Explore History Study Center

Databases, Our Collections, Research
Database Spotlight

Database Spotlight


History Study Center is an online resource providing a vast collection of digitized primary and secondary sources for the study of history. It is suitable for a wide range of uses, from students looking for quick and reliable facts on a historical topic, to examining hard-to-find primary source texts. History Study Center covers global history from ancient times to the present day. Contents include reference books, essays, journal articles, historical newspaper and magazine articles, maps, rare books, government documents, transcripts of historical speeches, images and video clips. It provides over 40,000 documents and articles, with over 50 reference works, 3,000 images and links to 2,000 Web sites.

What does History Study Center provide?

  • Study Units: selected material on over five hundred historical topics. More about Study Units
  • Historical Documents: hundreds of primary source texts from historical sourcebooks. Sourcebook details for reference articles, maps and historical documents.
  • Maps and Reference: thousands of maps, articles and biographies from historical atlases and encyclopedias. Sourcebook details for reference articles, maps and historical documents.
    Also included are Topic Overviews, essay-length introductions to historical themes and texts. More about topic overviews
  • Multimedia: images and video clips, all captioned to provide historical context, plus links to selected Web sites of interest to historians. More about Multimedia Collections
  • Journals: Full text articles from over 70 journals relevant to history. Journal details

You can access History Study Center from this blog post or from our Databases page.
Contributed by Librarian, Ana Naumann.

Shakespeare’s Anatomy of Love: Much Ado About Nothing

Author / Scholar Visit, Library Events, Previous Events, Virtual Event, ,

A recording of this lecture is now available: https://youtu.be/2ogILax0p0E

STC Library presents scholar, author, and professor Dr. Paul Cantor of the University of Virginia, who will be discussing Shakespeare’s play, “Much Ado About Nothing.”

“Shakespeare’s contemporaries promoted an overly idealistic—and hence impractical—view of love, which bred overly cynical views of love in reaction. In Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare used all his considerable comedic skills to debunk these false ideas of love, and thereby to reintegrate alienated lovers into society, and restore the healthy role of love as a force for community.”

STC students, faculty, and staff are invited to enjoy film versions of the play, “Much Ado About Nothing,” from 1984, 1993, and 2012. The play can also be read in full, here. Access to these resources requires an STC username and password.

A free, online version of the play, “Much Ado About Nothing,” can be accessed by the public, here.

Architecture featured

ARTchitecture – An AEDT & Art Collaborative Exhibit

Library Art Gallery, Previous Exhibits, Technology Campus, Virtual Event

“ARTchitecture” explores the connections between visual art and architecture.

AEDT BannerTopic: AEDT ARTchitecture Open House, Presentations and Roundtable
When: Mar. 9, 2021 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada) – Virtual

Take a Virtual Tour below!

South Texas College Library Art Gallery continues its monthly spring semester series, “Parallels,” which highlights the connections between seemingly unconnected disciplines—Mathematics, AEDT, History, and Science– with Art.

“ARTchitecture,” features photographs, renderings and drawings by former and current students and faculty in the AEDT program and will be on view March 1 – August 20, 2021. The exhibit will be on view at the STC Technology Campus Library Art Gallery. The Technology Campus Library is located at 3700 W. Military Hwy in McAllen, Texas.

A full day of presentations about architecture, engineering, drafting and technology and its connection to the visual arts will take place on Tuesday, March 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants may join at any time and choose the sessions that are of interest. Participation is free and open to the public with registration.

Schedule

“The parallels between art and architecture have existed throughout history. It continues to be evident today. Needless to say, the beauty of their parallel influences is timeless,” Laura Salas, STC AEDT Program Chair and Associate Professor.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student understanding of art and its role in culture, support academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information contact gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

ARTchitecture flyer

Explore Home Improvement Reference Center

Databases, Our Collections, Research
Database Spotlight

Database Spotlight


Home Improvement Reference Center is a full text database designed for use in public and school libraries. Content contained in the database will focus on home improvement and home repair. The main navigation will direct researchers to high-quality repair information. Thousands of repairs will be available in the areas of outdoor projects, electrical projects, remodeling projects, plumbing projects, wood projects, decorating projects and maintenance. In addition to the repair information, other magazines and reference books focusing on home improvement will be included in the database. The intent of this new product is to provide full text articles that show instructions, tips, and suggestions for a variety of home improvement projects.

What does Home Improvement Reference Center provide?

  • Step by step instructions are provided in high-quality PDF files
  • Magazine and reference books are included
  • Conduct keyword search or browse project categories
  • Set up a personal account through STC and save your searches
  • Set up search alerts: new search results can be sent as an automatic email notification

You can access Home Improvement Reference Center from this blog post or from our Databases page.
Contributed by Librarian, Ana Naumann.

Mathematically Artistic and Then Some

Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campus, Previous Exhibits, Virtual Event

The STC Library celebrates long-time RGV educator and artist with an exhibition and virtual workshop.

Lisa Irby BannerImage: Lisa Irby, “Face of the Family,” Cut paper on tagboard.

South Texas College Library Art Gallery continues its monthly spring semester series, “Parallels,” which highlights the connections between seemingly unconnected disciplines—Mathematics, AEDT, History, and Science– with Art.

“Mathematically Artistic and Then Some,” featuring paintings and paper cut designs by Dr. Lisa Irby, will be on view at the STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, second floor, February 1 to March 23, 2021. The STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery is located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd., Bldg. F in McAllen, Texas.

Workshop materials:
– 9 x 12” Black tagboard or any thick surface to apply cut paper pieces
– Cardstock, assorted colors
– Glue, craft preferred
– Scissors
– Ruler
– Pencil
– Eraser, white gum Preferred
– Double-sided Tape
– Mod Podge, to cover finished artwork

Dr. Lisa Irby received her Educational Doctorate in 2002 and a Masters of Counseling and Guidance in 1987. From 1988 to 2018 as a teacher, instructional facilitator, and school administrator she served students, teachers and parents in both the public and private school sectors. Her instructional approach to education allowed her to incorporate artwork as a means of connecting the various educational disciplines. Irby is now a full time artist, working mostly in acrylicpainting and more recently, drawing on her previous experience as a stained glass artist, she creates vibrant and intricate cut paper designs. Dr. Irby also serves in local committees that seek to uplift African American history and voices in the Rio Grande Valley.

“My paintings and works are invitations for my viewers to experience color through subtle nuances or bold, dramatic displays.  The unique characteristics of each of my images are meant to inspire conversations, penetrate imaginations, and ultimately entice viewers to linger longer and experience my passion for art and creative expression,” says Irby

Irby Poster

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student understanding of art and its role in culture, support academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information contact gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Explore Artstor

Databases, Our Collections, Research
Database Spotlight

Database Spotlight


Artstor provides faculty and students with a complete image resource that supports study across disciplines. The Artstor Digital Library provides straightforward access to curated images from reliable sources that have been rights-cleared for use in education and research. You are free to use them in classroom instruction and handouts, presentations, student assignments, and other noncommercial educational and scholarly activities. It’s easy to find related material, which makes the difficult task of building context and finding comparisons much simpler. Faculty can also ensure their students are working with the appropriate images by sharing their course material in image groups.

What does Artstor provide?

  • Approximately 300 collections composed of over 2.5 million images (and growing)
  • Images come with high-quality metadata from the collection catalogers, curators, institutions, and artists
  • Artstor LibGuides tailored for librarians, faculty, higher ed, and secondary school students to get started–or become experts–using the Artstor Digital Library
  • Curriculum Guides include selected images for teaching courses curated by experts in their field with a course syllabus outlining topics and themes, a set of images for each theme, and a description of how the images can be used in that course
  • 22 Subject Guides highlight collections, search strategies and search terms to help users across disciplines find relevant content in the Artstor Digital Library

You can access Artstor from this blog post or from our Databases page.
Contributed by Librarian, Ana Naumann.

Featured Image

Common Journey of Mathematics & Art

Library Art Gallery, Pecan Campus, Previous Exhibits, Virtual Event

New STC exhibition examines relationship between mathematics and art

“Common Journey of Mathematics & Art” exhibition runs January 19 through March 23, 2021 at STC Pecan Library.

Math & Art Banner I
Image: Kirk Clark, “Sky Angel,” Acrylic on mylar, 2020 

South Texas College Library Art Gallery presents the first in a monthly spring semester series that highlights the connections between seemingly unconnected disciplines—Mathematics, AEDT, History, and Science– with Art.

In collaboration with the Mathematics and Art Departments at STC, the Gallery presents: “A Common Journey of Mathematics and Art.”

The monthly series of exhibitions will be supported by virtual lectures, book displays and a library database exploring how, working between disciplines, we can achieve better outcomes—moving from STEM to STEAM and foster the creation of art by thinking across boundaries.

“A Common Journey of Mathematics and Art,” will be on view at the STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, Jan. 19 to March 23, 2021. The STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery is located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd., Bldg. F in McAllen, Texas.

There will be a virtual conversation and tour on Tuesday, Mar. 23 at 3 p.m. with the curators of the exhibit, STC Faculty Mario Morin, Kirk Clark and Nathan England.

“Throughout human history, two natural elements of human thought and progress can be evidenced by mathematics and art,” said Morin, an organizer of the exhibit and STC Mathematics Chair and Instructor. “While not usually combined in outright terms, the nature and behavior(s) of the two schools of thought both complement one another. and sometimes are necessitated in the study of the other.

“Our Spring 2021 Mathematics + Art Exhibit will highlight these interactions through three themes: Geometry, the Golden Ratio and Infinity,” Morin added. “Each of these concepts spans hundreds, if not, thousands of years of human history and has had remarkable impact on our everyday lives (whether we may recognize this or not).  Our intention is to both expose this marriage of thought & art but also to encourage further exploration into the possibilities that may exist.”

M

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student understanding of art and its role in culture, support academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information contact gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Explore OverDrive

Databases, Our Collections, Research
Database Spotlight

Database Spotlight


OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. They deliver the industry’s largest catalog of eBooks, audiobooks and other digital media to a growing network of 50,000 libraries and schools in 78 countries. OverDrive is compatible with every major device on the market, which allows you to enjoy titles from the library’s digital collection.

What does Libby by OverDrive provide?

  • Enjoy eBooks and audiobooks on your personal device
  • Receive the same experience on all devices
  • Customizable browsing options to find books faster
  • Support for eBook highlights and annotations
  • Custom lists for tagging books you love and want to read
  • Direct support for everyone provided by OverDrive

You can access OverDrive from this blog post or from our Databases page.
Contributed by Librarian, Ana Naumann.

Transforming Our World: Art & Self-Care

Library Art Gallery, Previous Exhibits, Virtual Event

 


December 3rd at 3:00 p.m. – Virtual Panel on Art and Self-Care
[Cover image: Marcelina Gonzales, Summer of ’97 and El Show de Cristina, Oil tinted resin collaged on wood, 18.5 x 23.5 x 3 in., 2019.]

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery presents “Transforming Our World” a series that examines the ways in which physical and social changes to our environment have influenced the work that some artists create. Each first Thursday of the month at 3 p.m., the library will produce a lecture that discusses the many facets of our surroundings that impact each of us: our natural environment, the upcoming election, social movements, and personal health. Each conversation will connect a visual artist whose work has been influenced by these changes with other professionals and will include both local and non-local perspectives.

On December 3, 2020, at 3:00 p.m., Aimaloghi Eromosele, Community Organizer, Esther Garcia, Librarian, Marcelina Gonzales, Visual Artist, and Gina Otvos will discuss self-care and personal health in a virtual panel. In today’s climate regarding Covid-19 and social distancing, a lot has been said about the term “social” and “distancing” and how inadequate that term is to describe where we’re at. Not only are we physically distant, we are also socially unable to connect easily considering the hoops it takes to set up a digital hangout. What does the work of connecting mean today? Are there processes we are losing? Can we rebuild those social connections? Can we do it through art or creative expression? Does community play a role in self-care? Join us to explore these topics.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage student understanding of art and its role in culture, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information, contact gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryartgallery.

 

Explore JoVE

Databases, Our Collections, Research
Database Spotlight

Database Spotlight


JoVE produces and provides science videos to help improve scientific research and education. Scientists, educators and students at a wide range of universities, colleges, hospitals and biopharmaceutical companies worldwide use JoVE for their research, teaching and learning. JoVE films videos at the world’s top scientific institutions showcasing cutting-edge experiments enabling efficient learning. The JoVE educational videos empower effective teaching of science concepts and laboratory methods in undergraduate and graduate courses at universities and colleges.

What does JoVE  provide?

  • Produces thousands of new videos every year
  • Videos enable quick in-depth comprehension of complex STEM subjects
  • Helps increase student engagement and learning outcomes
  • Supports innovative teaching initiatives (i.e., flipped classroom)
  • First and only peer-reviewed scientific video journal
  • Publishes more than 100 new videos each month

You can access JoVE from this blog post or from our Databases page.
Contributed by Librarian, Ana Naumann.