LIBRARY CLASS SCHEDULE. Available for Spring 2008.

IMPORTANT! See the new Faculty Memo for Spring 2008 that explains our library class schedule and instruction program.

NEW! Here's a new page that may help as you develop activities for your class: Assignments that Help Build Information Literacy Skills.

CONTACTING US. Faculty and others can use our E-mail Hotline (richlandlibrary@dcccd.edu) to reach us with your questions, instruction requests, suggestions for purchase or any feedback you have. Be sure to include your phone number and the best time to call in case we need to speak with you directly. Otherwise you'll receive an e-mail response within 24 hours. To contact a particular library staff member or figure out who's the contact person for a service you're interested in, use the Staff Directory or Library Services. And, of course, you can always telephone us: Reference 972-238-6082, For everything else: 972-238-6081).

THINGS YOU'RE PROBABLY WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT. We can do things for you that can help with the teaching - learning process. For example: Put things on Course Reserve (books, articles, digital documents - yours or ours). Review your library related assignments. Set up an Assignment Alert cart. Advise you and your students with term paper process and format including bibliographic style (especially MLA). If you need a quick fact, call the Reference Desk (972-238-6082). Use the Request Form to recommend a book or periodical for the library. A few things you might think are done in the library are handled by other departments: Multimedia Production: The Multimedia Lab. Tutoring: The Center for Tutoring and Learning Connections. Reserving equipment and videos: Media Services. And here's a couple of hot tips about what we can't provide: 1) Textbooks (although we can put anything you'd like on reserve, including answer keys) and 2) Change to create printing/photocopying accounts.

LEARNING THE LIBRARY. The research we've been doing over the last few years shows that students who participate in the library instruction program are more likely to complete the semester than those who don't. To take advantage of this, consider requiring your students or giving extra credit for attending one or more of our Library Instruction classes. Though we don't reserve seats, you may want to check our Library Instruction Class Calendar. Other services can be located on the Library Instruction Program page. Notice especially: The Information Literacy Certificate Program, the Library Handbook, Ready made "Learn the Library" assignments and Research Tutorials. For a real hands on approach, bring your class to the library (do call ahead though 972-238-6082).

COLLECTIONS. Much to the surprise of many, we still have books and magazines, although there's no question that the most substantial part of our journal collection now comes in the form of subscription databases. For an overview of the 100 + databases we now have, go to our Online Databases page. Bring a USB flash drive or borrow a floppy from us when in the library (for downloading articles), or print, or email the articles to yourself. Especially notice Academic Search Complete with access to over 4000 scholarly and general interest periodicals. Use Serial Solutions to search for E-journals by specific title. The librarians have prepared a step-by-step handout to help you with this process. To find books and other media, use the Library Catalog.

PRINTING AND PHOTOCOPYING. Computer printing and photopies are 5 cents per page. Both computer pay-per-print and photocopying require students to create an account with a $1.00 minimum balance. Machines accept bills only. Library staff cannot make change. Accounts may be established in L122. Computer prints are retrieved in L123. Photocopiers are in L122. Copies of articles on microform are 10 cents per page.

EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, AND OTHER SERVICES. There are a number of benefits you and your students can enjoy, if you're willing to come to the library: an open computer lab with full access to the Internet and our own subscription databases, photocopy machines, group study rooms, laptop computers, and a flatbed scanner. . To request Media Service, call 972-238-6085 or 6086 or send e-mail (8media in Groupwise, rlc8620@dcccd.edu via Internet mail). And don't forget to check out the Richland Media Center (formerly known as the Telecourse Center) to find out what they can do for you. If you can't come to the library, there are still some things you can do from your home or office via the Internet, in addition to e-mailing us: Submit an Intercampus Loan (items held in the District) or an Interlibrary Loan (items not held in the District); place a hold on a book; learn what eCampus can do for you. If you want to borrow books directly from almost any academic library in Texas, renew your TexShare card at the beginning of each semester. Your students can do this too!