It’s clear that the digital age is upon us, and information is moving faster than ever. Let’s take love letters and Valentine’s Day, for example. Although it is a holiday that lives in extremes (you either love to hate it or hate to love it) as soon as the Christmas decorations come down, stores are filled to the brim with pink hearts and chocolates for your love.
At its onset, the holiday we celebrate today may have been unrecognizable to many of us. The earliest versions of Valentine’s Day are believed to stem from a pagan holiday, Lupercalia, which celebrated fertility. Men and women were paired together when their names were drawn from a hat, and “valentines” were exchanged. (Hiru News, 2024).
Later, the holiday underwent a Christian makeover and was named for a Catholic priest whose deeds blur the line between fact and legend. Legend has it that when a Roman emperor outlawed marriage for young, able-bodied men, believing single soldiers served the empire better, St. Valentine secretly married lovers. He was eventually caught and executed, but not before penning a final love letter to his sweetheart, signed “Love, your Valentine.” (Salem Press, 2024).
From there, the holiday grew into a widely celebrated day of love and romance. People continued writing handwritten notes for their valentines until the invention of the printing press, which made mass production of such cards possible.
Fast forward to the late 20th century and the rise of the internet, and we see the emergence of email; a brand-new way to send a little e-honey. Declarations of love could now be shared not only with your valentines but also with 300 of your closest friends and family in the form of words, graphs, exploding GIFs, and much more. We no longer have to wait days or weeks to receive messages, and it is fascinating to think about how quickly the landscape of communication has changed.
At South College, we are committed to staying at the forefront of the digital age. All the resources and methods today’s students and leaders need can be found on our library website. Whether you are looking for inspiration from a 17th-century poet on the meaning of love or the latest research on stem cells, you will find it cataloged within our vast databases.
For example, I used our library database’s concept map tool to explore the history of Valentine’s Day. This is an excellent resource for beginning research on a topic. It generates a web of related topics that you can add to your search or expand into a new map with a different central focus. For visual learners, this tool is invaluable for connecting large concepts and data, enabling more holistic research. To access this map and other tools navigate to the library homepage, and under the search bar click “Advanced search”. You will find the concept map under “Research tools”.
So, this Valentine’s Day, while reflecting on how love letters have evolved over centuries, consider exploring the library’s resources. You might just find inspiration for your next declaration of love or your next big research project!
References
History of Valentine's Day, and why we celebrate. (2024, February 14). Hiru News.
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A782381925/STND?u=southcollege&sid=ebsco&xid=bb08259e
St. Valentine’s Day. (2024). Salem Press Encyclopedia.
https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=566eccea-c07e-3b31-b370-cb0109e82176
A new semester is upon us and that means it’s time for new classes, fresh routines, and another shot at doing things a little differently. Maybe you’ve already done the traditional spring cleaning - cleared out the inbox, reorganized your planner, or finally cleaned the binder that has been collecting all the spare papers. These small resets can be surprisingly powerful at clearing up mental space and resetting your focus. It’s not just your physical space that deserves a refresh, your study life might need one too. Thankfully for you, the library has you covered.
The South College Library is more than just a place to check out laptops, it’s also designed to support your academic success. Whether you want to build better habits, stay ahead of your workload, or just find a consistent place to focus, the library offers the tools and environment to help.
Rethink Your Study Environment
The foundation to strong study habits starts with your environment. Prioritizing a clean, quiet, and designated place to work can make it easier to get in the zone and maintain your focus. It also helps create a clear separation between your academic and personal life. If you're near a South College campus, you have access to library and resource spaces that can become your go-to study zone.
There are also great places to collaborate with classmates, building accountability and shared motivation - two things that are easy to lose midway through the semester. Check with your campus to see what study spaces are available, as some locations offer additional study rooms you can utilize.
Make the Most of Your Tools
The beginning of a new term is the perfect time to get well acquainted with the resources available to you, before you're buried in due dates. The library webpage includes many guides tailored to specific subjects, each program, and even some individual courses. These resources are designed to bring all the related resources together in one place so you are able to find credible, relevant information quickly.
Know Where to Turn for Help
If you find yourself stuck on something, do not wait! The Ask the Library chat button directly connects you to library staff for quick help with research or using resources. For more in-depth support, each program has a librarian assigned who knows your field and can meet with you in person or via zoom.
This spring, consider giving your study habits the same thoughtful refresh you’d give your physical space. You might be surprised by how a little intention now can lead to a semester that
feels more manageable, more productive, and a little lighter to carry. Whether you're on campus or working from home, the library is here to support you every step of the way!