Darcy Gervasio

Coordinator of Reference Services (Associate Librarian)

I am the Coordinator of Reference Services at the Purchase College Library. I also serve as the subject liaison librarian for Anthropology, Economics, Gender Studies, Language and Culture, Media Studies, Psychology, and Sociology.  

I manage the Reference Desk, Text a Librarian, Ask Us 24/7 Chat, and Zoom Reference services. This includes scheduling, staffing, collecting usage statistics, and ensuring the overall quality of the Library’s Ask a Librarian services.

As a liaison librarian, I participate in collection development, reference, individual research consultations, and information literacy instruction in my subject areas to make sure students, faculty, and staff have access to the library resources they need for their classes and projects and understand how to use them.

From December 2021 - August 2023, I served as Interim Manager/Co-Director of the Library, which involved overseeing personnel, the budget, and general operations.

Research Interests

  • Critical information literacy
  • Slow assessment
  • AI and collection development, pedagogy & reference
  • Fake news/disinformation
  • Library-community outreach & social activism
  • Mobile/virtual reference

Publications

Gervasio, Darcy I., Detterbeck, Kim, Oling, Rebecca. “Slow Assessment Revisited: Finding Space for Authentic Assessment in Slow Librarianship.” Slow Librarianship: Reflections and Practices, Ed. Ashely Rosener. Sacramento, CA: Litwin Books (forthcoming in 2025). 

Gervasio, Darcy. “The Creative Act of Research.” Expose: The Journal of Expository Writing, Fall 2024. Web. [faculty guest essay for Purchase College’s expository writing journal].

Gervasio, Darcy I. “Apps, AI, and Automated Fake News Detection.” Information Outlook: Special Issue on Misinformation and Disinformation. 23.2 (2019): 9-12. [published by the Special Libraries Association]

Gervasio, Darcy I., Oling, Rebecca, Rind, Patricia. “Masculinities: A Feminist Perspective: A Hybrid Course Built from Scratch.” Gender Issues and the Library: Case Studies of Innovative Programs and Resources, Ed. Carol M. Smallwood and Lura Sandborn. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2017. 12-20. View info on publisher’s site.

Gervasio, Darcy I. “Fake News and the Myth of Library Neutrality.” Informed Librarian Guest Forum. The Informed Librarian Online, 1 November 2017. Web.

Gervasio, Darcy I. “Slowing Down Assessment: Resisting the ‘Cult of Efficiency’ to Create Meaningful Library Assessments.” Informed Librarian Guest Forum. The Informed Librarian Online, 1 June 2016. Web.

Gervasio, Darcy I. “Redefining Virtual: Leveraging Mobile Librarians for SMS Reference.” International Journal of Digital Library Systems 4.2 (2014): 44-69. Web. 25 November 2015. doi:10.4018/IJDLS.2014070104. View Abstract and Excerpt.
*Note: the July-December 2014 issue was actually published in November 2015.
 

Gervasio, Darcy, Detterbeck, Kim, and Oling, Rebecca. “The Slow Assessment Movement: Using Homegrown Rubrics and Capstone Projects for DIY Information Literacy Assessment.” ACRL 2015: Creating Sustaining Community, Portland OR, March 25-28, 2015. Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries, March 2015, 721-731. Web.

Gervasio, Darcy, Ecklund, Angela, and Ress, Arieh.Library Research for the 99% : Reaching Out to the Occupy Wall Street Movement.” Urban Library Journal. 19.1 (2013): 1-6. Web. 

Nielsen, Tom, Gervasio, Darcy (contributor), et al.Takin’ It To The Streets: myMETRO Researchers Bring Library Science Skills and Expertise to NYC Communities.” The Global Librarian. New York: ACRL/NY & METRO, 2013. Print. Full text and More About “The Global Librarian”

Gervasio, Darcy, Ecklund, Angela, and Ress, Arieh. Climate Change Impacts: An Annotated Bibliography for Occupy Wall Street. New York: Metropolitan New York Library Council, 2012.

Deppman, Jed, and Gervasio, Darcy.On Writing in the Style of Emily Dickinson.” The Emily Dickinson International Society Bulletin. 17.2 (2005): 3-4. Print. 

Presentations / Conferences

Gervasio, Darcy. “ChatGPT Is My Personal (Book) Shopper: Benefits and Limitations of Generative AI for Collection Development.” Upgrade: Enhancing Library Services with Technology Conference. University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI. 6 October 2025.

Gervasio, Darcy, Breen, Virginia, et al. “The Truth About Fake News.” Invited panel moderated by Nancy Geary. New Canaan Library. New Canaan, CT. 26 September 2019.

Gervasio, Darcy, and Geraci, Aliqae. “Grassroots Advocacy and Librarians: Using Research Power to Make Change.” Invited panel moderated by Erin Ackerman and Tom Diamond. ALA Annual Conference 2019. Washington, D.C. 22 June 2019.

Gervasio, Darcy. “Fake News Apps: How Viable is Automatic Detection?SUNY Conference on Instruction & Technology (CIT). Purchase, NY. 31 May 2019.

Gervasio, Darcy. “What’s New in Fake News Detection: Do Automatic Detection Apps Really Work?METRO Symposium: (Mis)informed: Propaganda, Disinformation, Misinformation and Our Culture. Metropolitan New York Library Council, Manhattan, NY. 1 June 2018.

Caulfield, Michael, Gervasio, Darcy,  Hinchcliffe, Lisa, and Udell, Jon. “Alt-facts, Fake News, and Misinformation: Fact-checking and Media Literacy Strategies for the Classroom and Beyond.” Invited panel moderated by Heather Staines. Charleston Library Conference 2017. Gaillard Center, Charleston, SC. 9 November 2017. View on conference website.

Carlin, Emily and Gervasio, Darcy. “Don’t Take the Clickbait: How to Lead a Fake News Teach-in.”  Invited webinar. Credo Reference. Virtual presentation. 16 August 2017.

Carlin, Emily and Gervasio, Darcy. “Media Literacy in the Post-truth Era: Arming Our Patrons Against the Scourge of Fake News.” Invited workshop. Metropolitan New York Library Council. Manhattan, NY. 14 July 2017.

Carlin, Emily and Gervasio, Darcy. “Response and Solutions at SUNY Purchase Library (Fighting Fake News).” Westchester Academic Library Directors Organization (WALDO) Panel on Librarianship and Information Literacy in the Post-Truth Era. Fordham University, Bronx, NY. 13 June 2017.

Moderator/Facilitator. Hewitt, Rebecca. “The Pyramid of Evidence: Engaging students with an active learning exercise on authority.” SUNYLA Annual Conference, Purchase College, Purchase, NY. 5 June 2015

Ecklund, Angie, Gervasio, Darcy, Ress, Ari. “Research for the 99%: A People’s History.” myMETRO Special Interest Group. Metropolitan New York Library Council, New York, NY. 2 June 2015.

Gervasio, Darcy, Detterbeck, Kim, Oling, Rebecca. “The Slow Assessment Movement: Using Homegrown Rubrics and Capstone Projects for DIY Information Literacy Assessment.” ACRL National Conference 2015, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR. 27 March 2015. View on Slideshare.

Detterbeck, Kim, Gervasio, Darcy, Oling, Rebecca, Sciangula, Marie. “Partnering Panthers: Library & TLTC Collaboration at Purchase to Re-envision Processes, Engage Educators, and Enhance Learning.” CIT 2014. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 30 May 2014.

Detterbeck, Kim, Gervasio, Darcy, Sciangula, Marie.  “From Creation to Preservation: Transforming the Culminating Student Project Through Collaboration,” METRO Library Council Annual Meeting. Baruch College, New York, NY.  15 January 2014.

Detterbeck, Kim, Gervasio, Darcy, Sciangula, Marie.  “The Curious Transformation of the Culminating Student Project Process.” ACRL/NY Annual Symposium, Baruch College, New York, NY.  6 December 2013. Poster presentation.

Ecklund, Angie, Gervasio, Darcy, Ress, Ari. “Research for the 99%: Bringing Academic Research to Occupy Wall Street.”  ALA Annual Conference 2013, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. 29 June 2013. Poster presentation.

Detterbeck, Kim, Gervasio, Darcy, Oling, Rebecca. “Putting Assessment in its Place: Creating and Implementing a Campus-wide Information Literacy Rubric.” CIT 2013. SUNYIT, Utica, NY.  23 May 2013.

Ecklund, Angie, Gervasio, Darcy, Ress, Ari. “Library Research for the 99%: Reaching Out to the Occupy Wall Street Movement.” LACUNY Institute 2013: Libraries, Information, and the Right to the City. John Jay College, New York, NY.  5 April 2013. 

Gervasio, Darcy. “Liaison Librarian Roles from Coast to Coast.” University of Wisconsin Libraries, Madison, WI. 31 January 2013. Virtual panel discussion.

Ecklund, Angie, Gervasio, Darcy, Ress, Ari. “myMETRO Research Projects Lightning Session– Research for the 99%: Working with Occupy Wall Street.” METRO Annual Conference. Baruch College, New York, NY. 15 January 2013.

Gervasio, Darcy. “Going Mobile: LibAnswers SMS Module and the Mobile Reference Librarian.”  SpringyCamp 2012: Focusing on User Experience. Virtual Conference. 8 November 2012.

Ecklund, Angie, Gervasio, Darcy, Ress, Ari. “MyMetro Researchers Pilot Project: Occupy Wall Street Group.” MyMetro Researchers Project Presentations. Metropolitan New York Library Council, New York, NY. 2 July 2012.

Gervasio, Darcy, Markgren, Susanne, Massar, Leah. “Uncovering Undiscovered Needs: Using Mobile Librarians & Technologies to Provide Point-of-Need Services.” SUNY Library Association Annual Conference 2012. Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY.  7 June 2012.

Detterbeck, Kim, Gervasio, Darcy, Oling Rebecca. “SUNYLA Information Literacy Task Force Update.”  SUNY Library Association Annual Conference 2012.  Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY. 8 June 2012. Panel discussion.

Gervasio, Darcy. “Teaching When Technology Fails.” Engaging the Student: Classroom Management and Active Learning. Bibliographic Instruction Special Interest Group. Metropolitan New York Library Council, New York, NY. 21 March 2012. 

Gervasio, Darcy. “Mobile Reference, Mobile Librarians.” RUSA MARS Hot Topics in Electronic Reference Services Panel. ALA Midwinter Conference 2012, Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, TX. 21 January 2012.

Bryan, Virginia, Gervasio, Darcy, Steinmann, Emilie. “Skype-Based Reference: A Study and Pilot Project.” Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference. Kalahari Hotel, Wisconsin Dells, WI. 4 November 2010.