Levy Library Blog

Welcome to the Levy Library!

We are glad you joined us here at Mount Sinai and found your way to the Library Blog!  

The Levy Library is a resource for you from the start--providing access to online books and journal articles for your course readings--to the finish with your thesis, dissertation or culminating scholarly project. 

We have resources and services for all the learning in between. Need to find a mentor or collaborator?  Want to organize your references?  Increase your skills with writing prompts for generative AI?  Take a look at our Scholarly Publishing and Visualization Hub to get ideas and learn about supportive services. 

We want to get to know you and help you grow your skills and succeed.  Get to know us by connecting with Ask a Librarian, hanging out in spaces designed for you like the Levy Library Student Commons, share your ideas with us--in person, via email or through your representatives on the Student Council Subcommittee on Technology and Libraries. 

We can't wait to meet you!

Kris Alpi, Associate Dean of Libraries and Information Sciences

Happy Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week Month! At the Levy Library, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the dedication, resilience, and passion you bring to your work each day. Whether you’re diving into research, tackling complex coursework, or contributing to groundbreaking discoveries, your efforts inspire us all. 

As your library team, we're here to be your equitable partner every step of the way—whether you need access to essential resources, research support, a quiet study space, or just a helpful hand. Here's how we can help you thrive throughout your academic journey: 

1. Your Partner in Scholarly Research 
Need help with your research? Whether it’s refining your research question, conducting a literature review, navigating complex databases or managing your citations, our Education & Research Services team offers personalized consultations to help you develop research strategies that save time and get results.  Don’t forget to explore the Scholarly Publishing and Visualization Hub, our new portal for support in reference management, the publishing and promotion process, metrics, and visualizations—an invaluable resource for taking your scholarly research and work to the next level.

2. Powerful Tools and Resources 

Access our robust collection of scholarly tools and materials including literature databases like PubMed, point of care tools like UpToDate, e-books, scholarly articles, and reference management tools like EndNote and Zotero to streamline your workflow. Not sure if we have access to something? Contact our Ask a Librarian service, and we will be more than happy to help you find what you need.

3. Workshops and Classes 
Our Library Classes & Workshops are designed to build your confidence and skills, whether you’re just starting your research or diving deep into data management. We offer a wide range of workshops including introductions to EndNote and Zotero, conducting literature reviews, publishing, and artificial intelligence.  

4. Study Spaces That Work for You 
We know that both focus and downtime are essential to your success. That’s why the Levy Library offers a range of study environments—from quiet zones to collaborative workspaces and tech-equipped rooms—so you can choose what works best for you. Need a more private spot? Our reservable rooms are perfect for virtual meetings, interviews, or solo study sessions. And don’t forget to check out your brand-new Levy Library Student Commons, a dedicated space just for graduate and medical students—designed with your needs in mind. 

5. Tech Support and Equipment Loans 
Need a charger, stand, or laptop? We’ve got you covered. Our equipment loan service helps you stay connected and productive, especially when you’re moving between classes, labs, and work. Simply walk to our User Services desk and borrow away! 

6. Support for Your Well-being 
We know success goes beyond academics. Whether you need a quiet space to focus, a friendly face, or just a moment to recharge, we’re here for you. Our spaces, resources, services, and team are always ready to support you—not just during Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week Month, but every day of the year. 

From all of us at the Levy Library—thank you for your incredible work, your curiosity, and your commitment to making a difference. We see you, we appreciate you, and we’re always here for you. 

Happy Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week Month!

In celebration of National Library Week (April 6–12), we’re excited to introduce a new reason to be drawn to the library: the launch of the Scholarly Publishing and Visualization Hub — bringing together services and resources that inspire and empower Mount Sinai researchers, clinicians, and students to create and share new knowledge. 

At a time when libraries continue to spark imagination, foster connection, and help users connect the dots across ideas, disciplines, and discoveries, the Scholarly Publishing and Visualization Hub (SPV Hub) introduces ways to connect students, faculty, and staff with  tools and services that enable innovation and the dissemination of Mount Sinai’s scholarly activity within and beyond our community. 

Whether you're exploring the work of fellow Mount Sinai researchers, seeking collaborators, or developing your own project, Library support at every stage is easy to identify on the SPV Hub. Discover research happening across the institution, connect with potential partners, and bring your ideas to life with expert guidance on visualizations, scholarly research and writing, and reference management.  

As part of our commitment to equity in access and innovation, the SPV Hub showcases partnerships by which we offer digital platforms such as the Levy Library Press and the Icahn School of Medicine Scholars Portal, and expert guidance to help you share your work, explore open access options, and select journals to reach your intended audiences. To help amplify your impact, we offer support with author profiles, visibility tools, and research metrics. The SPV Hub also serves as a online portal to come together with colleagues through events and workshops that foster community and shared learning. 

As we mark 50 years of fueling discovery and scholarship at the Levy Library, the launch of this SPV Hub stands as a powerful reflection of that legacy while staying true to our long-standing commitment to be your equitable and inclusive partner in learning. We invite you to explore the Scholarly Publishing and Visualization Hub — a virtual space designed to inspire and support every stage of your scholarly journey — and connect with the Library team with your ideas and questions. 

For more information and to get started, please visit the Scholarly Publishing and Visualization webpage at: libguides.mssm.edu/spv-hub 

The Levy Library is happy to announce that Mount Sinai's subscription to resources from BMJ offers new benefits for our community. 

For publishing:

Mount Sinai corresponding authors can publish for no-cost in BMJ Open Quality for their articles accepted between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2028.

BMJ Open Quality accepts original research, local, national, and international quality improvement projects, value-based healthcare initiatives, and educational improvement work.

To submit an article to BMJ Open Quality:

• Visit BMJ Open Quality's author page to review submission guidelines.
• Submit your article via the BMJ Open Quality Submission Portal.
• Enter the Icahn School of Medicine's institution discount code to confirm your affiliation and waive publishing fees.

We are continuing our agreement for no-cost traditional publishing in BMJ Case Reports.  

For journal and database access:

We now have full text access to all BMJ Journals and our BMJ Best Practice tool now includes the Comorbidities Manager (learn more on the BMJ website) 

Please be advised that due to a planned electrical shutdown and maintenance in the Annenberg Building, the Levy Library will have adjusted hours on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Adjusted Levy Library Hours

To accommodate building-wide electrical maintenance, Levy Library will have adjusted hours and access over the weekend. Please note that we will be opening earlier than usual on Saturday:

• Saturday, March 29: Open from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (early opening and early closure)

• Sunday, March 30: Reopening at 12:00 pm, with normal operating hours resuming

Access Restrictions During our Closure

The following areas will be fully closed during the shutdown: 

• Levy Library, 11th Floor

• Levy Library Student Commons

• Levy Library, 10th Floor Classrooms and Individual Study Room

Please be advised that Mount Sinai ID card access to the 10th and 11th floors will be disabled from Saturday at 4:30 pm through Sunday morning until noon.

Plan Ahead

We encourage all users to secure alternate locations for study, research, or work during this time.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at library@mssm.edu.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Stay informed with updates, training, and tips on the Blackboard Ultra transition—updated regularly through the 2025–2026 academic year.

August 11, 2025

Explore the New Blackboard Ultra Experience!

As part of the transition to Blackboard Ultra, we’ve created two short resources to help you get familiar with the new look and features:

📄 Check Out the PDF – Prefer something written? Our PDF guide has you covered.  

🎥 Watch the Video – A 3-minute walkthrough to show you what’s new and how to navigate Ultra.

JUNE 26, 2025

Logging into Blackboard will have a New Look

Starting July 1, you will see a different look when you visit learn.mssm.edu to log into Blackboard.  

Once you have logged in, you will also see a new lighter menu color palette and a Mount Sinai banner image.

We hope you enjoy the new look! If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Educational Technology at edtech@mssm.edu

JUNE 6, 2025

Accessing Your Blackboard Ultra Courses  

If you have been notified that your Fall course has been converted to Ultra, it’s time to take a look! Logging to Blackboard Ultra is the same—start at learn.mssm.edu and follow the steps illustrated below:  

1. Select Courses from the left menu.
2. In the Fall course list display, Ultra (2025) courses will have a color strip on the left while any prior courses will have a gray strip.  There may also be a banner view.  
3. Select your Fall 2025 course and once inside, explore the top and side menus.

MAY 14, 2025

Updated Guides for Your Transition to Blackboard Ultra 

To help you prepare for the Fall 2025 Blackboard Courses transition, we have updated our Blackboard guides, which now detail how to manage your courses, content, tools, and grades within Ultra.

You can find the guides at https://libguides.mssm.edu/educationaltechnology/blackboard-ultra and we will update this page as additional documentation becomes available.  

If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact the Levy Library Educational Technology Team at https://libguides.mssm.edu/educationaltechnology/connectwithEdTech or email edtech@mssm.edu  

APRIL 25, 2025

Navigating the Transition to Blackboard Ultra Video Available

The Fall 2025 Blackboard Courses transition work continues!  Watch the transition workshop recording focused on what you need to know at vimeo.com/1078676280/d87e7ad62a?share=copy

We will do another round of workshops before the Spring 2026 semester for those of you who teach in the Spring to get accustomed to the Ultra interface. 

If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact the Levy Library Educational Technology Team at https://libguides.mssm.edu/educationaltechnology/connectwithEdTech or email edtech@mssm.edu  

APRIL 15, 2025

Upcoming Training Dates and a Sneak Peek of the New Experience

The Fall 2025 Blackboard Courses transition work has begun!  Watch the pre-transition workshop recording focused on what you need to know at vimeo.com/1074030966/bb7445584b?share=copy  

The next training is Navigating the Transition to Blackboard Ultra on Monday, April 21, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm.  Please register at libcal.mssm.edu/event/14258733 even if you aren’t able to attend so you receive the recording.   [recorded video now available]

Here’s a sneak preview of the improved navigation menus in Ultra for instructors and students: 

If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact the Levy Library Educational Technology Team at https://libguides.mssm.edu/educationaltechnology/connectwithEdTech or email edtech@mssm.edu   

MARCH 12, 2025

Blackboard Ultra is Coming Fall 2025: What You Need to Know

Our online learning management system Blackboard enables learning anytime, anywhere. We are excited to upgrade to the Blackboard Ultra platform starting with the Fall 2025 courses.  This blog will provide project updates for the entire 2025-2026 academic year.  

Getting to Know Ultra

Ultra provides several benefits: 

• Improved course interface and navigation​
• ​Mobile-friendly experience​
• New features like course-specific Content Search​
• ​Streamlined workflow for learner submissions​
• Potential for future integration with Blackboard AI Design Assistant and other scholarly tools ​

We will share more on these Ultra aspects as they go live. 

Making the Transition

Upgrading to Ultra is a team effort among instructors and coordinators, enrollment management, Academic Systems, the Library's Educational Technology team, and Blackboard's experts. 

We welcome you to participate in real-time training, review videos and guides, or connect with us for specific support.  These courses will be recorded and links will be shared here. 

1. To get ready for the transition, please attend Preparing your Course for the Blackboard Learning Management System Transition to Ultra on Thursday, March 20th, 2025, Noon-1:30 PM. 
2. Many fall courses will be transitioned between April 1-30. The follow-up course, Navigating the Transition to Blackboard Ultra, Monday April 21st, 2025, Noon – 1:30, will help you once your courses have transitioned to Blackboard Ultra. 

There will be additional trainings for those whose fall courses are transitioned later this summer, and for spring courses that will transition in the fall.  We will link them here when they are scheduled.   

Stay in Touch

We look forward to introducing you to Blackboard Ultra through updates to this blog and a variety of communications.  We would be happy to speak with your group about the Ultra transition, please contact us at edtech@mssm.edu.

Kris Alpi, Associate Dean of Libraries & Information Sciences

We’re thrilled to introduce the Levy Library Student Commons, a brand-new space designed exclusively for graduate and medical students at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Whether you're looking for a quiet place to study, a collaborative environment for group projects, or simply a space to unwind, the Student Commons is here to support you.

This space was created in partnership with Medical Education Program and the Graduate School, and Levy Library, with the goal of providing a welcoming and inclusive environment tailored to your academic and personal needs.

What You’ll Find in the Student Commons

The Student Commons offers a variety of spaces to match different study and collaboration styles:

• Commons Area – A relaxed, open space where you can connect with peers, have casual conversations, or engage in independent study.
• Two Individual Focus Rooms – Ideal for deep focus, virtual meetings, or interviews. These rooms can be reserved when you need a private space.
• Two Think Tanks (Group Study Rooms) – Perfect for teamwork and study groups, these rooms allow for collaborative learning and discussion.
• One Collaborative Room – Designed for small group meetings and brainstorming sessions, this space accommodates up to six users.
• Study Hub – Featuring six individual bookable desks for silent, distraction-free study.

How to Book a Space

Booking a space in the Student Commons is simple! Just visit the Levy Library Student Commons booking website (https://libcal.mssm.edu/r/search/studentcommons) to reserve a focus room, collaborative space, or an individual desk.

Hours & Access

The Student Commons is open during Levy Library’s 11th-floor hours. Access is limited to graduate and medical students and you’ll need to use your Mount Sinai ID card to enter.

Have Questions?

You can learn about the space at: libguides.mssm.edu/findaspace/studentcommons. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to the Levy Library team at library@mssm.edu or stop by the Library User Services Desk—we’re happy to help!

We look forward to seeing you in the Student Commons and can’t wait for you to experience this new space designed with you in mind.

You asked, and we listened! We’re excited to announce that Levy Library will be installing a new water bottle filling station to enhance convenience and sustainability for our community. To complete this upgrade, we will have scheduled the installation on Thursday, February 13, and Friday, February 14, 2025.

While the library will remain open, the Collaboration Zone will be temporarily unavailable so we can complete installation and there will be some noise during the installation period.

What You Need to Know

🔹 Thursday, February 13 | 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
The Collaboration Zone will be closed from 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM. There will be an increase in noise levels in the general area which may be heard in other parts of the library. If you’re looking for a quiet research and study space, we recommend using alternative spaces.

🔹 Friday, February 14 | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
A section of the Collaboration Zone near the maintenance work will be blocked off, including the adjacent individual study room. Other study areas will be available as usual.

Alternative Spaces

We understand that access to study and workspaces is important. Here are some options to consider:

✅ Silent Study Areas – The designated silent study zones in the library will remain open.
✅ Individual and Group Study Rooms – If you need a space, book a study room in advance.
✅ Alternative Rooms for Study – We reserved a room that you can use while our spaces area under construction:

• Thursday, February 13 – Small Computer Lab (11-40) - OPEN 7:30am - 2:00pm
• Friday, February 14 – Small Computer Lab (11-40) - OPEN 7:30am - 2:00pm

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete this exciting upgrade! If you have any questions or need assistance finding an alternative space, please reach out to library at library@mssm.edu

Thank you for your cooperation—we can’t wait for you to enjoy the new water bottle filling station!