June 2021 – Mary and Jeff Bell Library Blog

Blucher Collection Highlights

Post author:Bell Library
Post published:June 25, 2021
Post category:General

The title of the Blucher Collection may be somewhat deceiving. “Charles F.H. von Blucher Family Papers” may not indicate to a researcher that other items exist in the collection. However, various artifacts can be found throughout the collection relating to surveying as well as everyday life in early Corpus Christi, TX. Paintings dating back to the mid 1800’s are among some of my favorite artifacts. Painting given as a gift to Felix von Blucher in 1845. A watercolor of Blucher…

Gathering Resources for our LGBTQIA+ Guide

Post author:Emma Drumright
Post published:June 24, 2021
Post category:Books & More News @ Your Library We Made This

Gathering Resources for our LGBTQIA+ Guide The Bell Library is currently working on expanding our Social Justice Resource guides to cover a wide range of topics. Our most recent guide is our LGBTQIA+ Social Justice Resources Guide. Below I ‘m going to walk through the guide to share more about how we have organized it and about the different types of sources we’ve gathered! Books & Online Resources These tabs contain resources, items, and services that we have right here in…

Creating Flowers in the I-Create Lab

Post author:Bell Library
Post published:June 18, 2021
Post category:Behind the Scenes Service for You Things to Do We Made This

This blog was written in May...but we figure June flowers can be just as pretty. Enjoy! As the famous saying goes “April Showers Bring May Flowers,” the I-Create Lab is looking at what "flowers" we can create right in our space. Enjoy a look at some of the ways you can utilize our space and equipment to bring your flowery creations to life. Cricut With the Cricut you can turn paper, or vinyl into works of art. We started with…

Happy Pride Month! Celebrate with Popular Reading

Post author:Trisha Hernandez
Post published:June 15, 2021
Post category:Books & More Today's Special

Happy Pride Month, Islanders!! For those unaware, Pride Month is celebrated across the nation every June. But why June? In June of 1969, a total of around 200 individuals (many were patrons of a popular Greenwich Village gay bar – the Stonewall Inn) rallied against routine police harassment against the LGBTQ+ community. It all began as a police raid of the bar based on false accusations. As police were arresting patrons and employees, those who hadn’t been grabbed yet were…

One Librarian’s (Very Personal) Opinion on GOP Lawmakers Wanting to Ban ‘Woke’ Philosophies

Post author:Alexa Hight
Post published:June 11, 2021
Post category:Behind the Scenes Library Randomness Today's Special

About a month ago, the Texas Tribune published an article on the Texas Legislature 2021: GOP lawmakers want to ban “woke philosophies” like critical race theory in Texas schools. The article briefly explains what critical race theory (CRT) is with “an academic discipline that views race as a social construct and examines how racism has shaped legal and social systems.” Sounds fairly reasonable, given the history of what are now known as the United States and recent events around policing of black people and other…

They’re Heeeere: Mosquito Season in South Texas

Post author:Bell Library
Post published:June 8, 2021
Post category:Library Randomness

You may have noticed, after the recent rainfall, the mosquito population has been booming. Swarms of the little bloodsuckers wait, ready to engulf you as soon as you step out of your car, home, almost anywhere outside. Here are some tips to prevent getting bit or to avoid these buzzing pests altogether. Thing’s mosquitos don’t like: Mosquito RepellentLemon eucalyptus oilLavenderCitronellaTea Tree OilCinnamon Oil Prevent mosquito growth: Get rid of standing waterClear debrisMosquito yard spray Protect yourself: Loose fitting clothingClothing that…

Haircuts at Home (Save Money and Look Good)

Post author:Bell Library
Post published:June 4, 2021
Post category:Library Randomness

Hey everyone! Shortly after we were asked to stay at home, a number of salons and barbershops began to close leaving us wondering when we’ll be able to get our next haircut (among other concerns, of course). During this time, I took it upon myself to understand what it takes to cut your own hair at home. At first, it was a very intimidating feat; but, after a couple of YouTube tutorials and step-by-steps, I was able to shape together…

Sharing is Caring: what librarians do when we’re stumped

Post author:Bell Library
Post published:June 1, 2021
Post category:Behind the Scenes Library Hacks

Where do you go when you need research help? The library of course! But where do librarians go when we need research help? Well, there’s a secret closet in the back of the library where an eternal flame exists. If we sacrifice an obsolete form of information preservation, say a CD-ROM or a floppy disk, we’re allowed to ask the flame one question. That’s how we learn new stuff! Just kidding, that’s not a real thing. Definitely don’t go searching…