Category Archives: Mid-Valley Campus

Banned Books Week

September 28, 2011Book Displays, Mid-Valley Campus, Our Collections, Pecan Campus

Wow. Doesn’t time just fly, Readers?

Before we knew it, September started its last week. Do you know what that means? …

BANNED BOOKS WEEK!

That’s right! Every year, around the country, we like to draw attention to a cause that is near and dear to libraries everywhere.

Censorship versus the Freedom to Read

Every year, in every library, people fight to have books pulled off the shelf and made unavailable for others to read. This happens for various reasons including religious differences, political ideology, language, sexual connotations, etc.

Some of these books include those that have been made popular worldwide such as Stephanie Myers’ Twighlight Series, JK Rowlings’ Harry Potter series, and even (especially!) classics such as Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Anne Frank: A Diary of a Young Girl. You can find more about the banned and challenged books of 2010-2011 through the American Library Association’s report here.

You can find some of these banned books, and others from past years, in our Libraries!

That’s right readers, let’s live on the WILD SIDE!

(above: book display at the Pecan Campus Library / below: book display at the MidValley Campus Library)

So come one, come all, to our STC Libraries, and explore a little.

And as always, if you have any questions, comments or observations, we’d love to hear from you through the comments!

Event: 150th Anniversary of Mexican-American Involvement in the Civil War

April 4, 2011Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

All over the United States people are using the word sesquicentennial to describe the 150th anniversary of the Civil War taking place this year.

The STC Library and the Mexican American Studies Program will be commemorating the anniversary with a book talk by historian Dr. Jerry Thompson, author of Vaqueros in Blue and Gray and many other books discussing the South Texas involvement in the Civil War.

On Monday, April 11, Dr. Thompson will be talking at the MidValley Campus Library and at the Pecan Campus Library. Books will be available for sale, and the author will sign books after his talk. His other books include The Civil War and the Southwest as well as Cortina: Defending the Mexican Name in Texas.

Monday, April 11

2:30 PM –	MidValley Library
	Build – E
	400 N. Border, Weslaco, TX
6:00 PM –	Pecan Library
	Build – F Rainbow Room
	3201 W. Pecan Blvd., McAllen, TX

For more information contact Esther Garcia at egarcia10@southtexascollege.edu.

Celebrate Banned Books Week at STC

September 29, 2010Book Displays, Mid-Valley Campus, Our Collections, Pecan Campus

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

At the MidValley and Pecan campus libraries, displays are up showing books that have been banned in the past. In addition, the Pecan campus library will be showing the movie Salt of the Earth, an American classic film, but at the time time of it’s release, the movie had a lot of trouble getting released. The movie will be shown on Sept. 29 at 12pm at F-102.

Enjoy the displays below:

Display at Pecan Library

Display at MidValley Library

To find out more about Banned Books, please visit ALA’s website: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/

Contributed by Patricia Saenz Library Technician at MidValley and Esther Garcia, Library Specialist at Pecan.

Celebrate Hector P. Garcia Day at the Library

September 14, 2010Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Movies, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

libevents-Movies8 Pictured with President Lyndon B. Johnson

In 2009, the State of Texas decreed the third Wednesday of September to be Hector P. Garcia Day. In honor, the STC Library will be screening a documentary about his life. Dr. Hector P. Garcia was born in Mercedes. He was a doctor, World War II veteran, civil rights advocate, and founder of the American G.I. Forum. He was a U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

For more information about Dr. Hector P. Garcia look for the book about his life: Hector P. García by Ignacio M. Garcia (check for availability).

Also visit UTMB’s website dedicated to Dr. Garcia (click here).

Times	Locations
9/15 at 12pm	Pecan Library
9/15 at 12pm	MidValley Library
9/16 at 12pm	MidValley Library

For more information contact the MidValley Library at 447-6663 or the Pecan Library at 872-6485.

Staff Pick: Navigating Your Freshman Year

September 8, 2010Book Displays, Mid-Valley Campus, Our Collections

Lombardo, Allison, and Katharine Jackson, eds. Navigating Your Freshman Year. New York, NY: Prentice Hall Press, 2005. Print.

In the Fall 2009 semester alone, South Texas College experienced a 23% increase in enrollment. As the Fall 2010 semester quickly approaches, we can only imagine how many first-time college students will be looking to STC for their educational needs. How many of these students will enter college as wide-eyed freshmen only to be overwhelmed by seemingly insurmountable reading assignments, research papers, and tests? Countless freshmen have entered college unaware of the strategies and skills needed to survive their first year.

Fortunately, in addition to the extremely helpful College Success course taught at STC, our campus libraries house a number of books that focus on the skills needed to be successful in a college environment. One such book, Navigating Your Freshman Year, consists only of “brutally honest advice, ideas, and personal stories” contributed by college students all over the country. While certain chapters of the books may not be relevant to the average STC student (the first 3 chapters consist mostly of stories about homesickness and “roommate hell”), there are many ideas and lessons worth reading. Some of the best stories and advice are about learning to study, prioritize, and remain relatively stress-free, but there are dozens more about dating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Most of these suggestions are not groundbreaking, but this guide packages them in a way that is both realistic and humorous. Navigating Your Freshman Year is well-rounded and caters to the average student who seeks good grades and an active social life.

Contributed by Jessica Cruz, Library Specialist at the Mid-Valley Campus.

Frida screening Aug. 5th

July 23, 2010Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Movies, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

The Pecan and MidValley Libraries will be showing the movie Frida. The movie is based on the Hayden Herrera biography, and was nominated for six Oscars, and it won two.

“Salma Hayek plays the Mexican surrealist painter Frida Kahlo, whose tempestuous life with her unfaithful husband, muralist Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), drives the story of Frida. Maverick director Julie Taymor (Titus, the Broadway stage production of The Lion King) pulls out a wealth of gorgeous visuals to capture everything from the horrific bus accident that damaged Kahlo’s spine to her and Rivera’s trip to New York City, where Rivera’s political leanings ruptured a commission from the Rockefeller family. Taymor’s dynamic energy and Kahlo’s forceful personality give Frida genuine emotional impact. The superb cast includes Roger Rees, Valeria Golino, Ashley Judd, Geoffrey Rush, Antonio Banderas, and Edward Norton. –Bret Fetzer from Amazon.com Editorial Review

Pecan Aug. 5 at 12pm

MidValley Aug. 5 at 12pm

For more information contact Esther Garcia at egarcia10@southtexascollege.edu or 956-872-6485.

John Adams movie June 7th!

July 6, 2010Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Movies, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

To celebrate Independence Day, the Pecan and MidValley Libraries will be showing the monumental HBO miniseries John Adams. The miniseries is based off of David McCullough’s Pulitzer Prize winning book (click here to check for availability of book). We will be showing the first two episodes of the seven part miniseries.

Part 1: Join or Die opens with the night of the Boston Massacre. John Adams was a farmer and a lawyer, and he takes on the unpopular task of defending the British soldiers accused of murdering several American colonists.

Part 2: Independence shows John Adams as a new member of the Continental Congress that will eventually declare independence from Great Britain.

John Adams was described as “quite simply, as good as TV gets,” by the New York Daily News, and has won more Emmy’s than any other miniseries.

Pecan	MidValley
July 7 at 12pm	July 7 at 10pm

http://youtu.be/9CNbQOrxQ-g

POSTPONED Screening of John Adams at Pecan and MidValley Libraries

June 24, 2010Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Movies, Pecan Campus, Previous Events

SCREENING IS POSTPONED UNTIL JULY 7th.

Library Open House at Your Campus!

April 7, 2010HSP Campus, Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Movies, Pecan Campus, Previous Events, Starr County Campus, Technology Campus

Library Week is that time of the year when we stop and appreciate what libraries and librarians have contributed to our schools and communities. And South Texas College will celebrate Library Week with a number of activities at all five of its campuses.

Celebrated nation wide, this year’s theme is “Communities Thrive @ Your Library.” In tough economic times, libraries give free access to books, DVDs, computers, and research assistance. Go by one of your campus libraries to enjoy what they have to offer. Please e-mail Esther Garcia for more details: egarcia10@southtexascollege.edu.

Library Open Houses 2010
Date	Campus Library	Details	Contact Person
4/12	NAHC Open House 10 am – 2 pm	Book Talk on Valley authors* Drafting demonstration Presentation by Rey Anzaldua on Hospital Security Art Gallery Tours Snacks, Drinks, Cake	James Phillips 872-3189
4/13	Starr Campus Open House 11 am – 2 pm	Kayak exhibit Zavotash dancers Talk given by Local Historian Possible trolley ride Door Prizes Food, Snacks, Drinks	Thelma Garza 488- 5820
4/14	MidValley Campus Open House10 am – 2 pm	Information Fair Music Art Gallery Tours Movie showing New Moon Snacks and Drinks	Jessica Cruz 447-6663
4/15	Pecan Campus Open House 11 am – 2 pm	Information Fair Scavenger Hunt Meet Miss RGV Music Movie showing New Moon Snacks, Popcorn, Drinks, Cake	Esther Garcia 872-6485
4/19	Tech Campus Open House 10 am – 2 pm	Folkloric Dancers Paramedic Visit with Ambulence, Stretcher, and Dummy Book Talk on Valley authors* Art Gallery Tours Snacks, Drinks, Cake	James Phillips 872-6120

*Book Talk on Valley authors will be given by librarian James Phillips, and he will discuss authors Americo Paredes, Rolando Hinojosa Smith, Gloria Anzaldua, and T.R. Fehrenbach.

Screening of Iron Jawed Angels at MidValley Campus Library

March 9, 2010Library Events, Mid-Valley Campus, Movies, Previous Events

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Mid-Valley STC Library will be showing Iron Jawed Angels, a 2004 film about the women’s suffrage movement during the 1910s. This movie follows activists, Alice Paul (Hilary Swank) and Lucy Burns (Frances O’Connor), as they fought tirelessly for a woman’s right to be counted. Returning to the United States from England, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns learned that their ideas about women and voting were too radical for even the National American Woman Suffrage Association. In response, they created the National Woman’s Party, a group that takes drastic measures to ensure women’s rights. Taking the women’s suffrage movement by storm, Paul and Burns put their freedom on the line as they boldly take action.

In a time when it is easy to take the right to vote for granted, this film reminds us that women once had to fight and suffer to step into the voting booth. One hundred years ago women were denied the privilege of expressing their opinions about our government, but because Alice Paul and Lucy Burns (and a number of other brave women such as Susan B. Anthony) refused to be content with their lives as non-voting citizens, we are all able to be counted equally.

Iron Jawed Angels will be showing Wednesday, March 10, 2010 beginning at 10 am at the STC Mid-Valley Library. It will also be showing Thursday, March 11 at 12:00 pm at the Pecan Campus Library.

Contributed by Jessica Cruz, Library Specialist at the Mid-Valley Campus.

Monday, April 11

2:30 PM –

MidValley Library

Build – E

400 N. Border, Weslaco, TX

6:00 PM –

Pecan Library

Build – F Rainbow Room

3201 W. Pecan Blvd., McAllen, TX