10 Year Librarian Roxana Cruz Presents Coffee with Librarians at SMC
The first 25 students received free SMC Library tote bags as a welcome gift. This first time event was presented by the new library Department Chair Roxana Cruz who has been with SMC for four years in her 10 year career. Alongside Cruz, three librarians are also on SMC campus; Evelyn Chantani who coordinates the orders for books, Luz Badillo and Alberto Romero who are both first generation college graduates from UCLA.
Since the first month of fall semester is almost underway, it was important to Cruz and the rest of the team to have a chance to connect with new and returning students. They look forward to their interactions with students and have the opportunity to learn something new everyday alongside them.
The library is not just for academics, but can be a place for students to meet and have fun at workshops and events such as Coffee with Librarians. Students freely grabbed their donuts, breakfast bars, coffee, water and tea while connecting with their new peers.
“I want students to know about all the cool free services we have. Using their SMC login students can print for free … we have fun streaming databases online like Kanopy and Comics Plus … and we hold workshops,” said Cruz.
Another resource students have the opportunity to take advantage of are the private study rooms that can be reserved for 30 minutes minimum or 4 hours a week maximum. On the first floor of the library individual study rooms are available with a light, charging port, fan, a chair, and a table.
On the second floor of the library, group study rooms are available for students to work on group projects, team or club meetings or for friends to meet and have a private space to study and catch up. Two of these group study rooms hold 10 people maximum, while the others hold 8 people maximum. Reservations for all the study rooms (individual, group) can be booked two weeks in advance on the SMC Library website or the same day on a first-come, first-served basis using the QR codes on the doors of the rooms.
Santa Monica Public Library librarians Karen Reitz and Barbara Fleeman were also in attendance at Coffee with Librarians. Enthused with helping others in their 15 to 20 year careers, Reitz and Fleeman presented numerous pamphlets containing information regarding the workshops they present: Teen Book Club, Cozy Crochet Workshop, and Literacy and ESL Tutoring. As long as you are a California resident with an address, you are able to possess a free public library card.
“Libraries meet both needs (related to reading or studying/homework) … formats have changed but the core function of a library remains the same,” said Fleeman.
Through the Santa Monica Public Library, adults 19 and over who didn’t have the opportunity to graduate high school have the chance to receive their accredited high school diploma online for free.
On Mondays in the Youth Activity Room, students with younger siblings or children that need downtime for themselves, are able to send their child or sibling to toddler time at 10:30 a.m or baby time at 11:30 a.m.
Visit the Santa Monica Public Library located on 601 Santa Monica Blvd, to find out more about all the events provided for youth & families, teens, and adults.
The next event the SMC library will hold will be Nuestra América online on Thursday, October 2, at 11 AM.