Education Experience Publications Presentations Service Memberships Media

Curriculum Vitae

Abubakar R. Tidal, Jr.

Office Address:

New York City College of Technology
City University of New York (CUNY)
Ursula C. Schwerin Library
300 Jay St.
Library Bldg. Rm. 434
Brooklyn, NY
11201
718.260.5481

https://library.citytech.cuny.edu
jtidal@citytech.cuny.edu

Education

  • Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
    M.S. Information Science
  • Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
    M.S. Library Science
  • University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
    B.S. Telecommunications
    minor: Computer Science

Research Interests

web metrics, web usability, mobile design, digital privacy

Experience

  • Chief Librarian & Department Chair
    July 2024 - Present
    Ursula C. Schwerin Library, New York City College of Technology, CUNY
    Brooklyn, New York
    • Provide strategic, financial, and managerial leadership for the library, collaborating effectively with faculty and academic leaders across the college and university library system.
    • Chair the Library Department, overseeing the professional development of full-time tenure-line faculty, professional and IT staff, civil service staff, and part-time faculty within a collective bargaining environment.
    • Serve as the primary advocate and spokesperson for the library and its personnel at campus, local, state, and national levels.
    • Represent the library on the Provost’s Senior Staff, College Personnel & Budget Committee, College Council, and other key committees.
    • Collaborate with library faculty and staff to align the library’s mission, goals, and objectives with the strategic plans of the college and university.
    • Support assessment activities leading to the development and implementation of improvement plans, followed by ongoing reassessment.
    • Represent City Tech and enhance resources and services across the university’s library system on the CUNY Council of Chief Librarians and other university committees.

  • Professor, Web Services and Multimedia Librarian
    August 2022 - June 2024
    Ursula C. Schwerin Library, New York City College of Technology, CUNY
    Brooklyn, New York
    • Develop, administer, and maintain the library’s cloud-based web server, containing a variety of different content management system driven websites.
    • Support research and information needs of 17,000+ students and faculty.
    • Oversee, recommend, and copy catalog media for the library’s 3,000+ piece multimedia collection with an annual budget of $2,000.
    • Supervise 1 full-time IT Associate, College Assistants, and library web development intern.
    • Provide reference and instructional support to faculty and students.
    • Subject liaison for the departments of Computer Systems Technology, Entertainment Technology, Electrical & Telecommunications Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering Technology, selecting monographs with an annual budget of nearly $10,000.
    • Recommend books and media for purchase to support curriculum and course proposals.

  • Associate Professor (tenured), Web Services and Multimedia Librarian
    August 2015 – July 2022
    Ursula C. Schwerin Library, New York City College of Technology, CUNY, Brooklyn, New York

  • Assistant Professor, Web Services and Multimedia Librarian
    April 2006 – August 2015; tenured 2013
    Ursula C. Schwerin Library, New York City College of Technology, CUNY, Brooklyn, New York

Publications

Books

Book Chapters

Refereed Publications

Non-Refereed Publications

Other

Conference Proceedings

Encyclopedia Entries

  • Tidal, J. (2016). Filipino-American Food. In Lan Dong (Ed.) American culture: From anime to tiger moms. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
  • Tidal, J. (2016). Filipino-American Music. In Lan Dong (Ed.) American culture: From anime to tiger moms. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
  • Tidal, J. (2016). Sushi. In Lan Dong (Ed.) American culture: From anime to tiger moms. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
  • Tidal, J. (2015). Slayer In David Moskowitz (Ed.) In The 100 greatest bands of all time. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Invited Talks & Workshops

Presentations

  • Tidal, J. (2023). Speaking volumes: Podcasts for patrons and Professionals. Niche Academy, virtual.
  • Lerski, M. and Tidal, J. (2022). Privacy in information literacy instruction presentation for LILAC Spring Training, virtual.
  • Jocson-Singh, J. and Tidal, J. (2022). Shush: Developing an extreme music bibliography by and for marginalized communities, as part of the "Creative Practice as Scholarly Practice: Artistic Alternatives to 'Publish or Perish' Models in LIS" panel presentation at Art Libraries Society of North America Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
  • Clyde, W., Cooney, C., and Tidal, J. (2021). Opening teaching beyond traditional instructional settings: A teaching portfolio program for non-instructional librarians. Presentation at the Association of College and Research Libraries National Conference, Virtual.
  • Abrams, K., Almeida, N. and Tidal, J. (2020). The way I see it: Using Go-Pro Cameras to understand student wayfinding obstacles]. Presentation at Designing for Digital 2020 Conference, Austin, TX.
  • Jones, B. N., Tidal, J. (2020). Pi-hole privacy: Tampering is a good thing. Pre-conference presentation at code4Lib 2020, Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Abrams, K., Almeida, N., and Tidal, J. (2019). Get with the GoPro(gram): How ESOL students explore a library. Presentation at the 18th Annual CUNY IT Conference, New York, NY. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (2019). . Presentation at the Association of Recorded Sound Collection Annual Conference, Portland, OR. (Refereed)
  • Almeida, N., Hill, H., and Tidal, J. (2018). You can’t always get what you want: User experience & the shifting contexts of library pedagogy. Presentation at the CUNY IT Conference, New York, NY. (Refereed)
  • Abrams, K. and Tidal, J. (2018). Optimizing library marketing with short links. Presentation at the Library Marketing and Communication Conference, St. Louis, MO. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (2018). Accessibility and the City Tech Library Website Presentation at the L’Association des Bibliothécaires du Québec (Quebec Library Association) 86th Annual Conference, Montreal, QC, Canada. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (2018). Promoting banned books in the City Tech library. Presentation at Banned Books Symposium, Newburgh, NY.
  • Davis, R. C., Eaton, M., Klein, S., Tidal, J. (2017). Accessibility in the time of limited resources. Presentations at the 16th Annual CUNY IT Conference, New York, NY. (Refereed)
  • Almeida, N. and Tidal, J. (2017). Mixed methods not mixed messages: Improving LibGuides with student usability data. The 9th International Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Conference. Drexel University. Philadelphia, PA. (Refereed)
  • Abrams, K. and Tidal, J. (2017). Electronic resource management and YOURLS. Presentation at OLC Collaborate with Emerging Learning Design, Montclair, NJ.
  • Tidal, J. (2017). Tips for better taps: How to conduct a mobile usability study. Presentation at Library Technology Conference, St. Paul, MN. (Refereed)
  • Davis, R. C., Eaton, M., Klein, S., Tidal, J., Ward, L., Zweibel, S. (2016). CUNY Libraries and open source: Wins and fails. Presentation at the 15th Annual CUNY IT Conference, New York, NY. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (2016). Shortened not stirred: Managing eResources with YOURLs. Presentation at ACRL New England Chapter Electronic Resources Management Interest Group Fall 2016 Program “Eresources Management Toolkit.” Cambridge, MA. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (2016). LibGuides and usability. ACRL Universal Accessibility Interest Group Virtual Meeting [Webinar]. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (2016). Forging the library website with open source. Presentation at City Tech Tech Day Brooklyn, NY.
  • Almeida, N. and Tidal, J. (2016) [Photo]-Opportunities for engagement using Instagram to promote student library use. Presentation at ACRL National Library Marketing & Outreach Interest Group-Greater NYC Area Meeting, New York, NY. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (2015). Making access short and sweet: Developing a PHP proxy linker and URL shortening tool. Presentation at the Fall 2015 code4LibNYC Meeting/METRO SIG, New York, NY.
  • Tidal, J. (2015). Bootstrapping in the cloud: The development of a responsively designed library website. Presentation at the 14th Annual CUNY IT Conference, New York, NY. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (2015). In your hands and on the phone: Usability and the mobile library website. Presentation at the Metro User Experience Special Interest Group, New York, NY.
  • Wochna, L., Charles, J.V., Costa, D., Mathson, S., Miller, M., Tidal, J. (June, 2015). Programming & promoting PPR films to patrons. Panel Presentation at the American Libraries Association Annual Conference: Video Roundtable, San Francisco, CA. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (March, 2015). One site to rule them all: Usability testing of a responsively designed library website. Presented at the Academic Research and College Libraries Conference, Portland, OR. (Refereed, 28% acceptance rate)
  • Tidal, J. (February, 2015). Bootstrap basics. Presented at the LACUNY Emerging Technologies Committee Workshop, New York, NY.
  • King, E., Klish, H., Miller, D. Tidal, J. (February, 2015). Decoding code words. Presented at the American Libraries Association Midwinter Meeting: LITA/ALCTS Joint Interest Group: Library Code Year, Chicago, IL.
  • Tidal, J. (November, 2014).Testing on a tablet: Usability testing of an mobile library website. Presented at the Library Information Technology Association National Forum, 2014, Albuquerque, NM. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (March, 2014). How to be a good backup. Presented at the 2014 code4lib preconference session “Technology, Librarianship, and Gender: Moving the conversation forward,” Raleigh, NC. (Refereed)
  • Zweibel, S., Davis, R. C., Tidal, J., & Verbovetskaya, A. (December, 2013). Life of Pi: Microcomputing in academia. Presented at the 12th Annual CUNY IT Conference, New York, NY. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (November, 2013). Using web analytics for mobile interface development. Presented at the 11th Annual City Tech Faculty Research Conference, Brooklyn, NY.
  • Tidal, J. (October, 2013). Pinterest and Instagram(Pinterest). Association of Library Communication Outreach Professionals Annual Conference, Fort Washington, PA. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (March, 2013). From open source to on your phone: Using Drupal to develop the library’s mobile website. New York City College of Technology Annual Faculty Research Conference, Brooklyn, NY.
  • Tidal, J. (February, 2013). Using Drupal for electronic resources management. Presented at the LACUNY Mobile Roundtable February Meeting, New York, NY.
  • Tidal, J. (November, 2012). From open source to on your phone: Using Drupal to develop the library’s mobile website. Poster session presented at the 10th Annual City Tech Poster Session, Brooklyn, NY.
  • Tidal, J. (October, 2012). Transitions: Moving from a PHP flat-file electronic resources manager to Drupal 6 Views. Presented at the code4Lib New England Conference, New Haven, CT. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (August, 2012). [Libraries and mobile development: Successes and failures] (Media Centers). Presented at the Consortium of College and University Media Centers Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (July, 2012). Integrating social media tools. Presented at the State University of New York Library Association Annual Conference. New York, NY. (Refereed)
  • Tidal, J. (November, 2011). Understanding users through WordPress statistics. Presented at the METRO Library Council SIG Lib 2.0. New York, NY.
  • Tidal, J. (October, 2009). Developing mobile websites. LACUNY Emerging Technologies Committee Spring Program. New York, NY.

Grant Activity

  • 2023 - American Libraries Association (ALA) Libraries and Transforming Communities Grant, $10,000
    • This grant provides the City Tech library with vinyl and podcasting equipment. Co-written with Profs. Anne Leonard and Monica Berger
  • 2022 - Rising Against Anti-Asian Racism Grant, $2,500
    • This grant provided funding to screen the documentary Not Your Model Minority and provide remote training on intervening against Anti-Asian American violence through the group, Right to Be.
  • 2020 - Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York Research Award Traditional A Year 52 (The Library Website for Everyone: Developing a Web Prototype through Participatory Design) #64023-00 TRADA-52, $3,058.35
  • 2020 – Carnegie-Whitney Grant with Joan Jocson-Signh of California Institute of the Arts), Award to fund the development of “A Bibliography Exploring Extreme Music and Marginalized Communities.”
  • 2020 - American Libraries Association, Library Census Equity Fund mini-grant $2,000 This grant provides limited funding for students to participate in the 2020 Census.
  • 2019 - American Libraries Association, Americans and the Holocaust $2,000 + panel exhibition
    • Co-wrote with Prof. Keith Muchowski in securing a grant for a traveling exhibition highlighting America and the Holocaust in WWII. The grant provided an interactive exhibit and a series of panels cover 1,100 sq. ft., and required the planning of 4 public presentations in connection with the grant.
      More information
  • 2019 - Vegfund, Love & Bananas Blu-ray disc with public performance license, est. $350.
    • This grant provided a copy of Love and Bananas, a documentary featuring the rescue of an elephant in Thailand. The grant provided the licensing cost of the DVD and refreshments for screening attendees.
  • 2018 - Causeumentary, Tickling Giantsem>Blu-ray disc with public performance license, est. $350
    • This grant provided a copy of Tickling Giants, a documentary featuring Egypt’s version of the Daily Show during Arab Spring. Organized an event where Prof. Stephanie Anne Boyle facilitated a discussion, followed by a screening of the film.
  • 2018 - National Endowment of the Humanities/Gilder-Lerhman Institute of American History, World War I and America (NYCCT) $1,800
    • This grant provided funding for programming surrounding World War I. I assisted Prof. Keith Muchowski in shooting a video for the grant, interviewing veterans, including City Tech students and faculty.
    • Video
  • 2018 - National Endowment of the Humanities/Gilder-Lerhman Institute of American History, Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle Grant Funding and Film Set $1,500 (NYCCT)
    • Grant provided films that highlight America's Civil Rights Movement.
    • Grant application was co-written with Profs. Tess Tobin and Ian Beilin.
  • 2014 - Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York Research Award Traditional B Year 45 (Usability Study of Responsive Designed Ursula C. Schwerin Library Website) #67659-00 TRADB-45, $6,000
  • 2013 - Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York Research Award Traditional A Year 44 (Usability Study of the Ursula C. Schwerin Mobile Website) #66012-00 TRADA-44-5, $2,000
  • 2013 – National Endowment of the Humanities/Gilder-Lerhman Institute of American History, Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle Grant Funding and Film Set (with Prof. Ian Beilin and Prof. Tess Tobin)

Awards and Professional Recognition

  • 2023 - New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to Code4Lib 2023)
  • 2022 - LACUNY Professional Development Travel Grant (Travel to ARLIS/NA)
  • 2021 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to ARLIS/NA)
  • 2020 – The CUNY Academy Stefan Bernard Baumrin [SBB] Travel Award for Associate Professors for National & International Conferences (Travel to code4Lib National Conference, 2020).
  • 2020 – LACUNY Professional Development Travel Grant (Travel to Designing for Digital Conference)
  • 2018 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to LMCC)
  • 2017 – Library Technology Conference Scholarship (Travel to conference, registration and night at conference hotel)
  • 2016 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to ACRL NEC ERM IG Program)
  • 2016 – National Endowment of the Humanities/Gilder-Lerhman Institute of American History, World War I and America (with Prof. Keith Muchowski and Prof. Tess Tobin)
  • 2016 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to code4Lib National)
  • 2016 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to ALA Midwinter)
  • 2015 – ACRL Member of the Week April 27th – May 2, 2015
  • 2015 – ACRL 2015 Mid-career Librarian scholarship (Travel to ACRL 2015)
  • 2015 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to ACRL National Conference 2015)
  • 2015 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to ALA Midwinter 2015)
  • 2014 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to LITA Forum 2014)
  • 2014 – LACUNY Professional Development Award Travel Grant Fall Cycle (Travel to LITA Forum 2014)
  • 2014 – New York City College of Technology Seven Year Service Award
  • 2014 – code4lib Diversity Scholarship
    • (Travel funds for code4lib 2014 National Conference)
  • 2013 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel funds to ALCOP 2013)
  • 2013 – Awarded Tenure, New York City College of Technology, CUNY
  • 2012 – New York City College of Technology Professional Development Advisory Council Travel Award (Travel to CCUMC 2012)

Service

Professional Service

  • Code4Lib 2023 Conference Committee, Scholarship Committee - Member, 2022 - 2023
  • Code4Lib 2016 Conference Committee, Scholarship Committee – Member, 2015 – 2016
  • Code4Lib 2016 Conference Committee, Website Working Group, 2015 – 2016
  • Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) – Website Blog Coordinator, 2014 – 2016
  • RUSA Publications and Communications Committee (ex-officio), 2014 – 2016
  • Library Information Technology Association (LITA)/Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) Joint Interest Group Library Code Year Co-Chair, 2014-2015
  • ALA Video Roundtable Notable Videos for Adults Committee, Member 2014 – 2016
  • Co-chair code4Lib New York Chapter/Metro Special Interest Group, 2013 – 2014

Community Service

  • Code4Lib Journal– Editorial board member 2015 – 2023
  • Urban Library Journal– Co-editor 2014 – 2015, Editor 2015-2016
  • Peer Reviewer – Access Conference 2013 (Canada)
  • Peer Reviewer – The Weave UX 2013 – 2015

Department Service

  • Library Alma Committee
  • Library Appointments Committee
  • Library Collection Development Committee
  • Library Exhibits Committee
  • Library Facilities Committee
  • Faculty Student Library Advisory Committee (elected 2-year term)
  • Library Open Educational Resources Committee
  • Library Public Relations, Outreach, and Marketing Committee
  • Library Public Workstation Committee
  • Library Reference Committee
  • Library Strategic Planning Committee
  • Library Web Committee, Chair, 2010-present
  • Library Workshop Committee

College Service

  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY ad hoc Associate Professor Promotion Committee 2024-2025, member
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Fellowship Leave Committee 2024-2025, member
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Personnel and Budget Committee 2024- , member
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY College Council 2024- , member ex-officio
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY College Council Curriculum Subcommittee 2024-2025, member
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Professional Development Advisory Council(PDAC) College Research Council 2022-2024
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Faculty Commons Using a Personal Website and Social Media to Promote Your Research and Creative Work Workshop
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Faculty Commons Faculty Friday: Using Podcasts as a Teaching Tool Workshop
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY PDAC New Faculty Orientation Committee 2019-present
  • New York City College of Technology, Personnel Appeals Committee member (elected), 2019-2021
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY College Council Delegate-At-Large (elected), 2017-2020
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY College Council Technology Committee Secretary (elected), 2015-2016
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY College Council Department Delegate (elected), 2014-2017
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Technology Committee, Voting Member 2014 – present
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Chief Librarian Search Committee, Member, 2013 – 2014
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Personnel Committee, Non-voting Member 2013 – 2014
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Humanities Department Annual Speech Competition, Judge 2010-2014
  • New York City College of Technology, CUNY Committee on Students, Non-voting Member 2008 – 2010
  • New York City College of Technology Cinem@Tech – Organized monthly library film screenings 2006 – 2009

University Service

  • CUNY University Faculty Senate, Senator 2020-2023
  • CUNY IT Accessibility Task Force 2014 – present
  • CUNY Copyright Committee, Member 2014 – 2015
  • LACUNY Institute 2017 Organizing Committee, Co-Chair Organized the annual conference, developed conference website.
  • LACUNY Institute 2013 Organizing Committee, Member 2012-2013 Designed print brochures for annual conference
  • LACUNY Mobile Development Roundtable, Member 2012 – Present
    • Presented Google Analytics Workshop to CUNY Librarians, December, 2010
  • Attended L.E.A.D. (Learn to Envision Alternative Directions) Workshop, 2010-2011
    • CUNY-wide librarian leadership program to foster management & training
  • LACUNY Emerging Technology Committee, Co-chair 2009 – 2010, Member 2007 – Present
    • Organized and facilitated the Electronic Books and Electronic Readers: Emerging Issues and Questions Program, April 2010.
  • CUNY+ Public Services Committee, Usability Sub-Committee 2009
  • LACUNY Junior Faculty Research Roundtable, Member 2008 – 2012
  • LACUNY News, Design and Production of Web and Print 2007 – 2014
    • Design web and print production of the organization’s bi-annual newsletter.
  • LACUNY Multimedia Roundtable, Member 2006 – Present
  • LACUNY Web Management Roundtable, Member 2006 – Present
    • Migrated, administered and maintained content and code programming of association website.
  • Library Association of the City University of New York (LACUNY), Executive Council
    • President-elect 2016-2017
    • Secretary 2011–2013
    • Delegate 2007–2009
    • Member, By-laws Committee 2011-2013
    • Member, Constitution Committee 2011-2013

Memberships

  • Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) 2014 – 2015, 2020-2021
  • ALA Reference User Services Association (RUSA) 2014 – 2016
  • ALA Library Information Technology Association (LITA), Member 2014 – 2015
  • ALA Social Responsibilities Roundtable, Member 2005 – 2013
  • ALA Video Roundtable, Member 2014 – 2016
  • Association of College and Research Libraries/NY (ACRL/NY), Member 2011-2012
  • State University of New York Library Association (SUNYLA), member 2011-2012
  • Library Association of the City University of New York (LACUNY) 2006 – Present
  • Librarians Without Borders, Member 2006 – Present
  • American Libraries Association (ALA), Member 2005 – 2016, 2019 – 2020

Media Appearances

  • Carlson, S. (2022, March 9). Libraries are the great equalizers. The Chronicle of Higher Education.
  • Carlson, S. (2022). Special collections in The Library of the Future. The Chronicle of Higher Education report. pg. 36.
  • Kroski, E. V. (2022, Jan. 3). Guest interview: Junior Tidal on podcasting. Video. YouTube.
  • Collins, K. & Ovadia, S. (Hosts). (2021, April 26). Episode 58: City Tech librarians talk podcasting[Audio podcast episode]. Indoor Voices