Doing some rock ‘n’ roll research? Check out Rock’s Backpages, a database of music journalism from freelance and mainstream writers from the 1950s to now. The database has over 31,000 searchable full-text articles including interviews, features, and reviews of popular music styles from rock, soul, blues to modern day movements.
Articles come primarily from US and UK publications like Creem, Rolling Stone, Mojo, and more featuring over 300 different journalists.
Mr. Cheese, one of the 69.9 million companion animals in the United States.1
The best know statistical reference publication in the country, published since 1878, the ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States is a single-volume reference source covering statistics on society, politics, and economics in the U.S. SMCM Library has access to both the print and electronic version!
Originally produced by the U.S. government, ProQuest began publishing the Statistical Abstract beginning in 2012 after the government announced that it would discontinue the title after 2011.
Collecting data from both public and private sources, the Statistical Abstract is published yearly with the most recent data available. As the name suggests, it’s primary focus is on the U.S., but it does include some international statistical information. On top of just being dang fun, the information in the Statistical Abstract can help you find data to enhance your research and track down elusive data sources.
The current print edition is available at the Reference desk in the “Ready Reference” section. Previous editions are available in the Oversized collection on the second floor, call number HA 202 .S72.
Electronic version is available under “S” in the A-Z Database List.
1American Veterinary Medical Association. (2015). Table no. 1253. Household pet ownership: 2011. ProQuest Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2015 (p. 794). Lanham, MD: Bernan Press.
You can’t beat the convenience of streaming video, and thanks to our subscription to Films on Demand, you can stream thousands (YES, THOUSANDS) of documentaries and educational films. Covering a wide breadth of disciplines, from Anthropology to Women & Gender Studies to the Sciences, Films on Demand provides full films and segmented clips that can be streamed from anywhere and even embedded into Blackboard and shared with others.
These are high-quality films from producers like the BBC, ABC News, PBS (including Frontline), California Newsreel, Films for the Humanities & Sciences and National Geographic, among others. All films are licensed for classroom use. So whether you want to share a documentary with your students or classmates, or just need to get a documentary fix on a Saturday night, check out Films on Demand.
Image credit: A VerMeulen 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Senior Maggie Foust is a familiar face at the SMCM Library circulation desk.
Growing up in both College Park and Annapolis (right on the water!), Maggie came to SMCM as an alternative to the large state schools too close to home. (And it didn’t hurt that she had older friends who were already St. Mary’s students.) Despite growing up on the water, the river setting wasn’t a draw for Maggie, who prefers to look at the water but doesn’t enjoy doing “water things.”
As a Film and Media Studies major, with an English minor, Maggie is currently finishing an SMP creating a podcast series that looks at female sexuality in horror, drama, and teen films, with all episodes posted on SoundCloud. Maggie was drawn to film studies not just because she likes movies, but because she believes it’s important to critically analyze what you like and understand why you enjoy it and to be more observant and understanding of the world around you.
If you’ve been to the library at all in the last three years, you’ve probably received Maggie’s enthusiastic help at the circulation desk, where she’s worked since the first semester of her sophomore year. Knowing people who already worked at the circulation desk, when she needed a job it was an easy decision where to apply. Her favorite part of working here? Getting to work with the “nicest people in the world.” Maggie also appreciates how caring her supervisor and coworkers are, how they’re there for each other and how they work together to accommodate and cover for each other when someone is sick.
Maggie will continue in the library field, having participated in a microinternship program this winter. Working with an SMCM alum at the Anne Arundel Public Library Headquarters sparked an interest in Outreach Librarianship in public libraries. Maggie enjoys the overlap between social work and librarianship when it comes to being on the ground and working in and with communities. She’ll pursue that passion in library school; after being accepted to both Simmons and Drexel, she will start a Library Science master’s program this fall at Simmons in Boston.
January 31 – February 18, 2017 at the Boyden Gallery, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
About the exhibit: Africa and the African Diaspora in Campus Collections features objects held in campus collections that are relevant to teaching and learning about Africa, the African Diaspora and African-American history, culture and experience. The exhibition features artwork, documents, publications and artifacts from the SMCM Fine Art Collection, Library and Archives and Historic St. Mary’s City as well as creative work by students and alumni affiliated with the Black Student Union.
The exhibit includes a collection of SMCM library books put together by Research & Instruction Librarian Pamela Mann.
About the book collection: “Revolution & Resistance: Making Art, Making Culture in the African American Diaspora.” Inspired by the objects in the exhibit the book collection puts texts and objects in conversation foregrounding the themes of representation, resistance and social justice. The monographs and art catalogs address identity formation, the invention and reinvention of Black culture and aesthetics, as a form or resistance; the limits of representation in American society and the art world; and the Arts (art, music, theater and literature) as a tool for transnational social justice in the African diaspora.
Registration now closed.
The SMCM Library, Archives & Media Center is sponsoring a Research & Technical Writing Workshop Series for students! The workshops will cover the research writing process from the planning and proposal stages through the writing and revision stages and includes a one-on-one session with workshop leader Sarah J. Pack. Each workshop will cover different topics in the series; sign up for one, two, or all three!
Visit libguides.smcm.edu/techwrite to get more information!
Each workshop section is limited to 15 students.
What: Research & Technical Writing Workshop
When: Feb 3, 10, 17 — 10am-12pm or 2-4pm
Where: Library 306
Who: Students interested in writing about data-oriented research
Taught By: Sarah J. Pack (Federal Reserve Board) & Amanda VerMeulen (SMCM)
If you have any questions about the workshops please email Amanda VerMeulen at aavermeulen@smcm.edu
Happy New Semester!
Since I know everyone’s busy the first week of classes, here’s a round-up of library news & helpful links you can use to get off to a great start:
We also have three phone and tablet charging stations! Look for them around the library!
The second floor Reading Room is a designated Quiet Study Space!
And an oldie but a goodie – get your FREE access to the New York Times online.
As always, if you have a question about anything – don’t hesitate to Ask Us!
Welcome back and good luck!
Starting Monday, December 19, the Library and Media Center will have different hours during the winter break. Of course, the Library website is open for business 24/7 if you need access to databases or e-books during the break!
Have a safe and happy break and we’ll see you next year!!!
(LOBBY BOOK DROP WILL BE OPEN)
December 19-22, 2016: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
December 23, 2016 – January 3, 2017: CLOSED
January 4-6, 2017: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
January 7-8, 2017: CLOSED
January 9-13, 2017: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
January 14, 2017: CLOSED
January 15, 2017: (Library) 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm; (Media Center) CLOSED
January 16, 2017: (Library) 8:00 am – 9:00 pm; (Media Center) 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
January 17, 2017: Library and Media Center return to regular hours
Image credit: A VerMeulen
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
If you received any mail related to the recent St. Mary’s Gives fundraising campaign, you probably saw Library student worker Ivan Messi featured!
Born in Cameroon, Ivan almost went to Mount St. Mary’s instead of SMCM, but transferred at the last minute thanks to the scholarship he received through the DeSousa-Brent Scholars Program. Ivan is currently a Senior Political Science major interested in business and entrepreneurship, working on both a Senior Seminar and independent study project. Though he was planning on studying computer science at the beginning of his college career, Ivan was drawn to political science because of the willingness to talk about difficult issues in class and not shy away from tough topics.
He began working at the Library as a circulation assistant his sophomore year, in 2014. Though he was initially looking for any open positions on campus, Ivan enjoys the relaxed atmosphere working in the Library offers and a flexible work schedule that helps him manage class, studying, and rugby team, which he has been on since his first year at St. Mary’s. But his favorite part of his job is interacting with people and helping to get them started with their research, no matter what they are studying.
Come by the Library atrium/lobby on Wednesday, December 14 from 11am-12:30pm and check out the projects from students in Sue Johnson’s Book Arts class (ART 347).
Here’s a sample of books created by Library employee Carol Morris. See these and more book arts projects on Wednesday!
Handmade books by Carol Morris, created in ART 347. Image: “Handmade books” by A. VerMeulen 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
