COM Library

Campus is closed for labor day, but the online library is still open and we have loads of resources you can access online! And you can access them all from home, 24/7. Just login with your COM ID and last name.  * Millions of articles from scholarly databases like Gale Academic OneFile, JSTOR and ProQuest PowerSearch. See all our scholarly databases.  * Hundreds of thousands of current events and news articles from databases like CQ Researcher, Gale In Context Opposing Viewpoints, US Newsstream, World News Digest and lots more! See all our current events databases.  * Hundreds of thousands of eBooks from Ebook Central, EBSCO eBooks, OverDrive eBooks and more! See all eBook our collections.  * Tens of thousands of streaming videos from Academic Video Online (AVON), Films on Demand as well as other collections with streaming media.  https://bit.ly/4e61Eti

What is democracy? Who is free? Does it really matter if American democracy falls? In episode 1, we dive into the history of democracy, its birth and the United States’ unique take on this form of government. The episode looks at some uniquely American challenges that limit American democracy such as hyper-partisanship, negative partisanship, institutional constraints (gerrymandering, the Electoral College, voter registration) public apathy and cynicism, influence of money in politics, and the public’s media consumption habits. By looking at the recent past and failed democracies in other nations, the episode also explores what comes next if American democracy falls. Watch it now (56:43). For more suggestions on books/eBooks, articles and videos relating to democracy, check out the library's democracy libguide. https://bit.ly/3X9o99M

A: Great news! You can use OneSearch to find out what we have available. Here's how: OneSearch will search all of our databases simultaneously to see if your journal is available. Here's how: * In OneSearch, choose Journal Search above the search box. * Enter the title of your journal or ISSN. If we have access to the journal though any of our databases, OneSearch will list them and proved links.  * Alternatively you can browse by subject to see what full text journals are available.  https://bit.ly/3T9uUau

Did you know the library has a few textbooks on reserve that students can check out and use in the library?  Reserve textbooks are textbooks that teachers buy themselves and put on reserve with the library for students to use.  These books cannot be taken out of the library, but can be used while studying or doing work within the library.  Often, students will choose to use the KIC scanner to scan a chapter to themselves so they can continue studying from home.  Before you buy that textbook you need for class, swing by the library to see if we have yours.  The library has what you need to succeed!  Come see us today.   https://bit.ly/4dGJzCf

Citing is a crucial skill to have in academic writing. While it can look challenging the library has guides and books to help you learn how to navigate the different citation styles that you will need through your college courses.  The MLA Handbook is the official guide on how to cite all of your work in the MLA style. This guide will show you how to cite a book to a video you watched online, as well as how to correctly format your papers. Here is our citation guide for MLA style.  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association: the official guide to APA style will help you cite all of your sources in the most current APA format as well as formatting your paper. Here is our citation guide on APA style.    Get the book from COM Library. Want More? Get more resources by checking out our Citing Sources Guide. Also, see How to Use OneSearch to find even more resources.  https://bit.ly/3XlIlH9

zoterobib helps you generate citations and create bibliographies in all our top citation styles, including ACS, APA, Chicago, GSA, MLA and more, for free with no ads!  Go to How to Use zoterobib or see all our citation guides.  * Generate citations for our sources. * Automatically generates your bibliography, works cited or references page. * Automatically convert from one citation style to another. * Automatically generate a parenthetical (in text) citation for APA and MLA styles. https://bit.ly/3Mk2IxW

Do you like a good movie with a happy ending?  Watch a romance DVD! We have some classics and we have some newer titles - there's something for everyone to enjoy.   Not into romance?  No problem!  We have hundreds of DVD's to choose from in all categories.  Swing by the library today and take a look through the DVD collection.  Movies can be checked out by any staff/faculty/student with a physical COM ID. https://bit.ly/3yGtRbl

You're always on the go, so save time and money with these top free apps & tools. Go to the guide, or see more Student Success guides.  Here is a preview of top apps for COM Library resources: * Libby Get free eBooks on family, relationships, health, life after military, self-improvement, history, succeeding in college, literature from 20th and 21st century authors as well as leisure reading. How to Use Libby/OverDrive.  * Hoopla Instantly borrow eBooks, audiobooks, comics, music, movies & TV - 24/7 and FREE with your library card all within one app. How to Use Hoopla.  * Swank Stream feature films selected by COM faculty to support their courses from studios like MGM, Paramount, and Sony on your Android or iOS device. How to Use Swank.  https://bit.ly/4fNaJJc

Welcome to a new semester at COM!  The library has lots of books/eBooks to give you tips on how to manage your time, write essays & assignments and handle the stress college life can bring.  Books on these topics are on display now in the library.  Bring your COM student ID to the library today to check out what's available to help you succeed. Interested in more books/eBooks, articles and videos on related topics?  Take a look at the library guides on Psychology for Success, Writing for College, Grammar Basics and Algebra Basics. https://bit.ly/3AxianP

Welcome back! Come in and check out our back-to-school display in the library to view our display of books we have selected to help you have a successful semester. How to Write a Sentence and How to Read One by Stanley Fish. This book discusses how to identify what makes a sentence a good sentence. Fish also has chapters on the importance of a good first and last sentence of a piece of writing. Throughout the book, he provides samples from classic and popular works of the elements he is explaining.  Thinking Critically in College: The Essential Handbook for Student Success by Louis E. Newman. In this book, Newman teaches students how to learn, what critical thinking is and how to apply it to different aspects of college learning, and how to understand college assignments. How to Study in College by Walter Pauk and Ross J.Q. Owens. This book teaches students techniques on how to learn, retain, and explain information by giving them a foundation of study skills.    Ge

We've got lots of great resources just for you!  New! Real People. Real Help. 24/7. You asked for it, you got it! Now you can ask for help with research and citations 24/7! So if it is 2 in the morning and you need a source, head to COM Library and get started with Ask a Librarian! You will get help from real live people, and it's available from every page! During library hours COM Library staff will still be answering chats, but when we close real academic librarians working at colleges from around the world will hop online to help you out. They can help with all the same things that our library staff do, like helping you find scholarly articles, primary sources and grabbing citations.  The little orange chat but is gone! We never use AI or robots to help our students, so now our chat button makes it clear: Ask a Librarian!  Library Space We have lots of places to read, study, charge your devices, and even places to de-stress with puzzles, chess, ba

Available now for a limited time: the newest N.Y. Times Bestsellers that everybody's reading right now!  Give yourself some much needed self-care and let a book take you away for awhile.  Bring your COM ID with you to the library and take home a fun read to enjoy. Do you prefer to read eBooks?  Check out our eBook leisure reading collections at the links below: Libby/OverDrive BiblioBoard E-Read Texas hoopla (audiobooks too!) Happy Reading! https://bit.ly/3YO3db1

You asked for it, you got it! Now you can ask for help with research and citations 24/7! So if it is 2 in the morning and you need a source, head to COM Library and get started with Ask a Librarian! You will get help from real live people, and it's available from every COM Library page! During library hours COM Library staff will still be answering chats, but when we close real academic librarians working at colleges from around the world will hop online to help you out. They can help with all the same things that our library staff do, like helping you find scholarly articles, primary sources and grabbing citations.  And....the little orange chat button is gone! We never use AI or robots to help our students, so now our chat button makes it clear: Ask a Librarian!  https://bit.ly/4fNPLKc

Georgia O'Keeffe is one of the most iconic artists in the American art scene. Check out these books to see her collection of work.  Georgia O'Keeffe follows the artist from her childhood years, and through the different decades as she grew as an artist. The author focuses on O'Keeffe's journey as an artist as she struggled to find her voice and battle societal expectations of not only what type of artist she should be, but should she be an artist at all.  Georgia O'Keeffe: Canyon Suite is a collection of 28 previously unpublished watercolors painted from 1916-1918 during O'Keeffe's time as a teacher at West Texas State Normal College in Canyon, Texas.    Get the book from COM Library. Want More? Get more resources by checking out our American Art guide. Also, see How to Use OneSearch to find even more resources.  https://bit.ly/4fLdDOA

COM Library offers a number of services to our faculty. These include library instruction for classes, placing materials on reserve, selecting books, embedding a librarian in your online course, creating course guides and more. We encourage faculty to develop an active partnership with the Library so that together we can better serve our students. And don't forget, we have new and exciting databases this year, including JSTOR! Look for the Big Changes to Library Databases in the upcoming Convocation schedule. Here are some great new JSTOR guides to get you started.  * How to Use JSTOR * How to Use JSTOR Text Analyzer * How to Use JSTOR Understanding Series * How to Use JSTOR Workspace Meanwhile, we've created a series of pages just for faculty where you can learn more:  * Collection Recommendations for Faculty * COM Library Newsletter * Current Awareness for Faculty * Custom Guides for Faculty * Enhance Your Courses with Lib

August is Romance Awareness Month. COM Library has fun romance reads for everyone.  Bring your COM ID to the library and take some time to look through the romance books we have in our collections.  This is a great time to check out that new romance writer you've been wanting to try!   Remember to consider our online eBook romance collection offerings as well: Libby/OverDrive Romance Reads hoopla Romance Reads Biblioboard E-Read Texas Romance Reads     https://bit.ly/4fH0DJN

All borrowed laptops from COM library are due back this week.   Please do not keep the laptop because you need it for the fall semester - we will check another one out to you for next semester.  Fall semester laptops can be checked out with your COM ID starting on Monday, August 12th @ 2 PM. https://bit.ly/4fDU5LZ

Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh, PA on August 6, 1928. Today would have been his 96th birthday. In celebration of American Artist Appreciation Month and his birthday check out one of these books in our collection about the iconic artist.  Andy Warhol: Behind the Camera starts with an essay written by Stephen Petersen discussing Warhol's work with photography. Many people know him for his silkscreens. The book shows a small sampling of his photographs. The book is divided into polaroids, silver prints, and full-sheet prints.  Pop: The Genius of Andy Warhol was written by a former assistant and friend of Warhol. The book covers the artist's beginnings and nearly a decade of his life, 1961-1968, with each chapter dedicated to a year.  The author aims to show the true Warhol behind the legend surrounding his memory.    Get the book from COM Library. Want More? Get more resources by checking out our American Art guide. Also, see How to Use OneSearch to find even m

t Did you know today is National Coloring Book Day?  Get in on the fun! Come by the library with your COM ID and ask for a few coloring pages and some colored pencils.  Coloring is a GREAT way to unwind and let go of some stress.  You need that right now, right?  It's also just a fun way to spend time in the library. Celebrate National Coloring Book Day with us!  Can't wait to see you! https://bit.ly/3Wvwx3p

Founded by abolitionists in 1865, The Nation has long believed that independent journalism has the capacity to bring about a more democratic and equitable world. The archive includes perspectives on news, politics, and culture from writers, artists, novelists, and playwrights. The Nation Archive is a fully searchable online version of the magazine's complete backfile, offering a 150-year archive of reporting opinion and criticism. Here are some great articles from the archive. Login with your COM account for off campus access. *  Corporations and Monopolies, 1874 * "Labor" Having Its Fling, 1902 * Chronicle of the War, 1914 * Pineapple Politics (Al Capone), 1928 * “Social Security” Under the New Deal, 1935 * The McCarthy Method, 1950 * "Injustice" by Pablo Neruda, 1981 * Covid’s Deadly Toll, 2021 Want More? Search The Nation Archives, see al