featured – Page 9

Database Trial: oaFindr from 1science

November 4, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

Until November 30, SMCM Library has trial access to oaFindr from 1science.

oaFindr makes finding Open Access articles that are freely available on the internet a breeze. Instead of performing a number of different searches on different sites and different platforms, oaFindr offers one-click access to article PDFs from the search results.

And oaFindr is not just for the Sciences! Use it to find Open Access articles in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences as well.

If you like Google Scholar, you’ll love oaFindr!

Find oaFindr on the O tab on the SMCM Library Databases page.

Wanted: Your Opinion About the Library

September 29, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

Image: Love Sign by David Robert Bliwas on Flickr [https://flic.kr/p/4qr6Kw]

Have you ever been in the library and thought, “It sure would be awesome if the library had/was/did [fill in the blank]?” Well, this semester is your chance to share all your brilliant ideas and opinions about the SMCM Library!

ANTH 306 (Principles of Applied Anthropology) is collaborating with the SMCM Library on a research project to understand how students (that’s you!) do research and use the library to create a better library experience for everyone. (YAY!)

Have an opinion? Want to share it? Join a focus group and/or be on the look out for ANTH 306 students tabling outside the Great Room where you can participate in quick exercises looking at different areas in the library and how they are used.

Want more information? Interested in participating in the project? Contact Meghan Lang at mtlang@smcm.edu

Book Sale Oct. 6 & 7!

September 29, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

Brace yourselves, the book sale is coming…

The annual library book sale is next Tuesday and Wednesday, October 6 & 7. 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!

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.]

Get A Public Library Card at SMCM Library!

September 14, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

by Conrad Helms, Patron Services Librarian

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and the SMCM Library has once again partnered with St. Mary’s County Public Library for our annual library card exchange!

Just stop by the front desk of the SMCM Library to fill out an application (students use your campus address). For that ~1 minute investment of your time, you’ll get access to all their online databases, including Mango Languages and a wide selection of e-books and audiobooks. Not to mention their great print collection, including DVD’s, Blu-Ray’s, and thousands of titles.

All of it is quickly and easily searchable via COSMOS – the online gateway to St. Mary’s County Public Libraries.

The exchange is running from September 14-30, but why wait? Stop by today and sign up!

Questions? Contact Conrad Helms or Pamela Mann! Or just give us a call at 240-895-4264.

Research Guides Update

September 11, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

Image credit: “berlin alexanderplatz” by Till Krech [https://flic.kr/p/fQwck]

This Fall, the SMCM Library will be hard at work moving our Research Guides to a shiny new platform.

During the process you may notice the Research Guides looking a little ~~raggedy~~ ~~sparse~~ different as we prepare them for the big move.

If you need research help (at any time!) send us an email at ask@smcm.libanswers.com or stop by the reference desk Monday – Thursday, 10:00am – Noon and 1:00pm – 5:00pm.

Thanks for your patience!

Fall Library Hours

August 24, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

School’s (almost) back in session (ONE WEEEEEEEEEK!) and we know y’all can’t wait to get to the library!

Library summer hours officially end on Sunday, August 30 – the library will be open that day from 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

And starting Monday, August 31, (AKA the First Day of Class) the library will resume regular semester hours:

Monday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Come on in! We can’t wait to see you!

SMCM Library Welcomes New Librarian

August 14, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

Exciting news! The SMCM library has a new Research and Instruction Librarian.

Amanda VerMeulen joined the library team on August 3, giving her a few weeks to get her bearings on a way too quiet campus before the excitement of the start of the Fall semester.

Science is fun! Photo credit: Veronica Arellano Douglas

Amanda (last name pronounced vur-MULE-in, because we were all wondering) comes to St. Mary’s from the College of Southern Maryland, where she worked as a librarian for almost three years.

At SMCM you might see her in your first year seminar or hanging out with the science types as the library liaison to Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Environmental Studies, Mathematics & Computer Science, Neuroscience, and Physics (plus Economics, for good measure).

And because everyone wants to know: Amanda has a BA in English from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, an MFA in Writing from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and an MLIS (<–that’s the library one) from Dominican University (it’s in Illinois).

Come see Amanda in her office (Library 125), at the Reference Desk, send her an email, or give her a call to get research help, wax nostalgic about CSM (for all those transfer students out there!), or discuss the finer points of naming your pets after minor character on The Wire (her dog’s name is Mr. Cheese, after Cheese Wagstaff, so…ya know).

Library Closed July 3rd

July 1, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

Photo by Lisa Larson on Flickr

The Library, Media Center, and Archives will be closed this Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day. Start your 4th of July celebrations a day early! Hoist your American flag, light a sparkler, and get the grill going.

Join Our Summer Reading Program

June 1, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

The St. Mary’s Libraries Adult Summer Reading Program starts June 1st and ends August 14th, 2015. This year St. Mary’s College Library is partnering with St. Mary’s County Library to bring you more prizes and new ways to participate. This year’s prizes include a Kindle, a Fit Bit and three $25 gift cards. We also have books, posters, magnets and bags of library swag to give away. This year there are two places to post reviews, on the summer reading blog and for the first time on Goodreads.

The Summer Reading program is open to all members of the St. Mary’s College community including students, staff, faculty, alumni and residents of the Tri-County area (St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties.) Readers may read anything they like as long as a copy is available at St. Mary’s College Library, Southern Maryland libraries (COSMOS) or via USMAI. To earn points you must post a review on the blog or Goodreads Group. Use the comment box to post your review on the blog. Earn bonus points by participating in the Summer Reading Challenge.

You don’t need to check the book out of the library or be on campus to participate so no matter where you are you can read books and win prizes.

For more information visit the Summer Reading Blog.

Library Summer Hours

May 18, 2015 by Amanda VerMeulen

Photo courtesy of Dennis Jarvis on Flickr

Summer is here! The water is cool, the sun is shining, and the Library is open. That’s right, throughout the St. Mary’s summer session we’ll be here Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Library is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

So if you want to get a jump start on your SMP, work on a summer research project, or just need a break from the heat, stop in and say hello! We’ll be happy to see you.