JTCC Reads Campaign 2020: Pick Our Spring ’21 Read!

Starting in the spring of 2021, the Center for Teaching & Learning and the Tyler Libraries will launch JTCC Reads, a college-wide read of a single book to spark discussions with one another.  This program is designed to create deeper connections within the Tyler community.  We hope to inspire conversations and deeper reflection from the book's topics, ideas, and experiences to better our commitment to student success, equity, and inclusion.  These discussions will also enable us to expand our vision and become more knowledgeable about our students and our colleagues. Before we launch…continue reading →

Interview With Virgil the Skeleton: A JTCC Libraries Exclusive

Virgil the Skeleton has been a quiet presence at JTCC Libraries for years. A skeleton of few words, he was often found helping nursing students with their anatomy classes. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, though, Virgil found himself looking for a new purpose. Classes had gone online and library materials (including Library Skeletons) weren’t being checked out. He started feeling quite lonely and a bit lost. Despite the challenges he was facing, Virgil eventually found a new calling in a most unexpected area: social media. Though he’s still seen in the library on…continue reading →

Welcome to Fall 2021, Part 1

Welcome back, Trailblazers! Fall 2021 is upon us, and the library is excited to see our students again! We know a lot has changed recently, so I’ve written up a two-post blog series with important information to help make your visits to the library a success!   Hours Mon – Thurs: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM Fri: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMSat. and Sun.: Closed Any changes in library hours will be posted on the library website and the library Instagram.  Masks Per the college’s requirement, everyone is required to wear a mask when inside a college building, regardless of…continue reading →

#WorthReading: Fantasy – A Game of Thrones

When people think of fantasy, they often think of dragons, damsels in distress, and knights in shining armor. There is little doubt in my mind that George R. R. Martin’s book A Game of Thrones most certainly delivers, but with a dark twist. The dragons haven’t been seen in over a century, the damsels are scheming and can rescue themselves, and the knights are often more devious than chivalrous. In the land of Westeros, where A Game of Thrones takes place, there are few happy endings, and it is perhaps that gritty and cut-throat atmosphere that makes this…continue reading →

#WorthReading: Fantasy, Part 1

Readers, I have a confession to make: I love fantasy. Some people prefer logic and facts while others prefer spaceships and galaxies that are far far away. I, however, like magic and mythology. I love the creativity that comes with inventing your own world, the what ifs that go along with the spells and potions, and the “dude, that’s so cool” that comes with the supernatural. It’s not just the content of the books that I love so much, though. Fantasy as a genre has such a rich history, though there are those who write it off as complete drivel. I would remind…continue reading →

Pride Month: LGBT+ fiction for YA

Young adult fiction is often a reflection of the times, and as such, is always growing and changing as it morphs to accurately represent the population it features. It’s a voice for younger people who are discovering and developing their identities, has recently seen an overdue and welcome expansion of representation. Previously under-represented populations are being featured in books of their own, and such is the case with the LGBT+ community. Publishers Simon & Schuster and Alfred A. Knopf - who work heavily with YA books - say that while they don’t keep…continue reading →