SWC Libraries Are Closed

SWC Libraries are closed from Saturday, December 9, 2017 to January 1, 2018.

The Library will be open for Intersession beginning January 2, 2018. 

Have a safe and happy winter break!

What are ballot measures? What do they mean for you?

Ballot Measures Database

The Ballot Measure Database is part of the much larger National Conference of State Legislatures website. This database "includes all statewide ballot measures, starting over a century ago" from all types of state elections: General, Primary, and Special.

New ballot measures are added to the database when they qualify to be listed on a state's ballot. They are marked "Pass" or "Fail" as soon as election results are available. Browse by State and/or Topic and limit by date. This is a very useful site for anyone interested in locating state issues that have appeared on a state ballot in the last 100 plus years.

Here is an example of recent ballot measures in California in the areas of drugs/alcohol/ and tobacco policy (Source: NCSL):

Cigarette Tax Increase Amendment

Proposition 56

Election: General - 2016
Type: Initiative
Status: Pass (Yes votes: 62.9% unofficial)
Topic Areas: Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Policy | Health | Tax & Revenue

Summary: Click for Summary

Increases cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with equivalent increase on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes containing nicotine. Allocates revenues primarily to increase funding for existing healthcare programs; also for tobacco use prevention/control programs, tobacco-related disease research and law enforcement, University of California physician training, dental disease prevention programs, and administration. Excludes these revenues from Proposition 98 funding requirements. If tax causes decreased tobacco consumption, transfers tax revenues to offset decreases to existing tobacco-funded programs and sales tax revenues. Requires biennial audit.

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Legalization of Marijuana for Adults Over 21

Proposition 64

Election: General - 2016
Type: Initiative
Status: Pass (Yes votes: 55.8% unofficial)
Topic Areas: Business & Commerce | Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Policy | Tax & Revenue

Summary: Click for Summary

Legalizes marijuana and hemp under state law. Designates state agencies to license and regulate marijuana industry. Imposes state excise tax on retail sales of marijuana equal to 15% of sales price, and state cultivation taxes on marijuana of $9.25 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Exempts medical marijuana from some taxation. Establishes packaging, labeling, advertising, and marketing standards and restrictions for marijuana products. Allows local regulation and taxation of marijuana. Prohibits marketing and advertising marijuana to minors. Authorizes resentencing and destruction of records for prior marijuana convictions

Winter Intersession begins Saturday

SWC Libraries are closed from Saturday, December 9, 2017 to January 1, 2018

Have a safe and happy winter break!

Extended Hours - Final Week!

Chula Vista Campus Library Hours:

December 4, 2017: 7 am - 9 pm
December 5, 2017: 7 am - 9 pm
December 6, 2017: 7 am - 9 pm
December 7, 2017: 7:30 am - 9 pm
December 8, 2017: 7:30 am - 2 pm

See you at the Library!

Website of the Week

California Center for Jobs and the Economy 

http://centerforjobs.org/profiles/ 

The California Center for Jobs and the Economy has expanded its interactive data visualization tool, “Data Profiles,” to include U.S. congressional districts.

Users can now obtain quick facts on the state of local economies for congressional districts. In addition, there are breakouts by county, assembly and senate districts, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz) regions, and workforce regions. The tool provides information on unemployment, labor force participation, industrial categories, and basic demographics.

Review by Tanya Carr, SWC Librarian

Tired?

Sleep in a little, then go jump start your day at the SWC Library! We are open 10 am - 4 pm this Saturday, December 2, so that you have time to study for your finals.

See you at the Library!

Check It Out

Check out a few books before you leave for winter intersessions! There are over 100 great titles to choose from in the New Books Area.

The Making of Black Lives Matter : a Brief History of an Idea
by Christopher Lebron
Oxford University Press, 2017
Call Number: New Book Shelf E185.615 .L393 2017

Started in the wake of George Zimmerman's 2013 acquittal in the death of Trayvon Martin, the #BlackLivesMatter movement has become a powerful and uncompromising campaign demanding redress for the brutal and unjustified treatment of black bodies by law enforcement in the United States. The movement is only a few years old, but as Christopher J. Lebron argues in this book, the sentiment behind it is not; the plea and demand that "Black Lives Matter" comes out of a much older and richer tradition arguing for the equal dignity - and not just equal rights - of black people.

The Making of Black Lives Matter presents a condensed and accessible intellectual history that traces the genesis of the ideas that have built into the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Drawing on the work of revolutionary black public intellectuals, including Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston, Anna Julia Cooper, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, and Martin Luther King Jr., Lebron clarifies what it means to assert that "Black Lives Matter" when faced with contemporary instances of anti-black law enforcement. He also illuminates the crucial difference between the problem signaled by the social media hashtag and how we think that we ought to address the problem. As Lebron states, police body cameras, or even the exhortation for civil rights mean nothing in the absence of equality and dignity. To upset dominant practices of abuse, oppression and disregard, we must reach instead for radical sensibility. Radical sensibility requires that we become cognizant of the history of black thought and activism in order to make sense of the emotions, demands, and argument of present-day activists and public thinkers. Only in this way can we truly embrace and pursue the idea of racial progress in America.

-- review provided by publisher 

We are open until 4 pm today!

Time to get prepared for Finals! We are open until 4 pm on Friday, December 1 and Saturday, December 2.

Friday: 7 am - 4 pm

Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm

See you at the Library!

Website of the Week

Global Net Neutrality Coalition

https://www.thisisnetneutrality.org 

The Global Net Neutrality Coalition is a collaborative initiative from over 35 worldwide organizations that joined forces to define universal net neutrality as such: "Net neutrality requires that the Internet be maintained as an open platform, on which network providers treat all content, applications and services equally, without discrimination."

The website can be translated into 15 other languages and features a map with the color coded net neutrality status of each country and more information of its laws when clicked on.

With Net Neutrality often being misunderstood and the FCC moving to repeal it soon, this serves as an informational starting point, as well as a guide on ways to advocate for it via the Model Network Neutrality Framework section. This particular section includes a 'Definitions' area that describes helpful terms (some we may even be familiar with but don't know the exact definition, such as 'internet traffic') to better understand how the internet works.

Review by April Ibarra Siqueiros, SWC Librarian

Open at 7 AM!

"Hey, didn't you say the Library is open extra hours this week?"

That's right -- we are open at 7 AM this week!

On Friday, we stay open late until 4 pm, and on Saturday, we'll be open 10 am - 4 pm.

See you at the Library!

Beginning Monday... Extended Open Hours

The SWC Library at the Chula Vista Campus will be open additional hours to help you prepare for finals!

EXTENDED HOURS

November 27 - December 6, 2017

Monday - Thursday: 7 am - 9 pm

Friday: 7 am - 4 pm

Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm

Closed for Thanksgiving Weekend

The SWC Libraries are closed Thursday, November 23 - Sunday, November 26 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

 Are you working on a research paper or presentation this weekend? Contact us our live chat service to receive live assistance from a librarian.

Ask us now!

Chat with a librarian

Free research assistance

Available for all SWC students

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

The Library will close early on Wednesday

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are open Saturday!

SWC Chula Vista Campus Library

Saturday Hours:

10 am - 2 pm

Need to catch up on your classes?

Tutoring in the Library is free! Make an appointment today.

National Novel Writing Month

Visit our display about National Novel Writing Month on the third floor of the Library... We have books, e-books, streaming videos, and more!

Have a question? Ask a librarian!

Extended Hours Begin Nov 27

Fake or Real?

Join us for 30-Minute Thursdays at noon in Room L-244. 

We'll be covering How to Detect Fake News this Thursday, November 16.

Bring your questions and see you there!

 

SWC Libraries closed on Friday

All SWC Libraries are closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans' Day. The Chula Vista campus Library will be open on Saturday, November 11, 10 am - 2 pm.

The Southwestern College Veterans' Resource Center is pleased to offer a variety of services in support of personal, academic, and career goals of veterans and their families.

The Veterans' Resource Center is in Room 345 (near the Veterans' Glen and Jason's Courtyard).
Give them a call at 619-421-6700 Extension: 6548, or stop by during open hours Monday - Thursday 9 AM - 6 PM and Friday 9 AM - 1 PM (closed on holidays).

What's a primary source?

Join us for 30-Minute Thursdays at noon in Room L-244. 

We'll be discussing primary sources this Thursday, November 9.

What is a primary source, and how can you find them? Ask your instructor if extra credit is available for attendance.

 

Veterans' Day and the SWC Veterans Resource Center

All SWC Libraries are closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans' Day. The Chula Vista campus Library will be open on Saturday, November 11, 10 am - 2 pm.

The Southwestern College Veterans' Resource Center is pleased to offer a variety of services in support of personal, academic, and career goals of veterans and their families.

The Veterans' Resource Center is in Room 345 (near the Veterans' Glen and Jason's Courtyard).
Give them a call at 619-421-6700 Extension: 6548, or stop by during open hours Monday - Thursday 9 AM - 6 PM and Friday 9 AM - 1 PM (closed on holidays).

Today! Career Workshop - FREE

Have you thought about your career path? What's the best fit for you?

Join us TODAY for a free workshop about learning more about your chosen career options! We will help guide you through finding salary information, job outlook, educational requirements, work environment, and much more!

What: Career Resources Workshop

Where: Room L-244
When: 12 pm, Thursday, November 2
Who: Anyone is welcome to attend this free workshop -- students, staff, faculty.
Cost: Free!

Have a question?

We can help!

Ask us now!

Chat with a librarian

Free research assistance

Available for all SWC students

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Virtually Fun

Step into a virtual world and test virtual reality gear to celebrate International Games Week on Tuesday and Wednesday! We'll be in Room L238N with some fun equipment to try out.

Tuesday, October 31: 9:30 am - 1:45 pm
Wednesday, November 1: 2:30 pm - 4:45 pm

BOO! Check It Out

Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween

by Lisa Morton

Reaktion Books, 2012.

Call Number: GT4965.M67 2012

Every wonder where the Halloween tradition originated? This book contains historical information about Halloween, along with an overview of present-day celebrations in popular culture.

Check this book our for 4 weeks with your SWC photo ID card! 

And have a safe and happy Halloween!

Career Research -- Join us Thursday!

Join us for 30-Minute Thursdays at noon in Room L-244. We'll be covering career research this Thursday, November 2.

Bring your questions and see you there!