Our primary goal of the Sekula Memorial Library is to provide free resources for information, education and recreation that will enrich and enhance the lives and minds of our community.
For more information please contact the library at (956) 383-6246.
Art and Literature
ArtsEdge – The Kennedy Center instituted ArtsEdge in 1996 to embrace their responsibility as the nation's premiere cultural resource since 1971. This website acts as its educational media arm, reaching out to schools, communities, individuals and families with printed materials, classroom support and Internet technologies.
Goodreads – Goodreads has book reviews on all sorts of books. Users can browse books by genre, or search for specific books. There is also the ability to see what users enjoy, a list of the “Goodreads Choice Awards,” and a searchable list of quotes (both taken from books as well as by just straight from a person).
Sync – During the summer, Sync allows users thirteen-and-up to download two free audiobooks a week over a period of thirteen weeks. Books can only be downloaded during the week they’re available, and teens can keep the audiobooks once they are done with them.
Teen Ink – Teen Ink is a magazine, book series, and website where most of the content is created by teenagers from around the world; there are no staff writers or artists. Both fiction (such as action and adventure, historical fiction) and nonfiction (including sports, travel and culture) are viewable on the website, as is poetry and art. There is also a summer guide which lists summer programs and camps, and a college guide which has not only information on colleges, but a collection of college essays teens can view.
College and Career
BigFuture – A free comprehensive web resource that improves the college planning process. Explore your own interests and make decisions about college utilizing easy-to-use and intelligent search tools. There are also videos that will help you find, afford and enroll in a college that’s a good fit for you.
Federal Student Aid – The Official U.S. Department of Education website, this contains information of the FAFSA, grants, scholarships, student loans, and work study. It also has information about choosing a school, budgeting, and contains for resources for parents as well.
Young Workers – The OSHA website for young workers. This site includes the rights of young workers as well as the responsibilities of employers. Information is also posted on hazards that might be found in a variety of different occupations (including grocery stores and food services), real stories of young workers who were injured on the job, resources for young workers, and OSHA contact information to report unsafe conditions.
General Education
STC Research Guide – South Texas College Library's guide to research and report-writing. There are also special guides which include Copyright & Fair Use, Government Websites, News & Current Events, and Writing & Citing Sources.
Study Guides and Strategies – The Study Guides Web site is an independent, learner-centric educational public service that has been helping learners succeed since 1996. We have enjoyed collaborative projects across institutional, cultural and national boundaries.
UTRGV Research Guide – The University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley Research Guide includes a variety of subjects such as English, Math, Chemistry, History, etc. There are also library links such as the Library Catalog, Copyright Support, and Special Collections and Archives.
Watch Know Learn – Connects students and teachers to thousands of educational videos, with subjects ranging from math and science to arts and history. WatchKnowLearn has a dedicated team of teachers and educational professionals who provide oversight of the videos recommended by our diverse user population.
Health and Wellness
Crisis Text Line – Crisis Text Line is a free, 24/7 crisis support service where those needing help can text and reach a trained counselor. The website contains information about reaching a crisis counselor, how to volunteer or join the staff, and additional resources.
NSTeens.org – Created through a partnership between Sprint® and the Internet safety experts at NetSmartz® Workshop, a program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®. Through animated videos, short films, games, and interactive comics, NSTeens teaches tweens and teens about making safer choices online.
Teen Line – Teen Line is a confidential hotline for teens staffed by teens who have received specialized training; the teen staff will understand and listen, but not judge. Talking and texting are both options. The website itself has online resources, a blog, and a message board that teens can access.
Teens Health – From Nemours, a nonprofit children's health system, aims to give you the tools and confidence to make the best health choices. It includes doctor-reviewed advice on hundreds of physical, emotional, and behavioral topics as well as easy-to-follow articles, slideshows, videos, and health tools.
History, Geography, and Biography
Biography.com – Biography.com captures the most gripping, surprising and fascinating stories about famous people. With over 8,000 biographies and daily features that highlight newsworthy, compelling and surprising points-of-view, we are the digital source for true stories about people that matter.
CIA World Fact Book Online – Provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. Our Reference tab includes a variety of maps, Flags of the World, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map.
Stuff You Missed in History Class – This website is associated with a podcast of the same name, covering a variety of history topics. Podcast and associated materials can be browsed by topic (15th Century History, Native American History) or users can search the website, and the hosts take suggestions on topics that they will cover in future episodes.
Math and Science
CK-12 – Contains information on STEM topics (though there is some information on writing, spelling, and history), user can browse by subject (algebra, biology, physics), or search for specific topics. Users can create an account, or log in with Google or Facebook, but it isn’t required.
Movies and Video Games
Common Sense Media – This website has information on different books, movies, and video games. There are ratings posted by kids and parents, and there’s a guide to movie content (contains positive role models, language, violence, etc.). Most reviews are text, though there are some video reviews.