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Off-Campus Access to Library Databases Affected – May 27

May 23, 2025 by Haley Galloway

Graphic announcement with a background of bookshelves. The text reads: "ANNOUNCEMENT: Off-Campus Access to Library Databases Affected. May 27 @ 9:30am." To the right of the text is an illustration of a colorful stack of books.

Due to scheduled system updates, off-campus access to library databases may be temporarily affected on Monday, May 27 starting at 9:30 AM.

This brief disruption is part of a planned migration to improve system reliability. We expect access to return to normal within one hour.

On-campus access will not be affected.

If you plan to use library resources from off campus that morning, we recommend downloading any needed materials ahead of time. We will post an update once access is fully restored.

Please contact the library if you have questions or need assistance.

Filed Under: Announcements, Library Collection Tagged With: featured

⚠️ Ask Us Service Interruption – March 17

March 21, 2025 by Haley Galloway

a photo of SMCM Library overlooking St. John's Pond

St. Mary’s College of Maryland Archives, 1994

We want to let our campus community know that our Ask Us email question service experienced an unexpected outage on Monday, March 17 from 6:00 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.

During this time, any questions submitted through our website form or sent directly to the Ask Us email address were not received. 

If you contacted us during that window and haven’t heard back, we encourage you to resubmit your question so we can assist you as soon as possible.

You can submit your question here
Or email us directly at: ask@smcm.libanswers.com 

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Filed Under: Announcements Tagged With: featured

Maryland’s Black History

February 25, 2025 by Stephanie Reyes

Spaces in Maryland dedicated to preserving and showcasing Black History

Did you know that there are many spaces within the state of Maryland that are dedicated to preserving and highlighting Black and African American History? This month and into March, the library will be displaying a list of spaces within the state of Maryland that are markers of Black History, as well as related books and DVDs. The display is located on the 1st floor of the library right across from the circulation desk and above the DVD collection.

Our research team for this project consisted of student interns Elisia Lewis, Brynn Desmond, and librarian, Haley Galloway. They worked to research the history and stories behind the monuments, spaces, and museums dedicated to African American heritage within the state of Maryland.

This map showcases places within the state of Maryland that have been built, curated, and highlight Black History:

map of Maryland with location icons notated through the state. A key of numbers and names of locations to the right of the image.

*note that this is not a complete list of spaces – we hope to continue to grow this list. If you have a space you would like to share please email slreyes@smcm.edu*

Full list of spaces are at the end of this post with additional links and information.

Our research team selected and researched 5 spaces out of the list to highlight:

United States Colored Troops Memorial Monument
Location: Lexington Park, MD

The United States Colored Troops Memorial Monument is dedicated to the Colored Troops, soldiers, and sailors from St. Mary’s County who served the Union during the Civil War. More than 700 enslaved and free Black men from St. Mary’s County joined the Colored Troops to fight for the emancipation of all enslaved people. The statue depicts a confidently posed Black soldier, symbolizing the personal autonomy granted to Black men by joining the United States Colored Troops—an autonomy which had historically been stripped from Black people. The memorial commemorates the lasting legacy of the United States Colored Troop Soldiers and their triumphant bravery in fighting a war against racial oppression.

Honoring the 38th Colored Infantry Regiment, with more than 700 Black soldiers being from St. Mary’s County. This monument also honors “medal of honor recipients, all Union Soldiers, and Sailors from Saint Mary’s County who served during the Civil War” per inscription. Its founders are Idolia Shubrooks (resident and veteran’s granddaughter), United Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC), Sons of Union Veterans. With funding by the community and bond bills by representatives Roy Dyson and John Bohanan.

  • Depiction of monument: A Black man wearing a Union army uniform with a rifle slung over his shoulder, posing strongly.
  • Important Historical Figures: Pvt. William H. Barnes and Sgt. James H. Harris who earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of New Market Heights, Va.
  • Sculptor: Gary Casteel
  • Inscriptions: “United States Colored Troops (USCT)
    This monument is dedicated in grateful tribute to the United States Colored Troops of St. Mary’s County. It honors medal of honor recipients, all Union Soldiers, and Sailors from Saint Mary’s County who served during the Civil War (1861-1865) Dedicated June 16, 2012. All honor and all glory to the emaciated slaves, freedmen, and all noble sons of St. Mary’s County who fought during the Civil War to save the Union and secure the heritage of human freedom.”

Sources: Visit St. Mary’s, SoMD News, SoMD Equity in History Coalition, Historical Marker Database

Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial
Location; Historic Annapolis, MD

The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial in Annapolis, Maryland, stands as a powerful tribute to the resilience of family heritage and the legacy of those who endured the transatlantic slave trade. Inspired by Alex Haley’s groundbreaking research and his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Roots: The Saga of an American Family, the memorial honors the journey of Kunta Kinte, an enslaved African who arrived in Annapolis in 1767, and Alex Haley’s relentless quest to uncover his family’s history. This memorial holds profound significance as the only site in the United States that commemorates the name and documented arrival point of an enslaved African. It serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans and the importance of preserving ancestral stories. Located at the Annapolis City Dock, the memorial invites visitors to reflect on the enduring impact of history and the power of reclaiming one’s roots.

While living in Tennessee with his grandparents, Alex Haley learned the story of his African ancestor, Kunta Kinte. Motivated by his desire to find out more about his family’s history, Mr. Haley began a years-long research endeavor to find the true story of his ancestor. His efforts took him from oral historians in his ancestral village in Gambia to the Maryland State Archives, where he found historical records recounting the movements of a British merchant ship arriving from Gambia to Annapolis, holding 98 captured Africans. It is believed that Kunta Kinte was among this group of enslaved individuals advertised for auction in 1767. (Kunta Kinte – Alex Haley Foundation.)

The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial honors the tireless efforts of Alex Haley to uncover the history of his family, something that is often difficult to accomplish for the descendants of enslaved Africans. The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial remains the only memorial in the United States that commemorates the actual name and place of arrival of an enslaved African.

  • Depiction: Three separate installations that consist of a compass rose, depicting a globe centered on Annapolis, MD; a sculpture group that shows Alex Haley recounting the tale of Kunta Kinte to a group of children; and a story wall the incorporates quotes and themes from Alex Haley’s award-winning novel, Roots.
  • Dedicated: June 12, 2002
  • Founders: Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley foundation under the direction of President Leonard A. Blackshear.
  • Funding: Local citizens & the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation
  • Important Historical Figures: Kunta Kinte, Alex Haley
  • Artists: Site Designer: Gary S. Schwerzler, Sculpture Group: Ed Dwight, Story Wall & Information Stand: Peter D. Tasi & Patricia Fisher McHold, Story Wall Narrative: Wiley A. Hall, Construction: Joe Baker
  • Inscriptions: “Alex Haley, in his family’s story, Roots, shows how the strength of the human spirit to overcome challenges comes from maintaining strong family connections and pride in one’s heritage. Here, Alex shares heritage stories with children of diverse ethnic groups.
    Take time to share heritage stories with children so they can pass on their proud heritage and learn respect for the heritage of others”

Sources: Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation;  Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial Annapolis; Alex Haley

Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum
Location: Baltimore, MD

The Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum opened its doors in 1978 when Virginia Jackson-Kiah turned her mother’s home into a museum. The museum’s original owner and namesake, Dr. Lillie Carroll Jackson was a staunch civil rights activist in the Baltimore region. Jackson was the Baltimore NAACP chapter’s president for 35 years during which the NAACP won several civil rights cases against segregated public and private institutions, including the University of Maryland. Under Jackson, the NAACP orchestrated boycotts, funded Black education, and held voter registration drives.

The Lillie Carroll Jackson Museum not only honors Jackson’s legacy, but the legacy of civil rights in Maryland. The museum features several galleries ranging from personal information about the Jackson family and the Baltimore NAACP chapter to the earliest freedom fighters like Frederick Douglass.

Sources: Lillie Carroll Jackson Museum Official Website; Maryland State Archives;  Baltimore Heritage

Josiah Henson Museum & Park
Location: Bethesda, MD

The Riley/Bolton House, located in Montgomery County, Maryland, is a historic site tied to the life of Josiah Henson, an author, abolitionist, and minister who was enslaved on the Riley Plantation. Henson’s 1849 autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada, vividly detailed his experiences in slavery and escape to freedom, inspiring Harriet Beecher Stowe’s groundbreaking novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

While Henson’s story became a cornerstone of the abolitionist movement, the actual cabin he lived in no longer exists, having been demolished in the 1950s. This property, once part of the plantation where Henson toiled as a field laborer and overseer, now serves as a museum and educational center dedicated to his legacy, the broader history of slavery in Maryland, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality.

Sources: National Park Service-Josiah Henson; Washington Post- Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ZigerSnead Architects- The Planning of Josiah Henson Park; Josiah Henson Museum Park Official Site;  Montgomery County Planning Board- Josiah Henson Park

Camp Stanton
Location: Hughsville, MD

Camp Stanton, located on the west side of the Patuxent River in Charles County, Southern Maryland, was established in October 1863 as a recruitment and training camp for Black soldiers during the Civil War. Named for Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, it trained the 7th, 9th, 19th, and 30th Regiments of the United States Colored Troops (USCT), who played a pivotal role in the Union’s final campaigns in Virginia.

The camp’s establishment marked a turning point in the fight for freedom, as it provided enslaved and free Black men the opportunity to enlist and fight for emancipation. Today, the site is commemorated by a historic roadside marker near the village of Benedict, honoring the bravery and contributions of the USCT soldiers who trained there and helped secure Union victory.

Sources: Camp Stanton | VisitMaryland.org; Camp Stanton | Charles County Tourism

Full list of spaces notated on the image of the map:

  1. Charles Albert Tindley Memorial Bruder Hill Building
    • Location: Berlin, MD
    • Further information: Beach, Bays, & Water Ways: Dr. Charles Albert Tindley
  2. Edythe M. Jolley Museum and Cultural Center
    • Location: Cambridge, MD
    • Further information: The Mace’s Lane Community Center, Inc. (MLCC)
  3. Doleman Black Heritage Museum
    • Location: Hagerstown, MD
    • Further information: Doleman Black Heritage Museum
  4. United States Colored Troops Memorial Monument
    • Location: Lexington Park, MD
    • Further information: Visit St. Mary’s, SoMD News, SoMD Equity in History Coalition, Historical Marker Database
  5. African-American Monument and Freedom Park
    • Location: Lexington Park, MD
    • Further information: SoMD Equity in History, Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions
  6. Commemorative to Enslaved People of Southern Maryland
    • Lexington Park, MD
    • Further information: SMCM: About the Commemorative
  7. Historic Sotterley:
    • Location: Hollywood, MD
    • Further information: Historic Sotterley: Common Ground
  8. Reginald F. Lewis Museum
    • Baltimore, MD
    • Further information: Reginald F. Lewis Museum
  9. Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial
    • Location: Annapolis, MD
    • Further information: Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation; Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial Annapolis; Alex Haley
  10. Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum
    • Location: Annapolis, MD
    • Further information: https://bdmuseum.maryland.gov/  https://www.eyeonannapolis.net/2024/10/banneker-douglass-museum-to-be-renamed-in-honor-of-harriet-tubman-on-november-1/
  11. Frederick Douglass bronze statue & Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park
    • Location: Baltimore, MD
    • Further information: Frederick Douglass (Baltimore, Maryland), Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park — Living Classrooms Foundation
  12. Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum
    • Location: Baltimore, MD
    • Further information: Official Website, Maryland State Archives, Baltimore Heritage
  13. Josiah Henson Museum & Park
    • Location: North Bethesda, MD
    • Further information: National Park Service-Josiah Henson, Washington Post- Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ZigerSnead Architects- The Planning of Josiah Henson Park, Josiah Henson Museum Park Official Site, Montgomery County Planning Board- Josiah Henson Park
  14. Black Arts District
    • Location: Baltimore, MD
    • Further information: Black Arts District
  15. Camp Stanton
    • Location: Hughesville, MD
    • Further information: Camp Stanton | VisitMaryland.org, Camp Stanton | Charles County Tourism
  16. Columbia Air Center
    • Location: Croom, MD
    • Further information: Columbia Air Center
  17. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center
    • Location: Church Creek, MD
    • Further information: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
  18. Sugarland – historic Sugarland church
    • Location: Poolesville, MD
    • Further information: Sugarland Ethno-History Project

 

Filed Under: Announcements Tagged With: announcements, Black History Month, featured, student workers

Early Closure – Feb. 11 at 12:30pm

February 11, 2025 by Haley Galloway

The Library will be closing at 12:30pm on Tuesday February 11, 2025 due to incoming inclement weather. Please continue to check the library website for updates.

Filed Under: Announcements, Library Hours Tagged With: featured

Introducing Web of Science!

January 28, 2025 by Haley Galloway

Discover Web of Science at SMCM Library

We’re excited to announce a new addition to the SMCM Library collection: Web of Science! This renowned citation index provides access to an extensive collection of scholarly resources across the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. While not a full-text database, Web of Science gives users access to over 225 million records, Web of Science is the go-to tool for students, faculty, and researchers seeking authoritative, high-quality information.

Why Use Web of Science?

  • Comprehensive Coverage: Search across a vast range of academic disciplines, including the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities.
  • Integrated Citation Tracking: Easily navigate the research landscape using citation connections. Measure the impact of publications and trace the evolution of key research.
  • User-Friendly: With a common search interface and structured data, Web of Science makes it easier than ever to find relevant resources quickly.

Key Collections Available:

  • Web of Science Core Collection: Includes 92+ million records across 6 collections:
    • Science Citation Index Expanded (1900-present)
    • Social Sciences Citation Index (1900-present)
    • Arts & Humanities Citation Index (1975-present)
    • Emerging Sources Citation Index (2005-present)
    • Conference Proceedings Citation Index (1990-present)
    • Book Citation Index (2005-present)
    • Current Chemical Reactions (1985-present)
  • Data Citation Index (1900-present): Find datasets from a variety of international repositories linked to published research articles.
  • MEDLINE (1950-present): A premier life sciences database offering access to research in biomedicine, public health, and more.
  • SciELO Citation Index (2002-present): Discover open access literature from Latin America, Portugal, Spain, and South Africa.

Start Exploring

Ready to dive in? Visit the Web of Science platform through the library’s website and start exploring today. For tips on how to get the most out of this resource, be sure to check out our Research Guide!

Filed Under: Announcements, Library Collection Tagged With: featured

OneSearch Scheduled Update 2/9-2/10

January 24, 2025 by Haley Galloway

Due to a system upgrade, OneSearch will be unavailable from Sunday, February 9th at 10pm through Monday, February 10th at 8am. Individual databases will still be available.

Filed Under: Announcements Tagged With: announcements, featured

Welcome Circulation Assistant Ellie Holt!

January 20, 2025 by Haley Galloway

 

Join us in welcoming Ellie Holt as our new evening Circulation Information Assistant!

Ellie grew up in St. Mary’s county before attending Towson University for a degree in psychology. She is now pursuing a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Maryland. In her spare time, she loves to cook and bake for her friends and family, watch baseball, and is an avid reader.

Ellie joined the library in January 2025.

Filed Under: Announcements Tagged With: featured

Welcome Circulation Specialist Rachel Cardwell!

October 14, 2024 by Stephanie Reyes

Join us in welcoming Rachel Cardwell as our new evening Circulation Information Specialist!

Rachel grew up in St. Mary’s County and attended Eastern Mennonite University, earning her Bachelor’s in Digital Media. She worked as Digital Media Specialist at SMCM for nearly five years before switching positions so that she could attend school full time. She is currently pursuing a degree in Anthropology with a Creative Writing minor. Outside of work and school, Rachel enjoys traveling, playing video games, and spending time with her two cats.

Rachel joined the library in August 2024.

Filed Under: Announcements, Library People Tagged With: announcements, featured, people

Annual Library Book Sale – October 2nd!

September 19, 2024 by Stephanie Reyes

The Annual library Book Sale will be held on October 2nd from 10am to 4pm!

Location: The path outside Hilda C. Landers Library

Come find your next read! There will be used books on a wide variety of topics

$1 Hardbacks & 50 cent paperbacks

CASH ONLY

Filed Under: Announcements, Events, Library Building Tagged With: announcement, book sale, featured

Library Hours – LABOR DAY – Open from 12pm to 5pm

August 28, 2024 by Stephanie Reyes

Hilda C. Landers Library will be OPEN with limited hours on Monday September 2nd, 2024 from 12pm to 5pm

Filed Under: Announcements, Library Building, Library Hours Tagged With: announcements, hours

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