@thehumanlibraryorganization is making a bookshelf at #TAMUCC and we are looking for Open Books! Are you someone who has experienced stigma, prejudices, or stereotyping? Are you ready to share your life experiences with curious readers?
🔗Apply to become a Book today at bit.ly/HumanLibraryTAMUCC - link in bio!
🙌 Anyone can apply - students, faculty, staff, community! Applications open until April 21, 2024.
Celebrating Women's History Month with inspiring stories from our library's collection! Come discover the incredible contributions of women throughout history, located in our first floor display. Visit the Islander Cultural Alliance's homepage for campus Women's History Month celebrations.
It's Black History Month, Islanders! Visit the Bell Library all February long and browse books in our Black History Month display, first floor, front of Bell Library. Also, visit the Islander Cultural Alliance's Black History Month page for campus events.
We would like to acknowledge the noise that you may hear and paint you may smell throughout the library during the upcoming weeks. Our new neighbor, The Salty Seagull (formerly Subway) is currently in construction! Renovations are expected to be completed by early February. Please pardon the noise as we await this new (and tasty) spot on campus!
Our Super Quiet Study Room has a new location and is now open! You can now find this noise-regulated study spot on the second floor, room 216A by the I-Create Lab. And stay tuned for the construction of the new Active Learning Classroom, the former Super Quiet Study Room!
We now have access to Pressbooks, an open textbook creation platform allowing authors to write and publish Open Access books. If you are interested in getting access to the Pressbooks, or have questions about the resource, please email OER@tamucc.edu.
TAMU-CC faculty, the Zero Textbook Cost Stipends 2023-2024 applications are open from now until October 13, 2023! Learn more at (https://guides.library.tamucc.edu/oer/stipends) and attend our info sessions in the next weeks for more info! (https://tamucc.libcal.com/)
Islanders, especially philosophy students! We have added the Oxford Handbooks Online: Philosophy Foundation Collection 2012-2023. Oxford Handbooks bring together the world’s leading scholars to write review essays that evaluate the current thinking on a topic and make an original argument about the future direction of the debate. Using any device, you can filter your search; conveniently view content alongside figures, notes, and images; easily access annotations and citations; and more.
View this link for all of our purchased content! You can also simply search the name of the book you are looking up on the Library homepage's Quick Search.
It’s that time of year again! Do you have some great images stored on your phone? 🤳 Pick your favorite image (or two) and submit them to the Islander Cell Phone Photography Show! More details here: bit.ly/CellPhonePhotoGuide
Our library building hours for July have been updated. Check our up-to-date hours at tamucc.edu/library/about/hours
| Wednesday, July 5 | 7:30 a.m. – Midnight |
| Thursday, July 6 | 7:30 a.m. – Midnight |
| Friday, July 7 | 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, July 8 | Closed |
| Sunday, July 9 | Closed |
| Monday, July 10 | 7:30 a.m. – Midnight |
We are so happy to congratulate our two colleagues Lisa Louis and Derrik Hiatt on their promotions to Senior Faculty Librarians. What amazing, well-deserved accomplishments!!!
This Friday, May 26 we'll be closing at 5pm instead of 8pm. Also, in honor of Memorial Day, we will be closed this Monday, May 29. View our up-to-date building and virtual hours at tamucc.edu/library/about/hours/
With finals around the corner, we'll start our building's 24 hour schedule! Starting on May 1 to 4 and May 7 to 11, our building will be open around the clock. Check our up to date hours and our 24/7 Ask Us chat!
The deadline for the TAMU-CC Faculty and Staff Exhibition has been extended. The exhibition is open to ALL faculty and staff members of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, either actively employed or retired and including student employees!
Submit images of your work by Friday, May 5 by filling out the entry form and waiver on our guide. The work will be placed on display in the library from May 17 – June 30, 2023.
Also, beginning on May 17, photos of the submitted art will be made available in an online exhibit hosted on the library’s website along with artist statements and other interactive elements (view last year’s online exhibit here)! Artwork submitted must be new work (not previously submitted) and may include painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, ceramics, printmaking, graphic design, and mixed media.
The Mary and Jeff Bell Library is pleased to announce the call for submissions for the Islander Faculty and Staff Exhibition! The exhibition is open to ALL faculty and staff members of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, either actively employed or retired and including student employees! Submit images of your work by Friday, April 28 by filling out the entry form and waiver on our guide. The work will be placed on display in the library from May 17 – June 30, 2023.
Also, beginning on May 17, photos of the submitted art will be made available in an online exhibit hosted on the library’s website along with artist statements and other interactive elements (view last year’s online exhibit here)! Artwork submitted must be new work (not previously submitted) and may include painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, ceramics, printmaking, graphic design, and mixed media.
Our Immersive Reality Lab (IRL) is now open for visitors! For two weeks, Monday through Friday from 9am - 11am and 1pm - 3pm, stop by the IRL and see what virtual reality is all about! Students are welcome to visit the IRL on the second floor of the Bell Library and check out the virtual reality experience. We DARE you to come walk our plank!
Join us all month long to celebrate Women's History! Visit our Events Calendar to view the events happening in the library. Check out TAMU-CC Islander Cultural Alliance's Women's History Month webpage for the full list of events happening around town and across campus!
Follow us on social media @TAMUCCLibrary (scroll for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter links) for trivia, fun facts, celebrations, local history, and more.
February is Black History Month! Visit our Events Calendar to view the events happening in the library. Check out TAMU-CC Islander Cultural Alliance's Black History Month webpage for the full list of events happening around town and across campus!
Follow us on social media @TAMUCCLibrary (scroll for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter links) for trivia, fun facts, celebrations, local history, and more.
Welcome back, Islanders - Spring 2023 is here! Visit our Library Hours for the official hours for our spaces and services.
If you have any questions, we are here to help! Please reach out to our Ask Us 24/7 chat available over chat, text, phone, and more. Hope to see and hear from you soon!
You finished the semester, Islanders - congrats!!! This also means we have officially started our 8am - 5pm Winter schedule! Visit our Library Hours for the official hours for our spaces and services.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Ask Us 24/7 chat available over chat, text, phone, and more!
Visit our Library Hours for the official hours for our spaces and services. The Bell Library will be on our 24 hour schedule starting Sunday, November 27 and into next week, Wednesday, December 7!
Open 24 Hours until Sat, Dec 3 at 8pm
Open 24 Hours from Sun, Dec 4 at 9am to Thurs, Dec 8 at 10pm
The Library is here for you - you can do it, Islanders!!
Also, if you have any questions, please reach out to our Ask Us 24/7 chat - available over chat, text, phone, and more!
DLAI invites the campus community to join us for National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) November 7th – 11th. We have a variety of virtual and face-to-face events and games planned to celebrate and appreciate all digital learning and teaching!
The celebrations will lead up to the announcement of the 2022 Digital Innovator of the Year – Student Choice award recipient. For more information and the full schedule, go to bit.ly/TAMUCCNDLW
Our Open Access Publication Fund is now accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2022 - 2023! Thanks to the generous support of our funding partners, this year we have $48,000 to support TAMU-CC authors publish their work through Open Access. Faculty members and full-time researchers, learn more and apply today at https://guides.library.tamucc.edu/OpenAccess/OAFund
The purpose of the fund is to underwrite publication charges for scholarly journal articles, book chapters, and books published in fully Open Access publications. The Mary and Jeff Bell Library, the Division of Research and Innovation, and the Office of the Provost are proud to support Open Access (OA) through the Open Access Publication Fund.
We are so excited to share all of the many fun ways to get involved with Hispanic Heritage Month on the Island this year!
Below is a list of the events happening in the Library! Visit the TAMU-CC Hispanic Heritage Month website for a full list of events and to learn more:
And all month long, join us on social media (@TAMUCCLibrary on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok) for Hispanic Heritage Month fun facts, celebrations, trivia, local history, and more.
This Monday, September 5, TAMU-CC campus will be closed for Labor Day. Even though we'll be closed for Labor Day, we'll still have Ask Us chat 24/7. Enjoy your three-day weekend, Islanders!
To view our updated hours, visit the Library's website. To learn more about the history of Labor Day, you can visit the U.S. Department of Labor's website.
Games, prizes, and library fun ahoy, Islanders! Meet us on Wednesday, August 24, Thursday, August 25, and Wednesday, August 31 in the Breezeway outside Bell Library for games, goodies, and to learn about the many treasures for you at your library!
Also, starting on Wednesday, August 24 at 10am to end of day September 2, step into your library and go on a voyage to discover the different treasures, troves, and coves that await you! Once you finish this self-guided treasure hunt, you will be entered to win a prize (and be more familiar with the resources and spaces of your library!) To view our up-to-date library hours, visit tamucc.edu/library. Best of luck!
For any questions, please contact us at bell.library@tamucc.edu.
We are currently looking for new members to our library team! These positions are currently open for applications:
For undergraduate and graduate student positions, follow this link and log into Handshake to view our organization's page, then view our open positions under "Jobs at TAMUCC Library." We currently have open applications for:
I-Know Graduate Assistant (Graduate Assistantship - Job #6675841)
Hope to hear from you soon!
On Tuesday, August 2 from 2 to 3pm, join us in our First Floor gallery as we celebrate the 7th Annual Cell Phone Photography Show! In honor of our 75th Anniversary, all of this year's entries are taken on the Island! We're celebrating our favorite pictures of life at TAMU-CC. At the end of the exhibit, all of the images will be added to the University Time Capsule - and won't be seen again until 2047! We'll have refreshments, photo opportunities, and prizes. For more information: bell.library@tamucc.edu.
The run of show will be from July 25 to September 15, 2022. Check out the online exhibit - don't forget to vote for your favorite pictures!
Hey Islanders! Join us online for the latest news about your library! The best way to keep up to date with the library, learn about library resources, and see fun behind-the-scenes looks at what's in your library is to follow us on social media. Our Linktree page has all of our links for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (@TAMUCCLibrary) and TikTok (@bell.library)! We also have a YouTube channel with tutorials and past workshop recordings!
Come say hi, ask questions, and join in on the fun - we love talking to y'all on there!!
It's time for the 7th Annual Islander Cell Phone Photography Show: 75th Anniversary Edition! In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the University, this year will be all about the Island 🤳 🌴
Any current and past TAMU-CC students, staff, and faculty can submit cell phone images of the Island University! Pull out your phone and choose your favorite images of cats, nature, faculty, and friends. Any cell phone pictures from the Island are welcome. We've extended the deadline and entries will be accepted until July 7, 2022.
The entry form and additional info can be found on our Guide, where you can learn how to submit your 1-2 photos: bit.ly/CellPhonePhotoGuide
We can't wait to see your photos!
On Thursday, June 23, join Special Collections and Archives and the Conrad Blucher Institute in honoring the work of Dr. Thomas K. Kreneck: Blucher: A Family, a Legacy, and a Research Resource. Refreshments will be served. A designated parking lot has been reserved. Directional signage can be followed from the first entrance to campus.
Our seventh Islander Faculty and Staff Exhibition is now open both physically and online! The creative work by current and retired Islander faculty and staff will be on display on the first floor of the library until Thursday, June 30. Our virtual display, along with recorded artist statements and other interactive elements, is also now available online!
Join us this Friday at 6:00pm at the Art Museum of South Texas for an Evening in Hollywood with film, stage, and TV actor Pepe Serna, best known for his role in Scarface! The documentary Life is Art features interviews with Eva Longoria, Cheech Marin, and others!
From now until June 3, visit an interactive 1,000 paper crane exhibit on the first floor of the Mary and Jeff Bell Library. Take a break from finals or whatever else you might have going on and stop by the table to learn more about the Japanese legend, learn how to fold a paper crane, and tape your very own crane to pre-hung strings. Don’t forget to write your wish on the crane, whether it’s for peace or another hope or dream you might have. The display will be available from May 2 to June 3.
This Wednesday, May 4, from 10-11am, Bell Library invites all Islanders to celebrate AAPI Month at our Student Panel discussion on the 2nd floor of Bell Library. Our diverse panel of students will share their experiences as Asian American and Pacific Islanders and citizens of the world, and the richness of their cultural heritage.
We're honored to have the work of Shelia Rogers in our first floor gallery area! Shelia Rogers’ work offers a captivating and compelling glimpse into her passion for environmental advocacy. Explore the colorful and unsettling creations - evidence of our reliance of single use plastics. In conjunction with the campus celebration of Earth Week, join us for an Artist Talk on Tuesday, April 26th at 4:00pm, followed by a Reception in the first floor Gallery at 6:00pm.
Visit her website to learn more about her work!
The Mary and Jeff Bell Library would like to invite you to participate in the Islander Faculty and Staff Exhibition! The exhibition is open to ALL faculty and staff members of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, either actively employed or retired and including student employees!
Submit your work by Friday, April 22 by filling out the entry form and waiver on our guide. The work will be placed on display in the library from May 19 – June 30, 2022.
Also, beginning on May 19, photos of the submitted art will be made available in an online exhibit hosted on the library’s website along with artist statements and other interactive elements! Artwork submitted must be new work (not previously submitted) and may include painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, ceramics, printmaking, graphic design, and mixed media.
For more submission details and entry forms, visit: bit.ly/IslanderFacStaffExhibit
Good news! There are still virtual book talks and workshops planned for this semester! Next Thursday, April 14 at 3pm, join Bell Library and Seminar Professor Bernadette Flores to discuss Alex Michaelides' "The Maidens," a story of secret societies, Greek mythology, and university intrigue. Prior reading of the book is not necessary and stick around until the end of the talk as we raffle off copies of The Maidens for attendees! See you in Zoom, bit.ly/BookTalkFlores2022
Stay tuned for other book talks and workshops, including "You Are a Badass" with Amanda Morales on April 28 and a Learn to Crochet! Workshop Series on April 18 and 25. Visit our Workshops guide to see past workshop and book talk recordings, give feedback, and let us know what you're interested in seeing in the future!
Join us on Monday, April 4 at 3:30pm as we celebrate the work of Alexandria Canchola. Ms. Canchola is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, eagerly working to assist her students in their quest for knowledge so they may fully understand the power they wield as designers in communicating ideas that change everything. She designs, illustrates, and creates immersive large-scale installations that are inspired by narrative, color, letterforms, and filmmaking. She has worked for publications, small businesses, and non-profits in many roles working to solve problems creatively so ideas can come to life. Her design and illustration work have received awards from American Illustration, American Advertising Federation, International Design Awards among others.
See you at the second floor of the Bell Library or in Zoom for this hybrid event! For more information and the Zoom link, visit our Outstanding Faculty Speaker guide.
Join us in the Learning Commons on the first floor of the library. Examine a homicide scene with an actual body -- Interview witnesses and work clues to solve the case -- See tools used by professionals in the field. Hosted by the Department of Social Science and The Department of Theatre and Dance!
Open Education Week is here again! From March 7 - March 11, you can take advantage of many opportunities to learn more about open education, open educational resources and open pedagogy. This Open Education Week 2022 guide features some suggestions for how you can observe this event, learn more about open education, and connect with others who share your interests.
Click here for a complete list of Open Education Week events happening around the world.
This Friday, March 4 from 9pm to midnight, we're having a Late Night Party at the Library for all students!! Join us for food, music, dancing, and games hosted by the I-Team, Bell Library, and Islander Housing! See you there!!
On March 1st from 3pm – 5pm, stop by the new Learning Commons, located on the first floor of the Mary and Jeff Bell Library (far back right corner), and learn more about this amazing, versatile space in an interactive, "enter for an amazing prize" way!
After our celebratory ribbon-cutting, join us for special pop-up events to explore the space, enjoy some delicious, free food, meet some of our amazing tutors, and in general - learn, laugh, and grow!
Open to undergrads, grads, faculty, and staff!
Stay updated through our social media, @TAMUCCLibrary. We’ll see you there! For any questions, email us at roe.cantu@tamucc.edu.
Visit the first floor of the Mary and Jeff Bell Library to see the heritage of the university as we celebrate Homecoming! See pictures from the early days of the university, enjoy some coloring pages featuring Tarpy or, better yet, catch a selfie with the larger than life Tarpy! Be sure to use the hashtag #CatchAPicWithTarpy to join the fun on social media!
Tarpy the Tarpon was the mascot for the University of Corpus Christi which was the humble beginnings of our amazing University. From our sunrise as the small Baptist University to hopefully a sunset many many many years from now, we are Forever Islanders and are excited to show our pride!
Solve the world’s most pressing problems in 48 hours. Invent for the Planet participants address global needs topics ranging from Environmental Affairs, Energy Solutions, Social Issues, Improving Developing Nations, and Resource Equity. Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate and all colleges are welcome! Apply by February 13th! bit.ly/IFTPTAMUCC
For more information, contact David Jones (david.jones@tamucc.edu) and Sharmeen Ahmed (sharmeen.ahmed@tamucc.edu).
Love reading and chatting about how an author absolutely crushed your soul and you loved every minute of it? Have a stack of books waiting to be read and you still want/need more? Love to casually read and chat about theories, surprises, twists, and whether it was a must read or should pass? Consider joining Overbooked, a new student organization for those who love reading and chatting! For more information, contact Daunte Gaiter at dgaiter@islander.tamucc.edu.
This event has been postponed - stay tuned for new dates and times!
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Stop by the new Learning Commons, located on the first floor of the Mary and Jeff Bell Library (far back right corner), and learn more about this amazing, versatile space in an interactive, enter-for-an-amazing-prize way!
We'll host a celebratory ribbon cutting, with delicious food, a photo booth, and the start of our Passport activity. For the activity, pick up a passport, visit all 5 interactive stations, and be entered to win one of many amazing prizes!
Explore the space, meet some of our amazing tutors, and in general - learn, laugh, and grow! This will be open to undergrads, grads, faculty, and staff!
The Bell Library is currently inviting applications for our Open Education Librarian position. If you care about open access and open educational resources and practices, this might be the job you’ve been looking for! Have colleagues or friends that would be interested? Our review of applications begins Monday, February 7. Please share and apply today through our job application!
The library will reopen its doors on Monday, January 10 and begin interim hours (8am-5pm, Monday through Friday). We're excited to begin the New Year and look forward to the spring semester! The construction of our new Learning Commons is almost complete - keep an eye out for more news soon. The HVAC / Air Handler work is nearing completion. The One Button Studios in the I-Create Lab should be ready for the beginning of the semester as well.
We have a lot of new and exciting things to look forward to! If you have questions, send us an email at bell.library@tamucc.edu.
The Library building will close Saturday, December 11th for the remainder of the year. HVAC renovation will take place after Commencement and the library building will be closed to visitors.
Virtual Services will be available Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm and Ask Us is 24/7. The library staff will be away from their desks for a staff retreat on Friday, December 17th. Virtual Services will resume on Monday, December 20th.
If you have any questions, reach out and Ask Us or send an email to bell.library@tamucc.edu.
Have a safe and happy holiday! We'll see you again in the New Year!
Islanders, here are the hours the Bell Library building will be open for finals this semester!
For the updated, full chart of our hours by services, visit our Library Hours page. Have any questions? Ask us through our 24/7 chat!
The Library will be closed starting Wednesday, November 24 at noon to Friday, November 26 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Normal hours will resume on Saturday at 10am.
The Library will close its doors on Saturday, December 11 for the remainder of the year. HVAC renovation will take place after Commencement and the library building will be closed to visitors. Virtual service will be available Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm and Ask Us Service 24/7 through December 23. If you anticipate requesting materials through Interlibrary Loan for use over the Winter Break, please reach out to ILL Staff and plan ahead (ill@tamucc.edu). Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Join us on Friday, November 19 at 11:00am as we celebrate the work of Dr. Riccardo Mozzachiodi. Dr. Mozzachiodi is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. His research focus is the cellular and molecular mechanisms of fear memory formation and retention. He investigates the universal problem of how an animal’s brain responds to fear and remembers it in a relatively simple brain. Ultimately, the collected results may help us understand the mechanisms behind neurological disorders and forms of mental illness such as posttraumatic stress disorder.
Visit our Outstanding Faculty Speaker guide for the Zoom link and password: bit.ly/OutstandingFacultySpeaker
For any questions, please contact bell.library@tamucc.edu.
Construction is still underway for our new Learning Commons Area in the first floor of the library. In our Construction Guide, check out our renovation schedule, the floor plan for the space, and get a sneak preview of the furniture that will start to arrive in the next couple of weeks. The Learning Commons will allow for more space to study and collaborate on projects and assignments. There will be space available to meet with folks from the Writing Center and meet with tutors and mentors!
We’ve added more details about the new Learning Commons to our Construction Guide! Check out the floor plan for the space and get a sneak preview of the furniture that will start to arrive in the next few weeks. The Learning Commons will allow for more space to study and collaborate on projects and assignments. There will be space available to meet with folks from the Writing Center and meet with Tutors and Mentors!
Things are really starting to move! Electrical work will start this weekend and the computers in the area are being temporarily removed for the new carpet. Remember that our computer labs are available for use when there isn’t an instruction session scheduled. You can check computer locations and availability with CAiL (Computer Availability in Library). You can also grab a laptop at one of our checkout kiosks! Construction is also on schedule upstairs in our One Button Studios! The I-Create Lab might get a little noisy as we construct the new spaces. Updates and more information can be found on our Guide.
This week, construction will continue in our first floor area and it will be a bit noisy from time to time. For information on alternate quiet study locations, our renovation schedule (we'll keep you updated), and sneak peeks, visit our Construction Guide! If you have questions, send us an email at bell.library@tamucc.edu.
We're working on new and exciting improvements to the library this semester. Construction will begin on the new Learning Commons on October 11th. It's possible it might get noisy from time to time. Our apologies for the inconvenience. Our schedule (we'll keep you updated) and sneak peeks coming soon on our Construction Guide! If you have questions, send us an email at bell.library@tamucc.edu
Accessible Archives has added some new content, expanding the primary sources in their History collection. New content includes America and WWI, Military Camp Newspaper, Anatomy of Protest in America, Quarantine and Disease Control in America, The Women's Tribune and much more!
The Open Society Justice Initiative publishes reports, handbooks, briefing papers, legal and policy submissions, and fact sheets exploring and advocating on issues of human rights and justice. Beyond its publications, the Justice Initiative represents individuals before domestic and international human rights tribunals. Its advocacy work targets national and regional policymakers and governments to advance human rights and the rule of law, and it supports local, national, and international efforts to expand access to justice.
For more information about this initiative, visit: https://libguides.heinonline.org/open-society/overview
Did you know you can get library help around the clock? Chat assistance is available 24 hours! If you do your best work late at night, we can help with that. Librarians from all over are on board to help you succeed. Library resources and research assistance are available whenever you need them. Now, you can always Ask Us! tamucc.edu/library/asklib
Improve your academic skills, explore careers, and prepare for college admissions tests and occupational exams with our library resource EBSCO LearningExpress Library. Visit bit.ly/TAMUCCLearningExpress to get started today!
Due to anticipated weather and road conditions from Tropical Storm Nicholas, the library will be closed Monday, September 13, through Tuesday, September 14. Virtual assistance and access to library resources will be available on the library's website. The library building will reopen on Wednesday, September 15. Please be mindful of the weather and road conditions. Stay safe Islanders!
Improve your academic skills, explore careers, and prepare for college admissions tests and occupational exams with our library resource EBSCO LearningExpress Library. Visit bit.ly/TAMUCCLearningExpress to get started today!
The Mary and Jeff Bell Library, the Division of Research and Innovation, and the Office of the Provost are proud to support Open Access through the Open Access Publication Fund. During the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the University will offer $30,000 of funding to faculty and full-time researchers to underwrite publication charges for scholarly journal articles, book chapters, and books published in fully Open Access publications. Eligible authors may receive a maximum of $3,000 per fiscal year.
For more information, visit the Open Access Guide.
Our Online Islander Cell Phone Photography Show is now live! To view all of the photos, leave comments, and vote for your favorites, visit bit.ly/CellPhonePhotoShow
Based on your votes, the top 10 photos will be selected as winners. These photos will then be physically exhibited in the Mary and Jeff Bell Library from August TBD - September 19 in our 1st floor gallery.
For more information, visit our guide: bit.ly/CellPhonePhotoGuide
The Special Collections and Archives department at the Mary and Jeff Bell Library invites everyone to explore our new digital exhibit on Arturo Vasquez.
Mr. Vasquez was a certified public accountant, civic leader, and civil rights activist. He served as a Corpus Christi Independent School Board Trustee for 24 years and was an active member of AGIF and LULAC.
Visit our Online Exhibit today! https://library.tamucc.edu/exhibits/s/arturo-vasquez/page/Welcome
For more information, contact us at specialcollections@tamucc.edu
It's that time again!! We encourage you to search through your cell phone and select 1-2 of your favorite photos to submit to this year's Islander Cell Phone Photography Show!! Similar to last year, we'll host the full show through a digital exhibit (with copyright protection) where you can vote on your favorite photos. The top 10 will be printed for the physical display in the Bell Library!! The deadline for submitting entry forms and photo(s) is Thursday, June 10.
Remember, the exhibition is open to all students, faculty, staff, alumni members, and retirees of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
For more information and details about submission requirements and the timeline, visit the Islander Cell Phone Photography Show guide.
Hey Islanders, the library building will be closing early today (12 noon) and will reopen at 8 am tomorrow morning. Resources and virtual Ask Us Desk services remain available, so don't hesitate to reach out! Stay dry and safe!
Image: Student waiting outside of the library for a pause in the heavy rainfall. Taken June 2017.
The Mary and Jeff Bell Library invites everyone to experience our sixth Islander Faculty and Staff Art Exhibition, both physically and online!
The works by current and retired Islander faculty and staff will be on display on the first floor of the library Friday, May 7, through Wednesday, June 30. Our virtual display, along with recorded artists statements and other interactive elements, will be available starting Friday, May 7 as well!
Visit our Online Exhibition today! https://library.tamucc.edu/exhibits/s/FacultyandStaffArt/page/welcome
For more information, contact us at bell.library@tamucc.edu.
It's that time of year again! We all need a little more time in our day to get things done...The library has extended hours through the end of exams. Don't forget to reach out and Ask Us if you have any questions. We're here to help!
Need a laptop? You can check one out! The Mary and Jeff Bell Library is pleased to announce the arrival of our new laptop checkout kiosks! Twenty-four laptops purchased by CASA Title V Project GRAD are available for checkout in the library. Students can check out laptops during library hours for in house use, three hours at a time. This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Grant (#LS‐246561‐OLS‐20).
The Mary and Jeff Bell Library would like to invite you to participate in the Islander Faculty and Staff Art Exhibition!!
The exhibition is open to all faculty and staff members of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, either actively employed or retired. The work will be placed on display in the library from May 7 to June 30. Also beginning on May 7, photos of the submitted art will be made available in an online exhibit hosted on the library’s website along with artist statements and other interactive elements!
Artwork submitted must be new work (not previously submitted) and may include: painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, ceramics, printmaking, graphic design, and mixed media.
For more details and to submit your entries, visit: bit.ly/IslanderFacultyStaffArt
Any questions regarding submissions or exhibit details should be directed to bell.library@tamucc.edu.
The library continues to be here for you virtually through Saturday, 2/20!! The library building itself will reopen on Sunday, 2/21. In the meantime, remember to check out our large number of virtual services - from the Ask Us Desk to streaming services! Stay safe and warm!!
Chat, Text, Call, or Email Us at: help.library.tamucc.edu/
To access our hours, calendar, and research guides, visit our homepage: library.tamucc.edu/
Watch documentaries, feature films, and educational videos on Kanopy: tamucc.kanopy.com/
Due to inclement weather, the Bell Library will be closed on Monday, February 15 and Tuesday, February 16.
Our library services will continue online, including our Ask Us Desk services! (help.library.tamucc.edu/)
Sending a warm Island welcome to our new and returning students! Whether you are remote or in-person, we're here to help this Spring semester! Our library building is open Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm and classes start Monday, January 25, 2021.
Here's to a safe and healthy Spring semester. For information and updates about our current precautions and response to COVID-19, visit our COVID-19 Archive Guide.
If you have any questions, contact us at bell.library@tamucc.edu – we’re happy to help!
Due to a campus water outage, the Bell Library will be closed temporarily today. We plan on re-opening tomorrow morning, January 8th, at 8am. In the meantime, our virtual resources and Ask Us services are still available. Take care, Islanders!
For any questions, please contact us at bell.library@tamucc.edu.
The library will close for Winter Break at 12:00pm on Wednesday, December 23rd. We will return on Monday, January 4 at 8:00am. Some services will remain virtual through the 11th as we safely return from the holidays. Stay safe and healthy!
We have solved the issue that we were having with library resources. Our databases should be accessible now!
For any questions, please contact us at bell.library@tamucc.edu.
We are currently experiencing difficulty with access to library resources. We're working on a solution and apologize for the inconvenience.
For any questions, please contact us at bell.library@tamucc.edu.
Below are our Library Hours for Finals and the Holidays. Hope you have a safe and happy holidays, Islanders!!
For any questions, please contact us at bell.library@tamucc.edu.
Sunday, November 22: 10:00am to 6:00pm
Monday, November 23: 8:00am to 11:00pm
Tuesday, November 24: Last Day of Classes; 8:00am to 11:00pm
Wednesday, November 25: Reading Day; 8:00am to 12:00pm
Thursday, November 26: Closed
Friday, November 27: Closed
Saturday, November 28: Closed
Sunday, November 29: 10:00am to 6:00pm
Monday, November 30: Reading Day; 8:00am to 11:00pm
Tuesday, December 1: Final Exams; 8:00am to 11:00pm
Wednesday, December 2: Final Exams; 8:00am to 11:00pm
Thursday, December 3: Final Exams; 8:00am to 11:00pm
Friday, December 4: Final Exams; 8:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday, December 5: 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Sunday, December 6: 10:00am to 6:00pm
Monday, December 7: Final Exams; 8:00am to 11:00pm
Tuesday, December 8: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Wednesday, December 9: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Thursday, December 10: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Friday, December 11: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday, December 12: Fall Commencement; Closed
Join us on Wednesday, November 11 at 3:00pm as we celebrate the work of Dr. Daniel Bartholomay. Dr. Bartholomay is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. His research sheds light on the ever-changing dynamics of gender and sexual inequalities, particularly in the realms of family and health. Dr. Bartholomay will be presenting some of his work on LGBTQ+ experiences, including a new project examining the strengths and challenges faced by LGBT+ people living in South Texas.
Visit our Outstanding Faculty Speaker guide for the WebEx link and password: bit.ly/OutstandingFacultySpeaker
For any questions, please contact bell.library@tamucc.edu.
On October 27 at 2:00pm we will be celebrating the work of Dr. Lon Seiger! In this socially-distant but hands-on event, participants will be guided in making their own art pieces and Dr. Seiger will be discussing our nature-deficit disorder and strategies to spend more time interacting with the great outdoors. The sign-up for this event is currently full. We're excited for this event and thank you to all who have signed up!!
These amazing photos will be put on display in the Bell Library this Fall. Stay tuned to the Bell Library's social media for an official date. Thank you to everyone who participated this year and made this an outstanding show!!
The Bell Library is open to students, staff, and faculty, Monday through Friday 8am - 5pm. Spaces and services will look a bit different. Continue to check the website and Guide for the most up to date information about library resources and services. For more information, please call 361.825.2643.
Online research support from the Ask Us Desk is available Monday through Thursday 8am - 8pm and Friday 8am - 5pm.
Curbside pickup of print materials will continue Monday through Friday 9:30am – 4pm.
We’re glad to be back! Stay safe and healthy Islanders!
Curbside pickup of print materials will be available June 8th - June 19th (see details on our Guide).
The Bell Library will reopen to students, staff, and faculty on Monday, June 22nd. Monday through Friday 8am - 5pm. Some services will be limited during this time.
Access to all of the library’s digital resources will continue to be available 24/7. Online research support from the Ask Us Desk is available during the following times: Mon.-Thurs. 8am - 8pm Fri. 8am - 5pm
Interlibrary loan of e-resources will continue.
Please continue to check website and the Guide for the most up to date information about library resources and services. For more information, please call 361.825.2643.
Submit 1-2 your favorite phone photographs you've taken to our virtual Cell Phone Photography exhibit! The exhibition is open to all students, faculty, staff, alumni members, and retirees of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
All photos will be juried by the staff of the Mary and Jeff Bell Library. Photos will be made available digital online but will be described as copyright protected. All who submit must sign a waiver acknowledging their understanding of this. The deadline for submitting entry forms and photo(s) is Monday, June 1.
For more information on the exhibit, important dates, and how to submit entries, visit our Cell Phone Photography Show guide.
From now until Thursday, December 31, 2020, the Bell Library is offering a COVID-19 Archival Service where community members and TAMU-CC students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to lend their stories to Special Collections and Archives. These can be in the form of photos, videos, blogs, interviews, artwork, journal entries, essays, "quaran-zines," memes, etc. Help leave your witness account of this time for future generations to study!
In support of the County's Stay at Home Order, the Bell Library will be closed to walk-in traffic at 5pm, March 26th. Access to all of the library’s digital resources (24/7) and online research support will continue uninterrupted. Our online research support hours are:
In addition, interlibrary loan of e-resources will continue. Please continue to check https://guides.library.tamucc.edu/covid19, our COVID-19 Guide, for the most up to date information about library resources and services.
For more information, please call 361.825.2643.
Dear Bell Library Community,
For the safety and health of our community, the Mary and Jeff Bell Library are taking precautionary measures effective immediately. These measures include limiting our hours, temporarily suspending access to community members, and enforcing social distancing in the library spaces. For more information on these policies and others, please see below.
We feel that the library serves as an important space for students, staff, and faculty, so for the time being the library remains open and functioning on many levels. We will continue to provide the high level of service our community is accustomed to while considering the health of ourselves and our users.
As the Covid-19 situation is developing, please understand that these policies may change. Along with TAMU-CC administration, the Library is monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates in a timely manner as our policies shift in response to our community’s needs. More detailed information is available on our Guide.
Thank you for your patience as we work to provide the highest quality of service to our dedicated staff, students and faculty.
With much appreciation,
Your friends and colleagues at Bell Library
Join us on April 9 at 3:00pm as we celebrate the work of Dr. Lon Seiger. In this hands-on event, you’ll be invited and guided in making your own art piece – no artistic experience needed! Dr. Seiger will discuss our nature-deficit disorder and strategies to spend more time interacting with the great outdoors. A light reception is included in this engaging and fun experience learning about environmental pollution and how to reuse/recycle it into a hobby to make treasured art pieces.
We’ll be providing everything you need to create your own artwork, so space is limited. Please reserve your spot today.
The library is pleased to host the return of an interactive art exhibit! The Master of Science in Counseling Program and Chi Sigma Iota are installing Inspire an Islander inside the Bell Library on the first floor. Explore your creative side while fighting mental health stigma. The exhibit will be in place February 17 – 28th, come create and engage with campus resources and increase your mental health awareness. For more information, contact Julia CS LeClair JSnead1@islander.tamucc.edu
Need a calculator? We can help with that! The library will circulate calculators this semester for varying lengths of time. We have TI-503SV, TI-BAII Plus Financial, TI-83 and TI-84 Graphing, and TI-30xa Scientia models. Ask the folks at the Circulation Desk for more details.
Come celebrate the work of Dr. Wendi Pollock who will be presenting on, "Using Data to Police Police-Problems".
Thursday, November 21
3:30 pm
Bell Library, 2nd Floor
Outside of Special Collections and Archives
The event is open to the public. Time for questions, conversation, and a light reception will be available after the presentation.
If you have questions about this event, please email bell.library@tamucc.edu.
Related Research Guide: Outstanding Faculty Speaker Series by Jennifer Anderson
The library is excited for the return of International Games Day!
Saturday, November 9
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Bell Library, 2nd Floor
Enjoy video games on big screens, board games, card games, giant chess, and table top games.
We will also be featuring a Harry Potter themed interactive escape room (are you up to the challenge)! The first five participants will receive an amazing gamer's swag bag.
For more information contact patricia.hernandez@tamucc.edu.
Can you Escape the Library? Join us once more for the library's 2nd Escape Room competition. This time with a wizarding theme!!
The escape room experience will take approximately an hour. To participate, form a team of 3-7 people, come up with a fun team name, then go to signup genius to sign up for one of the time slots available at various times November 4-8.
The escape room will also be running from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 9. A signup sheet will be available at the library starting at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 9.
Need a break? Pop in and relax in our Pop-Up Relaxation Station. In collaboration with The University Counseling Center and Rec Sports, we've added a temporary relaxation spot on the first floor of the library.
Take your shoes off, curl up, and relax a bit with the help of aromatherapy, coloring, and other fun stress relief techniques!
Interested in creating your own podcast? The library can help with that! The I-Create Lab has podcasting equipment including recording equipment and audio editing software.
Read more about creating your own podcast in this blog post, Podcasting for Everyone…At Your Library!
Is Hispanic culture under-represented in Wikipedia? Let's do something about it!
Thursday, October 10
12:00 - 4:00 pm
2nd Floor, Bell Library
Come engage in a conversation about the representation of Hispanics in Wikipedia and help increase that representation by directly contributing to related Wikipedia articles.
The event begins at noon with a panel presentation featuring Islander students and faculty.
This event is free and refreshments will be provided.
For more information, visit the event Wikipedia page, email jennifer.anderson@tamucc.edu, or call 361-825-3321.
Join Dr. Javier Villarreal and Juan M. Perez on Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 2:00-3:00 pm on the 2nd Floor of the Mary and Jeff Bell Library.
The two poets will read in both English and Spanish from their latest works.
This event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be provided.
For more information, email jennifer.anderson@tamucc.edu, or call 361-825-3321.
Students have created some amazing things with the I-Create Lab’s 3D Printers. Come take your figures and pieces a step further and learn how to paint your 3D objects! Hosted in the I-Create Lab in Bell Library. Prepped figures and paint will be available for hands on learning!
See more upcoming library workshops.
The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Historical Forum and the Mary and Jeff Bell Library are hosting “100 Years After the Storm,” featuring author, historian, guest lecturer, and Islander alumna Mary Jo O’Rear.
Friday, September 13
1:00-3:00 pm
Bell Library, outside the Special Collections
The event, which is part of “Remembering the Hurricane of 1919: 100 Year Anniversary,” is intended to commemorate the massive hurricane which struck the Corpus Christi Bay in 1919, burying downtown under ten feet of debris and killing as many as 1,000 people.
O’Rear is the author of “Storm over the Bay: The People of Corpus Christi and Their Port,” and served on six Texas State Historical Association committees. The program will also include a panel discussion by faculty experts along with a display of historical photos and documents relating to the storm. The event is free and open to public, with a meet and greet and light refreshments following the panel discussion.
For more information email Amanda.Kowalski@tamucc.edu.
Ms. Lisa Louis from the Mary and Jeff Bell Library has been selected as a fellow in the SPARC Open Education Leadership Program, an intensive professional development program to empower library professionals with the knowledge, skills, and community connections to lead successful open education initiatives that benefit students. The two-semester program blends online, peer-to-peer, and project-based learning to build a comprehensive understanding of the open education space coupled with practical know-how to take action on campus and beyond. Lisa is one of 27 fellows selected from a competitive application pool for the program's 2019-2020 cohort.
The Dean of Libraries, Dr. Cate Rudowsky shares that Bell Library joins TAMU-CC and the TAMU System in a commitment to offering students affordable learning tools, including open educational resources. As our campus moves forward on such initiatives, we are honored to have Lisa Louis, Associate Librarian Faculty, be selected for the SPARC Open Education Leadership Program. This well respected national program prepares open education leaders who can help take their campuses to the next level.
The SPARC Open Education Leadership Program spans two semesters, beginning with an intensive online course in the fall to build open education subject matter expertise. In the spring, Ms. Louis will work with a mentor to implement a capstone project that will help advance open education at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and contribute back to the broader open education community as a whole. Lisa will join the rest of the cohort in attending the 16th annual Open Education Conference in Phoenix, AZ in late October.
Lisa believes that "this program will help me advocate more effectively for open education and affordable learning options at TAMU-CC. I am particularly interested in both open educational practices and in finding creative ways to support faculty who are considering moving away from traditional textbooks and toward open alternatives."
She explains that “We have been exploring the OER landscape for the past two years. We established an OER Task Force in 2017, with faculty from all the colleges, members of our Student Government Association, and other interested members of the TAMU-CC community. We have held events, including lectures, forums and a Community of Practice. We have spoken with students and faculty about textbook affordability and open options. We are looking forward to a second Community of Practice this year, as well as more events on the theme of open access and open education.”
"Academic libraries sit at the intersection of faculty, students, and high-quality resources, and therefore are essential partners in advancing open education on campus," said Nicole Allen, Director of Open Education for SPARC. "A large part of what makes our program successful is the unique and valuable perspective each participant brings to it, and a vibrant community of practice develops amongst the cohort. We are proud to have Lisa among our 2019-2020 class."
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is a member of SPARC, which is a global coalition dedicated to making Open the default in research and education. More information about the SPARC Open Education Leadership Program.
This summer, Bell Library was faced with a choice. The database Lexis-Nexis, long a mainstay among library online resources, was coming up for renewal.
We could have just renewed it automatically. Lexis Nexis seems foundational. Essential, even. But some concerns brought us up short. Usage was way down over previous years. The price has gone up over the same time span. And there were some problems with the contract that the company wanted us to sign. The TAMU system has a Contracts Office, and there are rules that our contracts have to follow. The Lexis Nexis contract violated some of those rules, and we were informed that the company was notoriously unwilling to negotiate.
Lexis Nexis has been around a long time; since 1973, in fact. It began as a database of legal codes and cases from Ohio and New York, the U.S. Code and some federal cases. Over the years, it expanded to include more legal content as well as news sources which formed the Nexis part of the equation. Lexis Nexis has developed a lot of name recognition as a trusted information source.1 Last year, Lexis Nexis’ product for academic libraries was rebranded Nexis Uni, and the interface was completely revamped (some would say not for the better). Disappointing interface or no, the prospect of a library without Lexis Nexis was difficult to contemplate.
When we have to make tough decisions, we look at the data. As noted above, usage had declined sharply over the last couple of years.
It was hard to justify the expense of a database when usage had declined so much.
We also looked at how much of the content in Lexis Nexis is duplicated in other databases we subscribe to. In recent years, the library has added many news sources such as Access World News and Proquest Newspapers. We have also added Westlaw which duplicated much of the legal research sources available in Lexis Nexis. And there are other products for legal research, such as Hein Online, which are much less expensive (look for a trial of Hein Online to be offered sometime this fall).
Finally, we talked to people. We discussed it among ourselves and reached out to users. The question was presented to the members of Deans Council. Among the librarians, the sense was that it was sad to see an old warhorse database go, but there were compelling reasons to cancel and no strong arguments (indeed there were significant hurdles) to renew.
The moral of the story is: sometimes libraries have to make tough decisions. We can’t afford everything we want, and we also have to abide by TAMU System rules. When we must make these decisions, though, we try to make them thoughtfully, with the data and users in mind, and make wise choices.
1) Fun fact: in 1990, Lexis Nexis celebrated receiving 100,000 searches in a single day. Only two years later, Lexis Nexis received over 200,000 searches after Ross Perot, who was running for president at the time, mentioned the service in a presidential debate. Learn more on the first thirty years of Lexis Nexis.
Did you know that library has entertainment DVDs for check out? The new browsable media area is located on the 2nd Floor of the library in the back corner by the open study space area.
Browse the shelves for a documentary or entertainment DVD of your choice (we’ve got movies and TV series, new and old). Take the case to the Circulation Desk. They will locate the DVD and check it out to you.
You can check out 2 discs for 2 days.
Questions? Call 361-825-2793 or email Amanda Horne at amanda.horne@tamucc.edu
Please Pardon our Progress!
We’re making some changes this summer. We’re switching to another library system that keeps all our resources together and helps us better analyze our collections.
What does this mean for you?
We’re happy to help with any questions you have! Let us know what you think.
Get caught up on everything happening at Bell Library by reading our blog!
On the blog we share
We’ll reveal behind the scenes details and insights into the inner workings of the library and have some fun along the way!
Through May 31: Enter your Photograph into the Fourth Islander Cell Phone Photography Show: The Mary and Jeff Bell Library at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi invites all University students, staff and faculty to participate in the fourth Islander Cell Phone Photography Show.
The show features photographs captured by your cell phone, which will be displayed in the library’s downstairs atrium exhibition space from Wednesday, July 10, through Sunday, September 15.
Photographs must be submitted by Friday, May 31. Find more details and the entry form. Please note, this is a juried show and each applicant will be notified of acceptance by Wednesday, June 5.
An opening reception will be held on July 11, from 6-8 p.m. in the atrium exhibit space. The reception is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Jennifer Anderson at jennifer.anderson@tamucc.edu; or call ext. 3321.
The Library will close early on Friday, May 10 at 8:00 pm. Have a great weekend!
We will be open 24 hours a day Monday-Thursday, with extended hours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday beginning the last week of classes through the end of the final exams period.
When you need a quick break from your finals week studies, stop by either the downstairs or upstairs Finals Week Break Zones to grab some coloring sheets, word search puzzles, and more.
Looking for some motivation or inspired to motivate others? Visit the Board of Motivation or purge those negative thoughts by writing them down and placing them in the Bucket of Negativity on the first floor of the library. Keep with it, Islanders, you’re almost there!!
Take a break from the textbooks and enjoy coloring books, puzzles, games, and other fun activities available during final exams on the second floor of the library.
Books and Bagels at the Library
Enjoy free bagels, coffee, and giveaways, courtesy of the Islander Alumni Association, during Books and Bagels on Thursday, May 2, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on the first floor near the entrance.
Paws on the Island is a great way to alleviate the stress of final exams and learn about the benefits of the University Counseling Center.
Thursday, May 2
1:00 to 4:00 pm
University Center, Lone Star Ballroom
PAWS Up, Inc. will bring their therapy dog teams and the Cattery will be on hand with kittens. The University Counseling Center will be offering a wide variety of stress relieving activities and you can learn about their services. All of the activities included in this event are scientifically proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Don't forget to participate and earn chances to win some amazing prizes!
Notice: Our website URL has changed from rattler.tamucc.edu to library.tamucc.edu. Please remember to update your bookmarks.
Faculty: please update any library links in course materials, Blackboard, syllabi, etc.
Links containing 'rattler' will no longer function May 13, 2019.
April is National Poetry Month. Check out our Blackout Poetry display on the 2nd Floor. Create your own poem using someone else’s words. Just take a book page and bring new meaning to the text by blacking out some words and leaving others.
Inspire an Islander is back on campus! Whether you are juggling between assignments and exams, it's always good to have a creative outlet. Inspire an Islander is here for that! Let's go against the stigma on mental health by checking it out and submitting any form of art, poetry, media, etc.! There's also paint, paper, and markers available at the exhibit. Check it out on the first floor of the library.
Help strengthen our community history. Bring letters, photographs, videos and other documents to the South Texas: iRemember History Harvest.
Archivists from the Mary and Jeff Bell Library will assess materials to determine if they are a good match for the archives' collecting scope. If you choose to donate, you will be provided with digital copies of the materials.
Saturday, March 23
10:00 am - 12:00 noon
KEDT Studios
3205 S. Staples St.
For more information, call 361.825.4500 or email specialcollections@tamucc.edu
Check out the Library's hours during Spring Break! Will be open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday-Thursday, March 11 - 14, 2019. We'll be closed on Friday, March 15. Normal hours will resume on Saturday, March 16.
Celebrate access to knowledge with us this week during Open Education Week (March 4-8). Education has always been about sharing, but the Internet has made this sharing possible at a wider scale than ever before and at a lower cost, thanks to digital communication technologies. Educators have taken advantage of these developments to produce and then share their classroom content and other intellectual property for free online so that learners anywhere in the world can use it. We call this content “open educational resources” (OER) and it is a rich trove of online learning for anyone to enjoy.
But there’s more to open resources besides just being free! Truly “open” educational resources aren’t just able to be used; they can also be remixed, redistributed, updated or edited, and otherwise altered to fit any context and then shared again with learners around the world. So “open education” can also be about having a creator’s permission to riff off their work to create something new and exciting.
Want to learn more? Visit the Open Education Week website. https://www.openeducationweek.org/page/what-is-open-education. Interested in incorporating open educational resources into your class? Check out the Bell Library OER guide: https://guides.library.tamucc.edu/OER. And if you’re out in front of the library this week, look for our table! We’ll be talking open education and OER Tuesday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day this week.
For more information about open education or open educational resources, contact Lisa Louis at lisa.louis@tamucc.edu.
The I-Create Lab will close early at 2:00pm on Thursday, February 28th for the Digital Dialogue Series and National Digital Learning Day Event. Laptop checkout will still be available during this time. Normal lab hours will resume on Friday, March 1st.
What are you waiting to create?
Come check out the art and photography of “Artist in Residence” Jon Steele. Mr. Steele is the fourth Artist in Residence selected from the Center for Coastal Studies. The program seeks to blend the arts and biological sciences to foster collaboration between different disciplines on camus. Artists stay at the Laguna Madre Field Station. Jon Steel’s Animal Crackers will be on display at the library until February 26, 2019.
The I-Create Lab will close early at 3:30 pm on Friday, February 15 for an Invent for the Planet event. We'll reopen on for regular business hours on Monday, February 18 at 7:30 am.
Learn more about the I-Create makerspace lab.
Things are changing with the media collection! For your convenience, we’ve created a new browsable media area. Located on the 2nd Floor of the library in the back corner by the open study space area, you can currently find over half of the DVD collection. We hope to have the entire collection moved upstairs before the end of the semester.
Browse the shelves for a documentary or entertainment DVD of your choice (we’ve got movies and TV series, new and old). Take the case to the Circulation Desk. They will locate the DVD and check it out to you. You can check out 2 discs for 2 days.
Questions? Call 361-825-2793 or email Amanda Horne at amanda.horne@tamucc.edu
Look for book displays in the library and check out our Black History Month Guide! If you enjoy trivia, stop by our interactive trivia display and test your knowledge. Want to win prizes for your trivia knowledge? Visit the library’s Facebook page where we’ll post a daily BHM trivia question.
Be the first to answer correctly and you will be entered into a drawing for a weekly prize pack!! Prize Pack includes books – like Michelle Obama’s amazing memoir, t-shirts, Girl Scout Cookies, and other wonderful goodies!
Prize drawings will take place on February 8, 15, 22, and 28. Remember, the more questions you answer correctly, the more chances you will have to win! For more information, contact Trisha Hernandez at patricia.hernandez@tamucc.edu.
Faculty, graduate students, and independent researchers are encouraged to apply for an annual award of $1,000.00 to conduct research in residence at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Special Collections and Archives. Learn more about the fellowship.
Want to know more about the collection? Discover our digital exhibits, finding aid and more.
If you have questions, please contact us at specialcollections@tamucc.edu or (361) 825-4500. We look forward to hearing from you and aiding in the use of Dr. Garcia's papers, whether the digital versions or the originals housed in Special Collections and Archives in the Mary and Jeff Bell Library.
It’s hard not to notice the giant plastic sheeting hanging near the computers on the 1st Floor of the library. You know, the one with all the warning signs. They are currently renovating office space for some of your librarians. We apologize for any noise or dust while the construction takes place and hope to be back in our offices soon. In the meantime, if you’re looking for one of us just stop by the Ask Us Desk.
A warm Island welcome to our new and returning students. We're excited that it's time for the Spring semester to begin! If you have any questions, let us know – we’re happy to help!
Excited about the beginning of the semester? We're even more excited to announce the opening of the our new I-Create Makerspace Lab! Be sure to stop in and check out this amazing new space and learn more about all the opportunities to make and create!
Wishing you a Happy Holiday and a joyful New Year from all of us at the Bell Library. The library will be closed for the winter break from December 18 – January 1. We will reopen January 2 at 8:00 am.
We will begin work on our network on Monday, December 17th. No Internet access will be available that day. The library will then be closed from December 18th - 21st. If you need a computer before the 21st, please use the 2nd floor labs in Corpus Christi Hall (open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm).
The library will reopen after Christmas with interim hours beginning on January 2.
On Friday December 7, we’ll be busy upgrading our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) software. ILL services will be unavailable from approximately 3:00 – 5:00 pm but will then be back up and better than ever! Thank you for your patience.
For more information, please contact Brent Day.
Email – brenton.day@tamucc.edu
Phone – 361-825-6557
Beginning on Monday, December 3, the library will operate with extended hours to help you get through finals! We'll be open 24 hours Monday, December 3rd through Thursday, December 6th and again Monday, December 10th through Wednesday, December 12th.
Here are other key days/hours to keep in mind:
Alleviate the stress of final exams and learn about the benefits of the University Counseling Center with Paws on the Island.
Thursday, December 6
1:00 to 4:00 pm
University Center, Lone Star Ballroom
The PAWS Up, Inc. organization will bring their therapy dogs and The Cattery will be on hand with kittens – as petting an animal is proven to be a stress relieving experience. The University Counseling Center will be offering a wide variety of stress relieving activities and you can learn about their services. Don’t forget to sign up for the amazing raffle prizes!
For more information, email Alison.marks@tamucc.edu or call 361-825-2703.
The I-Create Lab will be creative hub for students, faculty, staff and the Corpus Christi community. A space where everyone can come and work on anything, from personal objects to school projects and where the only limits are how far your imagination can take you.
Opening in January 2019!
Help strengthen our community history. Bring letters, photographs, videos and other documents to the South Texas: iRemember History Harvest.
Archivists from the Mary and Jeff Bell Library will assess materials to determine if they are a good match for the archives' collecting scope. If you choose to donate, you will be provided with digital copies of the materials.
In honor of Veteran's Day
Saturday, November 10
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
University Center Swordfish Room #324
For more information, call 361.825.4500 or email specialcollections@tamucc.edu
What’s that hammering you hear? Construction has begun on the Bell Library’s new MakerSpace! What's a MakerSpace you ask? It is a place for innovation, creativity and collaboration, where you can create anything you can think of. Your only limits are your imagination.
We’re hoping to open this new, awesome lab in January 2019. Check back soon for more information, but in the meantime, please pardon our noise and dust!
Find more details about the new Library MakerSpace.
Come watch a screening of Camp 72, a documentary about a quest for healing and justice after war. Tuesday, October 23 from 4:00-6:00 pm in the UC Lonestar Ballroom. Following the screening, Seema Mathur and Massa Washington will conduct a Q&A session.
Presented by The College of Liberal Arts and The Mary and Jeff Bell Library.
Open Educational Resources Task Force and the Center for Faculty Excellence present: Open Education: A Conversation with Dr. David Wiley
Monday, October 22, 2018
UC Legacy Room 145
Reception @ 2:30 pm
WebEx Presentation 3-4 pm
RSVP @ CFE.TAMUCC.EDU
Dr. Wiley is Chief Academic Officer of Lumen Learning, an organization dedicated to increasing student success, reinvigorating pedagogy, and improving the affordability of education through the adoption of open educational resources by schools, community and state colleges, and universities. He is also currently the Education Fellow at Creative Commons, an Ashoka Fellow, and adjunct faculty in Brigham Young University's graduate program in Instructional Psychology and Technology, where he leads the Open Education Group.
For more about Dr. Wiley, visit his website at: http://www.davidwiley.com
Are you curious about the large room being constructed in the back corner of the 1st Floor of the Library? It’s our new Super Quiet Study Room!
The previous Super Quiet Study Room was located on the 2nd Floor but that location is being converted into our new MakerSpace. The new Super Quiet Study Room is part of a series of renovations taking place over the next several months. The room will be bigger with more seating and desks than the old room.
Each fall and spring semester a published faculty member is identified and offered a chance to speak at the Library’s Outstanding Author Series. Designed to help promote research and creative activity on campus and encourage communication about research interests and potential collaborations, the event provides an opportunity to share current research projects and publication history. We also allow time for a short question and answer period and light refreshments.
Nominations (and self-nominations) will be accepted through October 2, 2018. Once we have the nominees gathered, the Library Committee will select a winner.
To prepare for the construction of the new Makerspace, we will be closing the Media Center beginning Tuesday, September 4th and it will remain closed for the remainder of the Fall semester. Laptop checkout will move to the Circulation Desk and laptops will be available during normal library working hours.
We’re making lots of changes this semester! We are excited to announce that we have invited folks from the IT Helpdesk to join us in the library. Seven days a week, there will be someone to help with your IT questions at the Ask Us Desk in the library. Want to learn more? Stop in drop by the Desk or reach out to us online and Ask!
TexShare has announced new resources and we’ve added them to our Database list. Thanks to this program, we now have access to: Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ChiltonLibrary (for auto repairs). Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Resource Center, Consumer Health Complete, Referencia Latina, and Sustainability Reference Center.
Check out this tip when using Google Scholar from off-campus! This clip will walk you through linking to your library resources when searching Google Scholar. :)
The Media department will be closed on weekends and open Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. We’re excitedly bringing a Makerspace to the library for all of your innovative needs. As more information becomes available, you’ll be one of the first to know!
Beginning on May 20th, the library will begin opening and closing earlier on Sundays. The library will be closed May 26th - 28th for the Holiday Weekend. Summer hours (and those earlier Sundays) will be in place Tuesday, May 29th. Got questions? Ask Us!
We are very proud of Shelby Gonzalez, our Special Collections and Archives Department Library Specialist II, who was the winner of the 2018 Patrick J. Carroll History Student Engagement Award! Shelby also was awarded a Fall Graduate Scholarship for good academic standing.
As announced by the TAMU-CC Department of Humanities, "The Carroll Award is given annually to the History student who best typifies the values of intellectual, social, and civic engagement that Dr. Carroll demonstrated over his long professional career. This year's award recognizes Shelby's exemplary work in the Special Collections Library, the classroom, and on the Hurricane Harvey Oral History Project."
Professor Laura Munoz nominated Shelby for the award, crediting her guidance and limitless service in the History M.A. graduate students' successful organization of the Hurricane Harvey Oral History Project. Dr. Munoz described the project as "an original and professional archival collection of oral histories that records and commemorates the university and local community response to Hurricane Harvey’s 2017 landfall in South Texas." With the guidance of Processing and Digital Assets Archivist, Alston Cobourn, Shelby has made the collection available at https://tamucc-ir.tdl.org/tamucc-ir/handle/1969.6/9282.
Well done, Shelby!
We excitedly hosted a Crime Scene Demo, organized by the Criminal Justice Department, on Wednesday, April 11th at noon. Complete with blood splatter, wounds designed and applied by members from the University’s Theatre Department, and a victim portrayed by President Kelly Quintanilla, the event was informative, engaging, and incredibly fascinating. To see photos, visit the University’s gallery at https://tinyurl.com/y88weofu. We've added some Crime Scene resources to the Criminal Justice Guide, take a look and see what we found!
We are excited to announce that Dr. Kathy Smith and Dr. Murphy Smith have been selected as the library's next Outstanding Authors. Join us on Wednesday, April 4th at 2:00 pm as we celebrate their work. We are excited to welcome our first speakers from the College of Business. The presentation will be followed by a reception with time for questions and conversations with our speakers.
During Spring Break, the campus will be closed on March 14th for a planned power outage. System maintenance will require the campus to be without power for a few hours. Several library resources will be unavailable during this outage. Please plan accordingly. Have a safe and happy Spring Break!
Research & Instruction Graduate Assistant Lauren Robinson was awarded the 2018 Sue Standford Texas History Student Award presented by the Book Finders (Corpus Christi) chapter of the American Association of University Women. Robinson, who was nominated by Dr. Robert Wooster for the award, received the honor for a research paper on Confederate nurses and her overall academic excellence. "It was so wonderful to be honored by this group, since my research emphasizes women and typically marginalized voices," Lauren said. She has also been awarded the Mirabal-Garza Endowed Scholarship in History for an oral history project focusing on her stepfather and his life, in particular his childhood experiences as a Mexican-American in South Texas. Congratulations, Lauren!
Our good friends from History Associates brought back the Dr. Hector P. Garcia papers. The papers and other items have been away for processing and digitization. There will be a formal welcome reception on Monday, February 19th from 4:00 – 5:30pm upstairs in the library. Original and selected digitized materials will be available for viewing. Join us and learn how this project will increase access to this collection.
Not sure what this new icon is all about? At the bottom of the library’s page you can get to our Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube accounts. You can also check out computer availability (the monitor icon) and find out which labs have plenty of room. We’re pleased to announce this new one though…the little pad and pencil? It’s our virtual suggestion box! Got an idea or a concern? Let us know about it. If you’d like us to get back to you, leave your email and we’ll respond as quickly as we can.
University Procedures have been approved granting professional librarians faculty status. The librarians are honored to join the ranks of faculty here on the Island. Do you know your librarian?
Rare Films from TAMU-CC Archives Receive National Recognition
Motion picture films from the Antonio Rodriguez Fuentes and Josefina Barrera Fuentes Family Papers have been named to the National Film Registry. The films, which were preserved through a 2015 partnership with the Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI), are among the 25 American films deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant.
Antonio Rodríguez Fuentes (1895-1988) and Josefina Barrera Fuentes (1898-1993) were longtime Corpus Christi residents who ranked among the most involved individuals in early local Mexican American community organizations. Mr. Fuentes was an avid amateur photographer.
The films named to the registry were shot with a French-made Pathex camera on 9.5mm film, a rare film format popular for a short time in the early 20th century, primarily in Europe. They can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbn3S-_nftnSJ_2E77EPgrw. More information about the papers is available at http://library.tamucc.edu/dept/special/Fuentes.html
Want to keep up with Special Collections and Archives? They've expanded their space and are working on some exciting new things! Check out their progress on Instagram.
Check out the latest edition of the library's newsletter - Learn about resources, services and changes to your campus library. Want to suggest a story? Let us know bell.library@tamucc.edu
Searching has Changed!
We’ve changed the search platform used in a Quick Search. The changes will be most obvious in the results list and the Journals list. This will offer better search results and improve linking to library content. Take a look around and see what you think!
If you have questions or if you need any assistance, please reach out to the Ask Us Desk or stop by and see a librarian.
Just can’t handle the new look? The old way of searching will be available through June 30th. You can search here until then: http://bit.ly/2sHoLqM
Don't miss the Islander Cell Phone Photography Show. Faculty, Staff and Students have captured some amazing things with their cell phones. The exhibit will be in the library until September 15th. For more information, bell.library@tamucc.edu
