Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons

Librarian, Library

Education

CUNY Queens College, Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Linguistics (Adult TESOL & Multilingualism), minor language specializations in Spanish, French & Latin

CUNY Queens College, Master of Library & Information Science (MLS), with specializations in Academic Librarianship, Archives & Records Management, Multiculturalism/Multilingualism

CUNY Queens College, Master of Arts (MA) in Spanish Linguistics & Literature, with specializations in French and Latin

Iona College, Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and Spanish; minors in French & Secondary Education (7-12) with a specialization in Bilingual Education

Courses Taught

  • School of Continuing & Professional Studies (SCPS)
    • Camino Program (CP) [Programa Camino (PC)]
      • PSEG 106: Introduction to Composition (fall 2019) 
      • PSCM 326: Intercultural Communication (spring 2020, spring 2019, fall 2017)
  • Library Research & Information Literacy Sessions*
    • Tailored to professional topics in academic support departments
    • Customized to research assignments in academic courses
  • Library Faculty Advisor
    • Undergraduate internship in academic librarianship with a specialization in special collections and rare books
  • Library Workshops
    • Online citation management systems:  Zotero and Mendeley
    • Ebooks
    • Plagiarism
    • Organization and management of information sources (e.g., print, electronic, media, etc.)
  •   Research Consultations*
    • Undergraduate and Graduate Students
    • Students in non-credit programs
    • Faculty and Staff
  • Liaison to the following departments and programs:
    • Education (undergraduate and graduate)
    • Counseling and Therapy (graduate)
    • Psychology
    • Spanish & other languages
    • Camino Program (CP) [Programa Camino (PC)], School of Continuing & Professional Studies (SCPS)
    • Intensive English Language Program (IELP)

       *Scheduled upon request.

  • Publications and Scholarly Activities

         INDEXED RESEARCH IDENTIFIERS

         ORCID: Connecting Research and Researchers

         PUBLICATIONS

         Scholarly, Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

         Book Chapters

    • Agama, F. K., Lamkins, K., López-Fitzsimmons, B. M., Navarro, J. M., & Travers, T. K. (2023). Identity in learning communities. In G. Park, S. Bogdan, M. Rosa, J. M. Navarro (Eds.), Critical pedagogy in the language and writing classroom: Strategies, examples, activities from teacher scholars (pp. 182-184). Routledge.
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B. M., & D'Alto, A. (2019).  Pronunciation practice: / v / and / f / sounds. In J. Vorholt (Ed.), New Ways of Teaching Speaking (pp. 115-117). Alexandria, VA: TESOL Press.

         Conference Proceedings

         Professional, Trade & Industry Publications

         Presentations

    • 2019 Conference of Academic and Research Library Association (ACRL National), Cleveland, Ohio. Kanu A. Nagra (panelist), Alexandra de Luise (panelist), Jeremy Czerw (panelist), Michael H. Handis (panelist), and Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons (moderator and panelist) Academic Librarians Serving Diverse Populations of Multilingual Students. April 12th. 2019. (blind review of proposal)
    • 2019 Conference of the TESOL International Association, Atlanta, Georgia. Research and Writing Consultations in a Language-Assisted Associate’s Degree Program. Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons. March 15, 2019. (blind review of proposal)
    • 2018 Connecticut Information Literacy Conference: Instructional Design for Today's Student, University of Hartford, Hartford, CT. Kanu A. Nagra, Ph.D., and Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons. Google, Discovery, and Individual Database Searches: Cultivating Critical-thinking Skills in Undergraduates. June 15th, 2018.
    • 2018 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons (invited speaker; partially funded by IFLA). Libraries Exploring Ways to Empower the Development of Intercultural Identities and Multicultural Competencies. August 28th, 2018. (blind review process for proposals submitted).
    •  2018 Georgia International Information Literacy Conference, Savannah, Georgia. Bernadette M. López- Fitzsimmons. Creating an Environment of Connectedness and Cultural Inclusiveness for Non-Native Speakers of English in Academic Libraries. September 28th, 2018. (double-blind, peer-review of conference proposal). 
    • 2018 Georgia International Information Literacy Conference, Savannah, Georgia. Bernadette M. López- Fitzsimmons. Formative and Summative Assessment of Library Instruction (LI): Encouraging and Supporting “Reflective Teaching" Practices Through Peer Observation. September 28th, 2018. (double-blind, peer-review of conference proposal).
    • 2018 New York Library Association (NYLA) Conference, Rochester, NY. Bernadette M. LópezFitzsimmonsEmbedding Library Lessons in a Bilingual Course. November 10th, 2018. (review process by committee)
    • 2018 Faculty Resource Network (FRN) Symposium, Orlando, Florida. Kim Woodruff, Heidi Laudien, and Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons (Funded by the Provost’s Office; Cross-collaborative activity). Get Out of Your Seats! Active Learning Strategies That Engage Students in the 21st Century. November 16, 2018.
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Bridging the linguistic gap of Spanish speakers in an Associate’s Degree Program by speaking Spanish. 2018 National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE). March 2, 2018. [double-blind peer reviewed].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Cross-cultural Communication & Multicultural Competencies. New York Library (NYLA) Association Annual Convention 2017. Saratoga Hilton, Saratoga Springs, New York. November 9th, 2017. [Two-step review process: community vote; NYLA committee review]. (presentation handout).
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Formative and summative assessment of library instruction (LI): Encouraging and supporting "Reflective Teaching" practices through peer observations Library Organization Exchange (LOEX). Hyatt Regency Lexington, Lexington, KY, May 11-13, 2017. [double-blind, peer-reviewed].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Using music to lower the affective filter while energizing adult  English language learners (ELLs), paper presented at the Annual Conference for ESOL Educators and Program Administrators 2016, Co-sponsored by  the English Language Studies Program at the New School and the Literacy Assistance Center, the New School, October 29, 2016. (blind review).
    •  López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Library, museum, archival & historical societies: Resources for emerging bilinguals (EBs), paper presented at the ConnTESOL Annual Conference 2016, October 22, 2016, Sheraton Hartford South, Rocky Hill, Connecticut. (blind review).
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M.  Developing blended learning in library instruction to cultivate research and critical thinking skills in the undergraduate student population, paper presented at the Georgia International Information Literacy Conference (GIILC) 2016, September 30 - October 1, 2016, Savannah, Georgia. (double-blind peer reviewed).
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M.  Forensic information literacy: The CSI Approach to inquiry and scholarly communication, paper presented at the Georgia International Information Literacy Conference (GIILC) 2016, September 30 - October 1, 2016, Savannah, Georgia. (double-blind peer reviewed).
    • Nagra, K.A., & López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Google vs. library databases: Cultivating research and critical thinking skills in the undergraduate student population, Electronic Resources & Libraries Conference (ER&L) 2016, AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, April 3-6, 2016. [Two-step peer review process: 1. Online community vote (blind); 2. Review process by conference committee (blind)].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M.   Our library can help you! Using multicultural elements from TESOL for non-native speakers of English, paper presented at the Georgia International Information Literacy Conference (GIILC) 2015,  September 25-26, 2015, Savannah, Georgia.  (double-blind peer reviewed).
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M.   Beyond library resources: How to implement integrated learning across the curriculum with information literacy components using hybrid delivery, paper presented at the Georgia International Information Literacy Conference (GIILC) 2014,  October 10-11, 2014, Savannah, Georgia. (double-blind peer reviewed).

          Invited Talks

    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Integrating Multicultural Elements in Library Instruction with a Professional Development Activity prepared by Kanu Nagra, Ph.D. Professional Development Event jointly sponsored by Academic and Research Libraries-New York (ACRLNY) and the Library Association of City University of New York (LACUNY).  Mercy College (Manhattan), December 8th, 2017.
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M., & D'Alto, A. Articulatory features of the consonants / v / and / f / in Native American English (NAE). Department of Linguistics and Communication Disorders, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), May 24, 2017.
    • Accardi, A., Khalid, I., & López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. What has President Trump been saying?  The effects of Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric on adult emergent bilinguals’ (EBs’) English language acquisition (ELA).  Department of Linguistics and Communication Disorders, Queen College, City University of New York (CUNY), May 18, 2017.
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M., Li, G., & Hamilton, T. The silent way, non-communicative language, and total physical response (TPR). Department of Linguistics & Communication Disorders Department, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), May 17, 2017.

    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Fun with "ambition idioms." Presented to International Students (ISs) enrolled in the English Language Institute (ELI), Queens College, the City University of New York, Flushing, NY.  December 8, 2016. [Multi-part series on Information Sources for EFL/ESL].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Unscrambling sentences with conjunctive adverbs. Presented to International Students (ISs) enrolled in the English Language Institute (ELI), Queens College, the City University of New York, Flushing, NY.  December 2, 2016. [Multi-part series on Information Sources for EFL/ESL].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Conjunctive Adverbs in an Argumentative & Persuasive Essay.  Presented to International Students (ISs) enrolled in the English Language Institute (ELI), Queens College, the City University of New York, Flushing, NY. November 29th, 2016. [Multi-part series on Information Sources for EFL/ESL].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Common Core State Standards (CCSS) 11.4: Post-Civil War Era, ca. 1865-1900 --The Reconstruction Era, ca. 1863-1877.  Department of Linguistics & Communication Disorders, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY. November 15, 2016.
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Websites as information sources: APA Style -- In-text citations and references.  Presented to International Students (ISs) enrolled in the English Language Institute (ELI), Queens College, the City University of New York, Flushing, NY. November 18th, 2016.  [Multi-part series on Information Sources for EFL/ESL].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Using information sources in essay writing:  Summarizing and more on citing sources.  Presented to International Students (ISs) enrolled in the English Language Institute (ELI), Queens College, the City University of New York, Flushing, NY, November 4, 2016. [Multi-part series on Information Sources for EFL/ESL].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Using information from sources: Direct quotes, plagiarism, APA citations, and paraphrasing. Presented to International Students (ISs) enrolled in the English Language Institute (ELI), Queens College, the City University of New York, Flushing, NY, November 1, 2016. [Multi-part series on Information Sources for EFL/ESL].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M., Lama, M., Sarmiento, J., & Morris-Pryce, S. Language, culture, & thought: the Safir-Whorfian Hypothesis. Department of  Linguistics & Communication Disorders, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY, May 18, 2016.
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Thematic Unit Plan for English language learners (ELLs): 1750-1914 the Age of revolutions, industrialization, and empires; based on Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and College and Career-ready Anchors (CCRA). Department of Linguistics & Communication Disorders, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY, March 29, 2015.
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Academic library resources & services for English language learners (ELLs), presentation given to Adult ELLs who were completing their last non-credit ESL course and transitioning to credit courses the following semester, English as a second language (ESL) program, NCC Library, Norwalk Community College (NCC), Norwalk, CT, March 5, 2015.
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B. M., Lekhraj, S., Lama, M., Laizinou, L., Sarmiento, J., & Morris-Pryce, S. Are some languages more difficult to learn than others?  Department of Linguistics & Communication Disorders, Queens College, the City University of New York, Flushing, NY, December 7, 2014.
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Applied linguistics: Information & scholarly sources. Presentation delivered to undergraduate students preparing their education portfolios for NYSED & NYC Board of Education and other accrediting educational organizations. Department of Linguistics & Communications Disorders, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY, December 4, 2014.

         Poster Presentations

    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M., Aggatino, A., & Khalid, I. The Age of Trump!  Anti-immigration rhetoric and its effects on learning English.  2018 conference of the National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE). Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 3, 2018. [Presented by  B.M. López-Fitzsimmons for the research team on  March 3, 2018]. [double blind peer-reviewed].
    • López-Fitzsimmons, B.M., Accardi, A., & Khalid, I. President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric -- immigrant bans and restrictions: How the President’s anti-immigration sentiments impact emergent bilinguals’ (EBs’) motivation to learn English as a new language (ENL). Linguistics & Communication Disorders Annual Student Research Conference, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY). [Presented by  B.M. López-Fitzsimmons for the research team on  May 8, 2017].

          Moderator: Panel Discussions

    • Do you know what they don't know?  How students conduct research. Peggy L. Nunn and Min Tong, University of Central Florida. Georgia International Information Literacy Conference (GIILC) 2016, Savannah, Georgia, September 30, 2016. [Moderator: Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons]
    • Visual literacy: Knowledge generation and the academic library. Chris J. Miko, Ph.D. Bowling Green State University. Georgia International Information Literacy Conference  (GIILC) 2016, Savannah, September 30, 2016.  [Moderator:  Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons]
    • Confident or not: How students explain their confidence regarding research abilities. Andrea Brooks, Northern Kentucky University.  Georgia International Information Literacy Conference (GIILC) 2015, Savannah, Georgia, September 25, 2015.   [Moderator:  Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons]
    • Challenges in the digital environment: Assessing students’ attitudes about information searching.  Doris Van Kampen-Breit, Saint Leo University; Rachel Cooke, Florida Gulf Coast University. Georgia International Information Literacy Conference (GIILC) 2015, Savannah, Georgia, September 25, 2015.  [Moderator:  Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons]

    • The core 4 assessment test bank:  One-stop shopping for information literacy assessment!   Rachel Cooke, Rachel Tait-Ripperdan, Kim Reycraft, Steve Rokuseka;  Florida Gulf Coast University; Georgia International Information Literacy Conference (GIILC) 2015, Savannah, Georgia, September  25, 2015.  [Moderator:  Bernadette M. López-Fitzsimmons]

          Lightening Talks

    •  López-Fitzsimmons, B.M. Expanding library services to accommodate graduate students and adult learners,  Academic & Research Libraries-New York (ACRL-NY), Graduate Services Discussion Group; Bobst Library, New York University (NYU), April 23, 2012.

          OTHER    

         Lesson Plans, Experiential Activities, and Teaching & Learning Tips

        

  • Professional Experience and Memberships
    • Collection Development: Special Projects (selected list)
    • Mahmoud Amin, Walter Matystik, Robert DeRosa, Juan Cerezo, Natalie Heinitz, Peter DeCaro, Bernadette López-Fitzsimmons, Elen Mons, Ryan Quattromani, “A Review of Article 129-B Requirements and Compliance,” May 2016. https://manhattan.edu/student_life/public-safety/safety-statistics

       

      Professional Experience and Memberships
    • American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL), 2018
    • Academic and Research Libraries(ACRL, National)-American Library Association (ALA): member, 2017-present.
    • TESOL International Association: member, 2016-present.
    • Academic Research Libraries-New York (ACRL-NY): member, 2000-present.
      • Selected Activities:
        • Graduate Services Discussion Group: Member, 2013-2014.
        • Electronic Resources Discussion Group: Participant, 2012-2013. 
    • New York Technical Services Librarians (NYTSL): served as treasurer, secretary, and member, 2007-2013
      • Selected Activities:
        • NYTSL Annual Reception: Reception Co-chair, 2008-2012; Treasurer, 2012-2014.
        • NYTSL Annual Program: Served on board & assisted in organizing these events, 2008-2013.
    • Waldo Academic Library Directors Organization (WALDO): Technical Services Committee (TSC)--served as chair, secretary, and member, 2000-2012.
      • Selected Activities
        • WALDO Systems Planning Committee: Co-cordinated migration, trainings staff, and pre-migration implementation for the WALDO-Koha Open Source Project, with James Gelarden, MLIS, 2007-2013.
        • WALDO TSC Chair: Presented overview of the WALDO-Koha Open Source Project emphasizing "next-gen" features in web-based integrated library system (ILS), Koha (e.g., Public Opac, Jaspercat; Three back-end modules: Administrative, Cataloging, & Circulation).  Walsh Library, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, May 2009.
        • WALDO Systems Planning Committee: Co-coordinated migration, training, and pre-migration implementation with Maire Duchon, MLS, M.A., and Thomas O'Connor, Ph.D.,CFC, 2002-2004.
        • WALDO TS and ad hoc WALDO Systems Planning Committees, Member. Co-hosted webex training sessions on the Endeavor's (ExLibris) Voyager ILS with John Garino, MLS, Assistant Director of Systems, St. John's University Libraries, to participating WALDO library members.  Walsh Library, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, February 2004 & May 2004.

    • Professional Certifications
      • New York State (NYS) Public School Permanent Teacher Certification: English, French and Spanish (grades 7-12).
  • Honors, Awards, and Grants
    • Funded Honors, Awards, and Grants
      • Certificate of Achievement, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), 2020
      • Faculty Resource Network (FRN), New York University (NYU), 2014-2015.
      • Manhattan College sabbatical, 2014-2015.
      • International Association of Lasallian University Leadership (IALU). Fellowship. Rome, Italy, May-June, 2012.
      • Collegium on Catholic Intellectual Life. Fellowship. University of Portland, Portland, Oregon, May 2010.

     

  • Other

          Service 

    • Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CELT) at Manhattan College: Faculty Development Day
      • Hello!  Is anyone out there? Connecting the isolated academic through interdisciplinary opportunities. Co-presented with Heidi Laudien, Ph.D., Jessica M. Wilson, Ph.D., Fengyun Wu, Ph.D., & Shawn Ladda, Ed.D.  CELT Faculty Development Day, August 21, 2014.
      • Libraryland: Where to build research relationships with your students.  Co-presented with Amy E. Handfield, MLS, MFA. CELT Faculty Development Day, August 23, 2013.
      • Library research guides [(LRGs); LibGuides] and What's new in the library ebook collections.  CELT Faculty Development Day, August 23, 2013.

        

    • Center for Academic Success (CAS) at Manhattan College:  Professional Development Talks
      • The Nuts & bolts of library ebook collections.  Center for Academic Success (CAS). Professional development presentation to College faculty and administrators, Spring 2013.
      • Library research guides [(LRG); LibGuides]. Center for Academic Success (CAS). Professional development presentation to College faculty and administrators, December 5, 2012.
      • Library research guides (LRGs): Using LRGs in peer tutoring. Center for Academic Success (CAS), October 3 and 5, 2012.

    • LaSallian Mission
    • International Association of Lasallian University Leadership (IALU) Conference in Rome, Italy.
      • Bilingual Program: English/Spanish
      • Casa Generalife (Lasallian Christian Brothers Headquarters), Rome, Italy, June 3-June 16, 2012.
      • IALU Co-presenters (fellows): Provost William Clyde, Ph.D., Dean Constantine Theodosiou, Ph.D. (School of Science), Gwendolyn Tedeschi, Ph.D. (School of Business), Bernadette López Fitzsimmons (Library)—Manhattan College’s role within the International Higher Education Network of Lasallian Universities
        • Emphasis on higher education in today’s global environment
        • Bilingualism/bicultural and multilingual/multiculturalism in higher education citing NYC as an example
        • Equity in higher education among all socioeconomic levels throughout the worldpoverty issues that influence education at all levels
        • Improvement of networking channels in the IALU universities throughout the world
        • Campus Presentation:   November 15, 2012
        • Rome Presentation:       June 5, 2012.

     

    • Manhattan College Committees
    • Council for Faculty Affairs (CFA):  Library Faculty representative, Spring 2017-present.
      • Board of Trustees Facilities Committee, CFA Representative, Spring 2017
    • Advisory Committee on Campus Security (ACCS):  Faculty representative (Presidential appointment for one-year term), 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.
    • Library Search Committees
      • Digital Humanities Librarian, Spring 2017.
      • Assistant Director for Technical Services, Spring 2016.
      • Assistant Director for Reference and Instruction, Spring 2016.
      • Temporary Part-time Reference Librarian, Committee Chair, Spring 2016.

     

    • Professional Development
    • Association of American Colleges & Universities Annual Convention (AAC&U) 2018. Grand Hyatt, Washington, D.C., January 23 - 27, 2018.
    • Modern Language Association Annual Convention 2018 (MLA). Sheraton-New York & New York Hilton, New York, N.Y., January 3-7, 2018.
    • Academic and Research Libraries-New York (ACRL-NY)  Annual Symposium 2018. Baruch College/City University of New York (CUNY),  Vertical Conference Center, New York, N.Y., December 2, 2017. Theme:  Exploring the mission of academic and research libraries in the 21st century information environment.
    • Academic and Research Libraries (ACRL) National Conference 2017, Baltimore, MD, March 2017.
    • Preventing Discrimination and Sexual Violence: Title IX, VAWA, and Clery Act for Faculty and Staff (online training), February 17, 2017.
    • Diversity Benefits for All Employers (online training), February 15, 2017.
    • CELT Faculty Development Day, August 25, 2016.
    • Connecticut Information Literacy Conference 2016, University of Hartford, Hartford, CT, June 3, 2016.
    • Academic and Research Libraries-New York (ACRL-NY) Symposium, Baruch College/City University of New York (CUNY), Vertical Conference Center, NYC, NY, December 3, 2015.