The Library will be open 10am-8pm for the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 7.
Reopening for Fall 2020!
Welcome to the Hilda C. Landers Library, Archives & Media Center!
This website details plans for reopening and the Fall 2020 semester. 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, August 17, 2020 at 8 am.
For Fall 2020, the library is open only to current College students, faculty, and staff.
Regular fall 2020 semester hours have changed and are listed here.
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 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
- In order to improve accessibility, USMAI has redesigned the look of the St. Mary’s and USMAI catalogs.
- 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.
- Borrowing physical books and other physical items from other USMAI (University System of Maryland & Affiliated Institutions Library Consortium) libraries is not yet available at this time. But any book not held by the St. Mary’s library can be requested via interlibrary loan.
- Many materials can be renewed online through My Account. At this time USMAI libraries are waiving fines and fees for physical materials that cannot be renewed or returned.
- Reference and research assistance are available. Our librarians by subject area are listed here.
- All library instruction will take place remotely this fall.
- The College Archives is open by appointment. Visit the Archives website for additional details.
- 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 systems down this Friday night-Saturday morning
On Friday, January 10, 2020, starting at 10 pm, all USMAI systems will experience downtime due to a data-center move. The downtime is expected to last until Saturday, January 11, noon.
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.
Library & Media Center Hours: Fall 2019 Exam Edition

Extended Library and Media Center hours begin Sunday, December 15.
Looking for study spaces? Check out the betaLounge on the 1st floor for some comfy seating! Need privacy? You can also book one of the 2nd floor study rooms!
Need a laptop/phone charger, ethernet cord, and/or an extension cord? Ask at the first floor Circulation desk. And keep an eye out for the phone and tablet charging stations — there’s one on each floor!
Best of luck!
FALL 2019 EXAM HOURS | LIBRARY | MEDIA CENTER |
Sunday, Dec 15 | 12:00 pm – MIDNIGHT | CLOSED |
Monday, Dec 16 – Tuesday, Dec 17 | 8:00 am – MIDNIGHT | 8:00 am – 10:00 pm |
Wednesday, Dec 18 | 8:00 am – 11:00 pm | 8:00 am – 10:00 pm |
Thursday, Dec 19 | 8:00 am – 9:00 pm | 8:00 am – 9:00 pm |
Friday, Dec 20 | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm |
WINTER BREAK HOURS | LIBRARY | MEDIA CENTER |
Saturday, Dec 21 – Sunday Dec 22 | CLOSED | CLOSED |
Monday, Dec 23 | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm |
Tuesday, Dec 24 – Wednesday, Jan 1, 2020 | CLOSED | CLOSED |
Thanksgiving 2019 Hours

The SMCM Library and Media Center will have reduced hours / be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. The website, databases, and ebooks will still be available if you need to some scholarly research to settle an argument around the Thanksgiving table.
Library
- Tuesday, November 26: 8am-6pm
- Wednesday, November 27: CLOSED
- Thursday, November 28: CLOSED (Happy Thanksgiving!)
- Friday, November 29: CLOSED
- Saturday, November 30: CLOSED
- Sunday, December 1: 4pm-11pm
Media Center
- Tuesday, November 26: 8am-6pm
- Wednesday, November 27: CLOSED
- Thursday, November 28: CLOSED (Happy Thanksgiving!)
- Friday, November 29: CLOSED
- Saturday, November 30: CLOSED
- Sunday, December 1: CLOSED
Have a safe and relaxing break!
BOOK SALE 2019

Brace yourselves, the book sale is coming…
The annual library book sale is Tuesday and Wednesday, October 1 & 2.
We will be selling books from 9am-4pm, rain or shine outside the entrance to the library. We have books in a range of subjects, so come early and often to get your favs!
This year we will have a FREE button making table!
Book Prices are $0.50 for paperbacks and $1.00 for hardcovers. Cash only! Sorry no OneCard, debit or credit cards 🙁 [Thankfully there’s an ATM conveniently located in the library lobby. Coincidence or conspiracy????? You decide.]
New Library Hours for 2019-20
The Library will be open Sunday, Sept 1 from 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
New Library hours starting Tuesday, September 3
Monday 8:00 am – 11:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 11:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 noon – 8:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 noon – 11:00 pm
Labor Day Hours 10am-5pm
The Library will be open 10am-5pm for the Labor Day holiday, Monday Sept 2.
Share Your Work: An Interview with Jessica Malisch

Jessica Malisch is an Assistant Professor of Biology who has worked at St. Mary’s for 3 years. After completing a Bachelor’s of Science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, she earned a PhD in biology at the University of California, Riverside. Fun fact–her doctoral diploma is signed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the “governator” of California at the time. Jessica was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Montana, then a visiting professor at Claremont Colleges in California before landing here at St. Mary’s (you’ll recognize that as a brilliant pun shortly). We sat down with Jessica to learn more about her approaches to research and antics set to the music of Britney Spears.
What are your current research interests?
I’m an ecological physiologist with a speciality in endocrinology. Specifically, I study hormones and their influence on the metabolism and behavior of songbirds. I conduct research on the songbirds here at St. Mary’s and in Yosemite during the summer with a group of SMCM student researchers.
Additionally, I’m conducting research with Dr. Pam Mertz, Professor of Biochemistry, and rising senior Ivy Atunes (recent Flores Award recipient) to develop a novel assay for hormone transport proteins in bird blood. This assay (the scientific word for “method to measure something”) will enable students in my lab to measure the protein and help us understand the role of this protein in the stress response. We plan to share this assay with other labs to encourage more research in this area. These types of interdisciplinary collaborations with faculty and students is one of the many reasons I enjoy being a part of the liberal arts experience and the St. Mary’s community.
I am looking forward to a year of intensive research ahead, as I was recently awarded a 1 year fellowship. The fellowship from the American Association of University Women gives me an opportunity to focus almost exclusively on conducting research and mentoring undergraduate research students here at St. Marys. Mentoring student researchers is my favorite aspect of my job.
What are some of your recent publications?
In the journal Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, I published this article: “Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia in White-Throated and White-Crowned Sparrows: A New Technique for Rapid Glucose Measurement in the Field.” (You can read it here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29847208) This paper examines the relationship between acute stress and glucose mobilization in 2 songbird species, taking a unique approach to studying this phenomenon. Researchers hold songbirds for 30 minutes (thus inducing acute stress) and take 3 blood samples at different intervals to compare their blood glucose levels. In general, I’m interested in what predicts the amount of glucose levels produced under stress and the ways this links to the survival of individuals. I am particularly proud that his paper has three St. Mary’s undergraduate co-authors, these students contributions were essential to complete the research.
How does the library help you in your research and/or the classroom?
InterLibrary Loan (ILL) is my best friend for conducting research. All of my students in my class are required to create an ILL account so they can get familiar with it and find articles for their research using this fantastic service. I also teach First-Year Seminar so, I rely on the library during that course to help my students learn research skills and information literacy.
What’s one thing you think students or faculty should know about the library, archives, or media center?
In addition to ILL, know the library faculty and staff–they’re here to help you!
What are some interesting books or articles you’ve read recently?
This will tell you a lot about me: I’ve been finding a textbook on avian physiology absolutely fascinating. I was excited to find my work cited several times in the book, Sturke’s Avian Physiology, as I happened to pick up the book more or less by chance.
Favorite book?
The Last Season by Eric Blehm. The story follows the disappearance of Randy Morgenson, an Eastern Sierra ranger who worked along the Muir Trail in Yosemite for many years. Because I also migrate to the Sierras each summer and have annual field seasons, Morgenson’s story really resonates with me.
Favorite class you’ve taught?
My absolute favorite is working with pre-SMP students in directed research classes. We design research projects together, and I really enjoy helping students get to know what ecological research is like. Shout-out to Comparative Animal Physiology too, this is my upper division specialty and I teach it using a flipped classroom design. It is highly interactive.
If you could invite anyone, dead or alive, to guest lecture in your class, who would it be?
David Attenborough in POB2 (Principles of Biology II). The class focuses on the diversity of life on the planet, and there’s no other expert who knows more about this field of study. He clearly has a passion for the subject.
What else would you like our readers to know about you?
I love to play practical jokes. In one of the classes I co-taught, I planted a Bluetooth speaker in the ceiling, playing bird calls and then Britney Spears while another instructor held class. Pranksters be cautioned: this type of stunt requires a great deal of planning ahead and a scientist’s attention to detail!
UPDATE: LAMC Open at NOON July 22-Aug 30

The Library building will open at NOON Monday-Friday, July 22-August 30. The Library building will still close at 6pm and be closed all day Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer.
We are pushing back our opening time while contractors are working on updating the HVAC system in the Library building.
Thank you for your patience while this important work gets done. If you have any issues, concerns, or questions please contact LAMC Director Kate Pitcher at (240) 895-4267 or kepitcher@smcm.edu
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