Hilda C. Landers Library, Archives & Media Center

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Media Literacy, Civic Engagement, and Democracy

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We’re happy to announce that the Library, Archives, and Media Center has partnered with the Center for the Study of Democracy to launch a program exploring the intersection of media, democracy, and civic participation in the United States.

Roll of "I Voted" stickers.

Photo by Element5 Digital from Pexels

 

As part of this program, the Library and the CSD will be hosting a series of lectures, film screenings, and workshops on topics related to media literacy, civic participation, and the networked information landscape. You can find more information on these issues, and on the project, on this resource guide the library has created.

In April of this year, we hosted Dr. Joan Donovan of the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society, who gave a fascinating lecture on the spread of disinformation and misinformation online. A recording of her lecture is available on the Center for the Study of Democracy’s YouTube channel as well as on our research guide. Look for announcements about future events here, as well as on the Center for the Study of Democracy’s website!

Summer Reading 2021!

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Summer Reading 2021 Poster

 

It’s back! The SMCM Library Summer Reading Program will begin on June 1 and end on August 20th, 2021.

The Summer Reading program is sponsored by the St. Mary’s College Library, Archives & Media Center and is open to all members of the St. Mary’s Library community including students, staff, faculty, alumni and residents of the Tri-County area (St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties.) You may read anything you like as long as a copy is available at the St. Mary’s College Library (SMCM) or COSMOS, the Southern Maryland Libraries catalog, or the USMAI catalog. You do not need to check the book out of the library. To get points you must post a review on the St. Mary’s College Library Summer Reading blog.

Grand Prize drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. Open to participants who earn at least 5 points.

For more information visit the Summer Reading Blog.

Information for Summer 2021

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Welcome to the Hilda C. Landers Library & Archives!

As the pandemic continues, please note that services and access have changed to protect the health and safety of our community. We may need to make further changes quickly as circumstances change. Thank you for understanding.

Contact us at ask@smcm.libanswers.com.

Through August 1, the library building is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

From August 2 – August 29, the library building will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to current College students, faculty, and staff, the library is now open to the public. Everyone on campus must wear a mask indoors and maintain social distance. Visitors must complete the SMCM Symptom Tracker and be prepared to show proof that they are CLEARED to come to campus that day.

General Updates

  • Library books and DVDs can be returned to the book drop in the library lobby at any time.
  • Food and drink are allowed in the library, but face coverings must be worn when not actively eating or drinking. 
  • There are sanitizing stations throughout the library. Please wipe down your space before you settle in and again when you leave. 
  • The public computers and scanners require special cleaning solutions, so please do not clean them yourself. 
  • Plexiglass panels have been installed at the library circulation desk. If you are waiting for service, be aware of others and keep your social distance.
  • Furniture in open areas has been arranged so that seating is six feet apart. Please do not move furniture.
  • In areas where space is tight such as stairwells or book stacks, be aware of others and keep your social distance.
  • “Group study rooms” are currently “study rooms” as capacity has been limited. Face coverings must be worn in study rooms when not actively eating, drinking, or talking. Students may reserve a study room in advance here. 

Check Out and Renew Materials

  • Patrons can browse the stacks and bring items to the library circulation desk for checkout.
  • Patrons who are current College students, faculty, and staff can place requests in the St. Mary’s Catalog and in the USMAI Catalog (University System of Maryland & Affiliated Institutions Library Consortium).
      • In the option to “Select a Pickup Location,” choose St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Once the book is ready for pick-up at the SMCM library, you will receive a “Hold Available Notice” via email. If you prefer that we mail the book to your home or campus address, reply to that email with your address details. At that point we’ll check the item out to you and put it in the US Mail or campus mail.
      • If the option to “Select a Pickup Location” includes a USMAI library elsewhere in Maryland where you’d prefer to pick up the material, choose that campus. That campus will send an email to you once the book is ready for pick-up at that library.
  • As always, any book not held by the St. Mary’s library or USMAI can still be requested via interlibrary loan. If you prefer that we mail the book to your home or campus address, include that in the ILL form.
  • As always, any article not held by the St. Mary’s library can also be requested via interlibrary loan and it will be delivered to you electronically.
  • Many materials can be renewed online through My Account. 

Research Assistance

  • Reference and research assistance are available. Our librarians by subject area are listed here.
  • All library instruction will take place remotely this summer. 

Archives

  • The College Archives is open by appointment. Visit the Archives website for additional details.

Announcement: Lecture and Discussion on Media Manipulation and Disinformation Campaigns

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Monday, April 19th from 5:30-7:00 pm!

Flyer for Donovan Lecture

The LAMC and the Center for the Study of Democracy welcome Dr. Joan Donovan of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy. Dr. Donovan, who researchers online extremism and disinformation campaigns, will discuss disinformation in our media ecosystem, and its impact on American democracy. 

This is a virtual event. Please register at: http://bit.ly/drjoandonovan

This event will kick off the Media Literacy, Civic Engagement, and Democracy Project. The project is a collaboration between the LAMC and the Center for the Study of Democracy. Expect to see further announcements for lectures, film screenings, and workshops in the Fall! For more information on media literacy, check out this guide.

 

System Upgrade on Sunday, January 31, 2021

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On Sunday, January 31, 2021, from 6 am to 6 pm 2 pm, USMAI systems will experience downtime due to a system upgrade.  

During this time there will be no access to the St. Mary’s Catalog or the USMAI Catalog, and there will be no off-campus access to any of our databases or e-journals.  

We apologize for the inconvenience!

Information for Spring 2021

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Welcome to the Hilda C. Landers Library, Archives & Media Center!

As the pandemic continues, please note that services and access have changed to protect the health and safety of our community. We may need to make further changes quickly as circumstances change. Thank you for understanding.

Contact us at ask@smcm.libanswers.com.

The library building reopens on Monday, January 18, 2021 from 10 am – 8 pm.

Regular Spring 2021 semester hours begin Tuesday, January 19, 2021 and are listed here.

For Spring 2021, the library is open only to current College students, faculty, and staff.

General Updates

  • If you are a returning student, please remember to return any library books or DVDs to the book drop in the library lobby at any time.
  • All materials that have been returned by patrons will be quarantined until they are safe to redistribute.
  • Food and drink are allowed in the library, but face coverings must be worn when not actively eating or drinking. We will monitor compliance and reserve the right to ban food and drink if necessary to preserve the health and safety of our community.
  • There are sanitizing stations throughout the library. Please wipe down your space before you settle in and again when you leave. 
  • The public computers and scanners require special cleaning solutions, so please do not clean them yourself. 
  • Plexiglass panels have been installed at the library circulation desk. If you are waiting for service, be aware of others and keep your social distance.
  • Furniture in open areas has been arranged so that seating is six feet apart. Please do not move furniture.
  • In areas where space is tight such as stairwells or book stacks, be aware of others and keep your social distance.
  • Access to all print journals (also known as magazines or periodicals) is restricted. To request a print journal issue or microfilm reel please fill out this form. You will be notified via email once the issue is ready at the library circulation desk, usually within 24 hours. Journal issues and microfilm reels must be used in the library building.
  • “Group study rooms” are now “study rooms” as capacity has been limited. Face coverings must be worn when not actively eating, drinking, or talking. Students may reserve a room in advance here. 
  • If you pick up a book or DVD and don’t plan to check it out at the library circulation desk, please place it on a library cart once you’re done. All materials that have been touched by patrons will be quarantined until they are safe to redistribute.

Check Out and Renew Materials

  • Patrons can browse the stacks and bring items to the library circulation desk for checkout, or patrons can place a request in the St. Mary’s Catalog. Library staff will pull the book from the stacks for you and send an email to you once the book is ready for pick-up at the circulation desk. If you prefer that we mail the book to your home or campus address, reply to that email with your address details. At that point we’ll check the item out to you and put it in the US Mail or campus mail.
  • Patrons can once again request physical books and other physical items from the USMAI Catalog (University System of Maryland & Affiliated Institutions Library Consortium).
  • Any book not held by the St. Mary’s library or USMAI can still be requested via interlibrary loan.
  • Many materials can be renewed online through My Account. At this time USMAI libraries, including St. Mary’s, are waiving fines and fees for physical materials that cannot be renewed or returned. 

Research Assistance

  • Reference and research assistance are available. Our librarians by subject area are listed here.
  • All library instruction will take place remotely this spring. 

Archives

  • The College Archives is open by appointment. Visit the Archives website for additional details.

Media Center

  • To borrow equipment, contact Ken O’Connell, at kmoconnell@smcm.edu or 240-895-4269.
  • Return all equipment to the library circulation desk during the library’s open hours.
  • For assistance with digital media instruction and production, email mediacenter@smcm.edu. 

Library & Media Center Hours: November 20 through January 18

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November 20 through November 30:

  • Friday, November 20: 8am-5pm
  • Saturday, November 21: CLOSED
  • Sunday, November 22: CLOSED
  • Monday, November 23: 10am-2pm
  • Tuesday, November 24: 10am-2pm
  • Wednesday, November 25: CLOSED
  • Thursday, November 26: CLOSED
  • Friday, November 27: CLOSED
  • Saturday, November 28: CLOSED
  • Sunday, November 29: CLOSED
  • Monday, November 30: 10am-2pm

December 1 through December 22:

  • Monday through Friday: 10am-2pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED

December 23 through January 3:

  • CLOSED

January 4 through January 17:

  • Monday through Friday: 10am-2pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED

January 18:

  • Library: 10am-8pm
  • Media Center: 10am-2pm

Black Lives Matter Book Display

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On October 3rd, the Black Student Union and the SGA Programs Board held a special event called BLM @ St. Mary’s. Held to support the Black community at SMCM and to serve as a forum for discussion about racial injustice, the event featured speakers include the Department of Political Science’s Dr. Sahar Shafqat, and interim Chief Diversity Officer Kelsey Bush, as well as an open mic segment on the waterfront during which students shared creative works. In response to a request from the Programs Board and the BSU, the Library has put together a book display of materials related to racial justice issues, including systemic racism and police brutality, as well as highlighting works by Black authors. The display, located across from the Circulation Desk on the Library’s first floor, will be up for the rest of the semester, and all books are available to check out. Come visit the library and learn more about race and social justice!

Library BLM Book Display

The Library’s Black Lives Matter Book Display

Contact Us:

(240) 895-4264

ask@smcm.libanswers.com
47645 College Drive
St. Mary's City, MD, 20686-3001

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