Stress Week!What Is Library De-Stress Week?We know that academic life can be overwhelming, and sometimes you need more than just books and databases to succeed. That's why we've transformed our libraries into wellness havens for one special week, combining our love of learning with much-needed stress relief. When: November 15 - 21Where: All Chicago School campus librariesCost: Absolutely FREE for all students, faculty, and staffOnline De-Stress Week GuideCan't make it to campus? Our De-Stress Week guide has you covered with the Brain Break Arcade for games and puzzles, the Crafty Calm Corner for coloring pages and crafts, and more. Don't miss our Paws to De-stress page - you can meet the pets of the Library and ASC!On Campus ExperiencesVisit any campus library and discover creative stations with hands-on activities like adult coloring, origami, and more. We're also providing complimentary snacks at every location (because treats make everything better), along with designated relaxation spaces where you can recharge and connect with fellow students.Whether you need a 5-minute meditation break between classes or want to dive into a craft project during your lunch hour, we've created flexible options that fit your busy, stressful schedule. We're here to support you and help you succeed across your academic journey!...

Staff Spotlight: Elaine Mitra

Engage with Elaine!Campus Location: ChicagoTitle: Head of Access Services LibrarianYears in the field: 3 Hello! I’m the Head of Access Services Librarian at The Chicago School. Prior to switching careers to become a librarian, I worked in advertising for about 7 years. Outside of work I love reading, hanging out with friends, going to the movies, and seeing live theater. A few years ago, I read 124 books (including audio) in a year, and I’ve been chasing that high ever since. Q: What’s your favorite part of working at our library?A: Helping the students! I love the moments when I’m able to help a student with something or tell them about a resource they didn’t know we had. Q: What book made you fall in love with reading?A: The Amelia Bedelia books were the first that made me get into reading. Q: What’s one library resource you think students would be surprised to know we have?A: Zotero! It’s such a huge help with keeping all your research and notes together. I didn’t learn about it until graduate school and kept thinking to myself how much I wish I’d known about it in undergrad. Q: What’s the most unusual job you’ve ever had?A: Having people complete surveys outside of gas stations one summer in college to help an advertising professor with some market research for a client. Q: What’s something you wish you had known in college that you know now?A: You can’t be a perfectionist with every assignment. Sometimes good enough is good enough. Q: What’s the funniest or most unusual thing you’ve ever been asked in the library?A: I had someone call about a book when I worked at DePaul University and they asked if our copy had the same “Isbin” as the one they were looking for. It took a few questions to realize they were asking about the ISBN number. Q: Are you a “pile it on the desk” or “everything in its place” kind of person?A: I’m definitely a pile it on the desk person. Probably too much so. Q: What’s your “happy place”?A: My ultimate happy place is the beach in South Haven, Michigan. I’ve been going there since I was a baby. But if it’s not the specific portion of Lake Michigan in South Haven, I would say Lake Michigan as a whole is my happy place. Q: What’s something you could give a 30-minute presentation on with no prep?A: How romance/romcom books should not be treated as lesser forms of writing and why. This would also include recommendations of books and authors in the genre. Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?A: I wanted to be an actress! However, sometimes that changed and I said I wanted to be a lawyer if I didn’t become an actress. We are so lucky to have Elaine on our Library Team!Stay tuned for more Staff Spotlight posts throughout the academic year. ...

Student Worker Spotlight: DC Campus

Our Student Workers are an integral part of our libraries, and we want to show our appreciation for their hard work by highlighting their voices with our new blog, Student Worker Spotlight.This month we’ll hear from three of our student workers at the Washington, DC campus - Kara, Tabatha, and Danielle - about what it’s like to work at the library and what they’ve learned. When did you start working at the library? Kara: I began working at the DC campus library in February 2025. Tabatha: I started working at the library in September of 2023, right after I began my master’s degree. Danielle: I started working in the library during the Fall of 2023, which was my first year in my program. What’s something you would have never known about the library if you didn’t work here? Kara: My role at The Chicago School Library has helped open a new world of resources that I have found beneficial to my research, studying, and career development. For example, I began using RefWorks to help me create citations more efficiently, resulting in a more productive writing process. Tabatha: That they will scan certain chapters of a book for me if I need, and email it to me! Also, they will get me access to articles the library does not currently have access to within 24 hours of me requesting it. Danielle: I wouldn’t have known just how many test kits are available! There really is almost any test kit you can imagine, and it’s great to be able to familiarize yourself with a test that you know you’re going to use. Do you have advice for other students using the library? Kara: My advice to other students using the library is to take advantage of the incredible resources available. If you need access to a journal article, use the resource sharing request, or interlibrary loan feature. If you are more of a visual learner, use the hundreds of video sources on the library website to deepen your understanding of certain topics. Tabatha: My advice would be to take advantage of the library. It is a great space to come in and do work if it is difficult for you to get work done at home. Also, take advantage of the online services, the librarians are a great resource if you are struggling with finding sources, citing, or generally structuring your ideas and sources. Danielle: If you’re struggling to find resources for a project, reach out to a librarian for help. They’re always super helpful and always happy to help a student in need. They can arrange meetings with you to sit down and go over research in depth. What is your favorite place to go near your campus? Kara: Of the many places near campus, my favorite has to be Devon and Blakely. I love their chicken Caesar wrap! Tabatha: I love “Dua Coffee” - they have great matcha lattes and cappuccinos. I also love “The Best Sandwich Place” by Farragut west, they really do have the best sandwiches. When I need a break, I sit out in one of the parks near campus and feel the squirrels and pigeons, they are sweet. Danielle: I like going on walks to the White House between classes! If you’re looking for a new place to study that’s relatively close to campus (about a 10–15-minute walk), I would recommend the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. It has a lot of places to study, including an outdoor patio that’s pretty quiet. Stay tuned to hear from our Student Workers at other campuses as we talk about library life, reading recommendations, student tips, and more! ...

Staff Spotlight: Monica West

Meet Monica!Campus Location: LATitle: Research and Instruction Librarian Years in the field: 2 in January! Hi everyone! I’m your Research and Instruction Librarian here at The Chicago School, based in Los Angeles. I have a Master of Science in Information and a Master of Arts in German. When I’m not working, I enjoy playing Tabletop Role Playing Games with my friends, entertaining my three cats, and watching Critical Role or Dimension 20. What’s your favorite part of working at our library? Research Consultations. I love getting to meet students and helping them learn about how to use the library resources while talking about all of their interesting projects! What book made you fall in love with reading? The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. It’s the first book I can remember my grandfather reading to me, and I always loved his spirited narration and silly voices. What’s one library resource you think students would be surprised to know we have? Sage Campus/Sage Skills! These self-paced learning databases are great for picking up new skills or brushing off old ones, including study habits and business skills. What’s the most unusual job you’ve ever had? Unusual project: Before becoming a librarian, I was a freelance translator/copy editor for ten years, and I once translated a set of judging standards for a German chicken breed that was being brought to show in the US for the first time. What’s something you wish you had known in college that you know now? Good research and writing always take longer than you realize they do. What’s the funniest or most unusual thing you’ve ever been asked in the library? I help our chat co-op with questions from other academic libraries and once helped a student formulate a research question and find articles for natural animal abilities that mimic Pokémon. Are you a “pile it on the desk” or “everything in its place” kind of person? Pile it on the desk, absolutely. What’s your “happy place”? On the coast – give me the roar of the ocean any day. What’s something you could give a 30-minute presentation on with no prep? Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition. As a forever DM, I have encyclopedic knowledge. What did you want to be when you grew up? A marine biologist. There’s so much about the ocean we don’t know! We are so lucky to have Monica on our Library Team!Stay tuned for more Staff Spotlight posts throughout the academic year. ...