We are open on Saturday!

Get a jump start on your work this weekend. 

We are open 10 am - 2 pm on Saturdays.

Library closed? We're still here!

Ask us now!

Chat with a librarian

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Free research assistance

Available for all SWC students

Are you ready?

There is a lot on the November 8 ballot! Be prepared and do your homework.

Here are some helpful nonpartisan voting guides to help you to prepare for voting day.

Remember, you don't have to vote on every proposition or every ballot item if you don't want to. The items you choose to vote on will still count.

Learn more about what's on the ballot:

Easy Voter Guide – English and Spanish: Pros/Cons and the impact of propositions on the state budget.
"The aim of the Easy Voter Guide project is to make nonpartisan information about why we vote, how to vote and what’s on the ballot accessible to as many Californians as possible."

Ballot.fyi: This site is run by a nonpartisan group, Citizen and Citizens. It provides concise pro/con summaries, along with specific examples. You will also find "further reading" links to newspaper editorials and opinions about the propositions.

Voters Edge: Plug in your zip code to see a preview of your local ballot, along with nonpartisan, in-depth information.

KPBS Voter Guide: Here's another easy way to easily preview what will be on your local ballot, including nonpartisan summaries.

State of California Voter Information Guide: The state sends each registered voter household an official “Voter Information Guide” with detailed analyses and more information about supporters and opponents.

Have a question about your polling place? What ID do you need to bring? Find out the answers to those questions and more on the official California Where and How to Vote site.

Your voice counts.

Need to start that research paper?

Join us for 30 minutes to get all of the basics.

Library GO Training

Where: Room L-244
When: Thursday, October 27 at noon
What: Learn the basics about how the Library can help you get your research done.

Votes for Women

The SWC Library is proud to host an exhibit organized by the Women's Museum of California and the Friends of SWC Library:

A Moral Earthquake

 

Learn more about four San Diego women who worked to achieve women's suffrage in California in 1911.

The exhibit is available for viewing through November 10, 2016.

Taking a class at Otay Mesa?

The Library offers a variety of great resources for you!

• Research help from a Librarian
• Research databases, e-books, and books to check out
• Books delivered from main campus
• Textbooks for on Reserve (for some classes)

Otay Mesa SWC Library
Phone Number: 619-216-6750 x4424
Email: libraryom@swccd.edu

Fall Semester Hours

August 22 - December 9, 2016

Monday and Thursday: 9 am - 4 pm

Tuesday and Wednesday : 11 am - 6 pm

Friday- Sunday: Closed

Plan to vote? The deadline to register is Monday!

 Make your voice heard.

Register to vote online through the California Online Voter Registration. 
 The deadline is Monday, October 24, 2016. 
http://registertovote.ca.gov/

We are open on Saturdays

The Main Campus Library is open 10 am - 2 pm on Saturdays.

See you at the Library!

Website of the Week

Is this your first time voting? 

If so, you might have a lot of questions about the process of registering to vote, finding your polling place, and the methods available to vote.

Luckily for you, there is a website dedicated to helping students with the voting process. Campus Vote Project - http://campusvoteproject.org/california/ - provides state-specific voting information that is designed for students. With it, you can:

• ​register on time (October 24, 2016), 
• vote when you're supposed to (by or on November 8, 2016), 
• and find a voting method of your choice (mail, early in person, or on election day at the polls)

In addition, you can also use Campus Vote Project to get answers to tricky questions that only apply to students.

• ​​Can you register to vote using your permanent address or school address?
• Do you need identification? And, what kind?
• Will voting in California affect my federal financial aid?
• ​Does being an out-of-state student for tuition purposes affect my right to vote in my college community?
• Will registering to vote in California prevent my parents from claiming me as a dependent on their taxes?​​

You can make the difference. Vote today!

Review by Lauren McFall, SWC Librarian

Check It Out

October 2016 is Bullying Prevention Month! Did you know in the library’s collection there's a great title honoring this theme to check out?

 
Stand strong: you can overcome bullying (and other stuff that keeps you down). Author: Nick Vujicic
Publisher: Waterbook Press, 2013.
Main Library Stacks Collection Call Number: BT736.15 .V85 2013 

This book emphasizes that bullying is unacceptable behavior and provides strategies for responding to bullying in ways to rise above it. For example, the author shares the idea of creating one’s own bully defense strategy. Come to the library to see more Bullying Prevention-related titles on display this month.

Review by Arnold Josafat, SWC Librarian

What do you want to do?

Join us for a half hour on Thursday for Library GO Career Research.

What: Career Research -- What do you want to do? How will you get there?
When: Thursday, October 20, 12 PM - 12:30 PM
Where: Room L-244
Why: Now is a good time to start thinking about career options. Also -- check with your instructor -- you may be able to receive extra credit for attending!

Only one week left!

 Register to vote online through the California Online Voter Registration. The deadline is October 24, 2016.

http://registertovote.ca.gov/

Taking an online class? Hybrid class?

Join us for an hour!

These free, one-hour orientations are available to all SWC students. We'll be covering the basics of what you need to know as an online student. We'll also show you how to navigate the Blackboard course management system. Bring your questions!

Orientations are in Room L-244 on the Chula Vista Campus:

Monday, 10/17: 6 pm - 7 pm

Tuesday, 10/18: 9 am - 10 am

Falling behind?

Need help with your English, Math, Accounting or Biology class?

These are just some of the subjects we tutor on the 3rd floor of the Library. We offer 30-minute appointments Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM.

We also have drop-in tutoring available from 7:30 AM to 10 AM and 2 PM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday. On Fridays we have drop-in tutoring from 7:30 AM to 2 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Stop by the 3rd floor and get some tutoring today!

TODAY! Free 30 minute workshop

What's a primary source? How can you find one?

Don't just wander around, Library GO Training has the scoop for finding the best resources.

What: Primary Sources -- Learn how to identify them and find them
When: Thursday, October 13, 12 PM - 12:30 PM
Where: Room L-244
Why: Check with your instructor -- you may be able to receive extra credit for attending!

Prevent Bullying

October is Bullying-Prevention Month

Stop by our display on the third floor of the Library to see resources related to bullying prevention. The Library has full-text articles, videos, books, and e-books on this topic. Books are available for four-week check out with your SWC photo ID.

Taking an online or hybrid class?

Join us for an hour!

These free, one-hour orientations are available to all SWC students. We'll be covering the basics of what you need to know as an online student. We'll also show you how to navigate the Blackboard course management system. Bring your questions!

All orientations are in Room L-244 on the Chula Vista Campus:

Friday, 10/14: 1 pm - 2 pm
Monday, 10/17: 6 pm - 7 pm
Tuesday, 10/18: 9 am - 10 am

Ready to vote?

KPBS Voters Guide

http://votersedge.kpbs.org/

The November 8 Presidential Election is rapidly approaching and there are a large number of candidates and propositions to consider. One of the best sources of information on these issues is the KPBS Voters Guide. 


If you enter your zip code and street address and the site lists everything you can vote on based on your home address. It also shows you where your polling place is located.  You can go through the list of propositions and read  what each proposal is about, the pros and cons of the measure, and who financially supports it. 

The KPBS site provides a way to note how you want to vote on each issue that you can be printed out so you have a record of your decisions.

Review by John Stanton, SWC Librarian 

The deadline to register to vote in the November election is October 24!

Register to Vote

 

 

Website of the Week

 
We've all probably heard that the CIA is pretty good at collecting information; but did you know they'll share it?

The World Factbook is a CIA compiled database of covering 267 world entities.

The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. Our Reference tab includes: maps of the major world regions, as well as Flags of the World, a Physical Map of the World, a Political Map of the World, a World Oceans map, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map. (CIA) 

The site is searchable by textbox using country names, or a drop down menu, or even a scroll-over map. There is a User Guide located on the lower left portion of the top page. This will help users to compare regions and countries as well as including definitions and a FAQ section. Choose a country and check out all the information included. The site will highlight the country on the global map as well as a close-up map view. The flag and photos of the country are right there. Drop down menus cover information such as;

• Introduction
• Geography
• People and Society
• Government
• Economy; Energy; Communications
• Transportation; Military and Security
• Transnational Issues 

Would you like to know the address of your county's embassy here in the U.S.? It's here. How about how many people in the country have access to the internet? It's here. How about what percentage of roads in the country are paved versus unpaved? That's here too!

The last section on "Transnational Issues" gives the most current information regarding areas of conflict and unrest... maybe a good place to check prior to travel?

If you'd like to list the Central Intelligence Agency as one of your inside sources on your next paper, look no further.

Review by Sarah Way, SWC Librarian

Domestic Violence Awareness

The physical and emotional scars of domestic violence can cast a long shadow. Too many individuals, regardless of age, ability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, circumstance, or race, face the pain and fear of domestic violence. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we shine a light on this violation of the basic human right to be free from violence and abuse, pledge to ensure every victim of domestic violence knows they are not alone, and foster supportive communities that help survivors seek justice and enjoy full and healthy lives.

Presidential Proclamation -- National Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2016

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Thursday, October 20 is #PurpleThursday. Wear purple to show your support of Domestic Violence Awareness. For more information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, visit the
National Network to End Domestic Violence and the
Domestic Violence Awareness Project.

Resources

• San Diego Domestic Violence Resources -- a quick guide to shelters, hotlines, and other services. 

• South Bay Community Services 24 Hour Hotline: 800-640-2933 

• Sexual Assault Crisis Line and Referral: 888-385-4657

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233)

• San Diego Access and Crisis Line 24/7: 888-724-7240

Confidential Consultations are available for SWC students at the SWC Personal Wellness Services, Cesar Chavez Building / Student Services Center: 619-421-6700 Ext. 5279

Southwestern College Police Emergencies: Ext. 6691

Library GO on Thursday

Pokémon GO? Library GO!

Don't just wander around, Library GO Training has the scoop for finding the best resources.

Thursday, October 6, 12 PM - 12:30 PM in Room L-244 (Located across from the library's main entrance)

Did you know?

1790

Did you know that when George Washington was president, only white men who were landowners could vote? And did you know that at that time, 20% (or 1 in 5) of the total United States population were slaves.

1870

In 1870, the 15th Amendment passed, declaring state and federal governments could not restrict voting based on race. But there would be many bumps in the road until that guarantee was enforced across all ethnic groups in all geographic areas. Some of the techniques used to deter non-whites from voting included poll taxes, literacy requirements, violence, intimidation, and declaring certain ethnic groups to be non-citizens or ineligible for citizenship.

1920

It would take 50 more years to establish that women should also be provided with the right to vote in state and federal elections. The 19th Amendment was passed in 1920.

The SWC Library is hosting a display about Women's Suffrage, courtesy of the Women's Museum of California. Stop by to take in the history of four San Diego women who worked hard to achieve the right to vote for California women in state elections in 1911.

1971

More recently, in 1971, the 26th Amendment was passed, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

March for the right for 18-year-olds to vote, Seattle 1969.

Take a look at this Voting Rights Timeline (produced by NPR affiliate KQED) and see how voting rights continue to evolve today.

Not registered to vote yet? It's easy:

  Register to Vote

 

Sources

"American Presidents." (2016). University of Virginia Miller Center. http://millercenter.org/president

"U.S. Voting Rights Timeline." (2004). KQED: Public Media for Northern California. http://www.kqed.org/assets/pdf/education/digitalmedia/us-voting-rights-timeline.pdf 

"Voting Rights." (2012). Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. http://aaldef.org/programs/voting-rights/ 

 

 

 

 

Saturday Hours

The Main Campus Library is open 10 am - 2 pm on Saturdays.

See you at the Library!