The NIACC Library A Handbook

Librarian.......................................................Karen Dole
Circulation Assistant...................................Deborah Kolb-Jackson
Library Serials Assistant............................Kim Kraus
Interlibrary Loan Assistant.........................Cindy Eyberg

When is the Library Open?

Fall and Spring Semester

7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ....................................Monday - Thursday
7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ....................................Friday
Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays

Summer Term II (June-Mid July)

7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ...................................Monday - Thursday
7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ....................................Friday
Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays

Summer Term I (May) & Term III (Mid July-August)

7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ...................................Monday - Friday
Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays

Breaks

7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ....................................Monday - Friday
Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays

Top of page Return to NIACC Library Home Page Return to NIACC home page

How do I access the NIACC Library web page?

The library web page's URL is: <http://www.niacc.edu/library/> or go to the NIACC web page and click on NIACC Library under Departments.

What do I need to do to check out library materials?

Please pick up your student identification card in Student Services and bring it to the library circulation desk to be activated for library use. Your identification card (I.D.) must be presented to the library staff each time you check out any materials. IMPORTANT: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MATERIALS CHECKED OUT ON YOUR CARD. Be careful about loaning your card to anyone else. Report the loss of an I.D. card to the circulation desk immediately. Obtain a new one from Student Services. Anyone from the North Iowa area may obtain a temporary borrower's card to use the NIACC Library.

What is the Open Access Program?

NIACC is a participant in the Iowa Open Access Program. This means that anyone who has a library card from another participating library may use that card to check out materials from the NIACC Library. NIACC students may also use their student ID to check out materials from other participating libraries. Materials borrowed from other participants may be returned to the NIACC Library and will be mailed back to the original lender. Ask the library staff for more information about this program.

How long can I keep this book?

General Circulation

The majority of the books in the open stacks may be checked out for three weeks. A few, such as children's and quarto (oversized) books, are on one-week checkout. Renewals are granted for a three-week book unless another person has requested it or it is to be placed on reserve. Items may be renewed by calling the library, by stopping at the circulation desk, or by accessing your patron account from the online library catalog (see Accessing Your Patron Account below).

Reserve Books

Your instructors may place certain material on reserve to be held at the circulation desk. Ask the library staff for your choice by instructor name, author, and title. The instructor determines the checkout period for the item. They cannot be renewed. CLOSED RESERVE books are checked out only for use in the library. One-day reserve books may be checked out at any time and are due back by the end of the next day by closing the following school day; one-week books check out for a week.

Reference Books

Because of their high cost and frequent use, reference books don't normally check out of the library. Ask about free photocopying of reference materials.

Top of page Return to NIACC Library Home Page Return to NIACC home page

How can I find materials in the library?

The library's Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) is used to find books, media, and other materials in the library. It is available on three terminals in the library and from computers both on and off campus through the library web page

How to Use the PAC (Public Access Catalog)

Searching:

The PAC provides access to library material by using a computer to search by title, author, subject, or keyword. Keywords are words or phrases that appear in the title, author's name, or subject heading of a work. There are several search modes available.   To locate a book, periodical or non-print item in the PAC, follow the instructions on the computer screen. If the search screen is not showing, click on the black Search tab at the top of the screen. The system defaults to the Keyword Search screen. You may search from there or choose another search mode by clicking on the appropriate black tab under the Polaris logo.

A Keyword Search looks for the text you type anywhere in a field you choose. You can limit the search by selecting Title, Author, Subject, etc., from the drop-down menu.

A Browse Search looks for the word(s) you typed in and brings up a list of results that begin with similar word(s). You can then scroll forward or backward through the index. Title is the default, but you can also search by other fields. As with the Keyword Search, you can also select library databases or open search options. This search is helpful if you aren't sure how to spell the word you're looking for or searching for a specific author (last name first) or title.

An Advanced Search allows you to construct a complex keyword search by combining search terms and focusing the search in specified ways by letting you fill in blank to connect words by using the Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT. You can also use the drop down menus to search specific fields, such as author title, and subject. Additional search options include: publication date, format, material type, target audience, and language. You can choose how you want the results to be sorted. When ready, click on the Perform Search button at the bottom of the screen to execute your search.

Viewing Search Results:

Once you have completed a search, the results show up in a list that can be sorted by author, title, publication date, most popular, or call number. On the left, a dashboard shows Related Subjects and Other Searches that are available. The entry includes brief information about the item. It also indicates the number of items the library owns and the number that are available for checkout. Click on the Detailed Information link to get complete information about the item. The Enrich Data link may provide reviews and other useful information. A globe icon to the right of the title indicates a link to more information about the item or to the full-text of a NetLibrary electronic book.

Click on Add to Title List to compile a list of items to print out in a bibliography. You can also place a Hold Request for the book by clicking on Place Request (you will need to long in to your Patron Account to place a request.

Accessing Your Patron Account:

Your library account shows your registration data, hold requests, items you have checked out, and fees you owe. You can check your registration information or change your password, place holds on books, and renew items. You can also request a reading history or search list.

To Log On to Your Account:

1. Click on Patron Account tab at the top of the PAC screen.
2. Click in the Barcode Number window and type your student ID number (or the library-assigned barcode number on the back of your
     library card.
3. Click in the Password window and type your password. (Contact a library staff member if you don't have your default password).
4. Click on Log On.
5. When finished using your account, be sure to LOG OUT. Otherwise, others will be able to view your account information.

Check Your Account Information: Log on to your account. Check over your personal information to make sure everything is correct. If you find something that needs to be changed, contact the library staff. They will make the changes for you. Click on Log Off when finished.

Check to See What You Owe: Log on to your account. Click on Fines and Fees tab. Click on Log Off when finished.
NOTE: the library does not charge fines for overdue items, but replacement and processing fees are charged for lost and non-returned items. See elsewhere in the Handbook for an explanation.

To Change Your Password (be sure to do this as soon as possible after our barcode is activated by the library staff)

1. Log on to your account.
2. Click on Change Password.
3. Type your current password in the Old Password window.
4. Type your new password in the New Password window. (You can use 8 to 16 characters. Be sure to use a combination of upper and
      lower case letters, numbers, and non-alphabetic characters).
5. Type your new password again in the Verification window.
6. Click on Submit.
7. Click on Log Off when finished.
8. If you forget your password, contact a library staff member to have it reset.

View and Renew Items Out:

1. Log on to your account.
2. Click on Items Out.
3. To renew all items, click on Renew All Items. To renew a single item, click in the box next to the item and click on Renew Selected
      Items. Reserve materials and audiovisual items cannot be renewed.
4. Click on Log Off when finished.

View or Cancel a Hold Request:

1. Log on to your account.
2. Click on Requests. A list of your hold requests will appear.
3. To cancel a hold request, click on the box next to the item, and click on Cancel Selected Holds. To cancel all requests, click on Cancel
      All Holds.
4. Click on Log Off when finished.

For more information about using the PAC, click on this link.

Top of page Return to NIACC Library Home Page Return to NIACC home page

Besides books, what other materials can I locate in the PAC?

Pamphlet Files

These files are in the tan four-drawer file in the reference section. They include the Vocations File and Social Issues Resource Center. The file name will appear in the call number of the item record in the PAC. The Vocations File includes several career information services. It is on three-week checkout. Items are listed in the PAC by subject. The Social Issues Resource Center contains pamphlets and other items on social issues. They can be signed out on the clipboard sheet near the file cabinet.

Audio-Visual Materials

Audio-visual materials are listed in the PAC. They can be a good source of information for research, especially primary source material. their call numbers are different from books and indicate the type of material. These include: filmstrips (FS), kits (KIT), videotapes (VT), DVDs (DVD), slides (S), and audio books (AB),

These resources are housed at the circulation desk. Ask a staff member for the one you wish to use. Equipment on which to use this type of material can be found in the media area, around the corner from the newspaper stand. Cassette players, earphones, and calculators can be checked out at the circulation desk.

What special book collections does the library have?

The "Q" Collection

Oversized books are kept on special shelves at the end of the book stacks. The collection code for these books is "Oversize" in the PAC entry (availability) and they are marked with a "Q" in the call number.

The Children's Literature Collection

These books are for use by the Children's Literature classes. The Agency Code is Children's Lit. They are located in the northwest corner of the library. The books are separated into Y-fiction, Y-nonfiction, YE (picture books), and YA.

The Reference Collection

Although every book is potentially a "reference" book, those which are of particular value, because they are comprehensive, compact, and conveniently arranged, are general separated into the reference collection. They have an "R" in front of the call number in the library catalog. Reference problems are best approached with some idea of the kinds of books that are most useful in answering certain types of questions.

For information concerning words, their meanings, derivations, use, spelling, and pronunciation one would begin a search with DICTIONARIES. In addition to general dictionaries of the English language, there are dictionaries of slang, synonyms, and rhymes, as well as dictionaries in many subject fields, such as engineering, science, music, foreign languages, and history. Abridged English dictionaries can be found in the reference section; larger unabridged dictionaries are on stands throughout the library.
ENCYCLOPEDIAS furnish an overview of a great many subjects and usually give enough facts and bibliographies to lead the researcher to more detailed information. They can be found primarily in the R 031s.
Statistics, quick fact answers, and up-to-date information are more easily accessed in ALMANACS and YEARBOOKS, such as the World Almanac and the Statistical Abstract. These are found in the R 310s.
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARIES and regional and professional directories of business or professional groups will answer questions concerning specific persons or organizations, their addresses and vital statistics. These are found throughout the reference collection by subject area.
Descriptions of geographical locations are available thorough GAZETEERS, ATLASES, and GUIDEBOOKS, R910s. Many of these are located on the atlas shelves.
SPECIAL INDEXES, such as Granger's Index to Poetry, Short Story Index, and Play Index, are useful in locating items that are not listed separately in the library catalog. They index items found in collections or anthologies.

As indicated in the section on electronic resources, many of these reference books are also available in electronic format in the library. Credo Reference is an electronic database that contains over 500 eReference books. It is a good place to start an information search.

Top of page Return to NIACC Library Home Page Return to NIACC home page

How can I find magazine and newspaper articles on a particular subject?

A list of periodicals owned by the library is available and can be found on the library web page and in folders near the computer workstations. The list tells what issues of a periodical the library has and where to find them. If the title is followed by an M, it is located in the Main Room of the library (shelving located near the reference collection). If it is followed by an LO, it is in the Library Office. Current and back issues of some titles are held in various departments on campus. This is also indicated on the list.

Many magazines are kept on microfilm and can be located in the microfilm cabinets. A microfilm reader/printer is available nearby. Please ask for help if you are using these materials for the first time.

Current issues of periodicals are arranged alphabetically by title on slanted open shelves near the windows. They are checked out for one day only. Back issues of periodicals are kept for a specific period of time, varying in length. Bound back-issue volunes are loaned for one day only; other single back issues are loaned for one week.

The library provides access to a number of electronic indexes and databases. The collection of EBSCOhost dtabases includes Academic Search Premier, a full-text periodical database contaiing over 4,600 journals and other publications. EBSCOhost also includes a number of special subject databases, including ones on education, nursing, and other topics. Newsbank contains full-text articles from many major newspapers. There is also a list of full-text periodicals in the library's online databases.

What newspapers does the library receive?

The library subscribes to all area newspapers and the following local and national editions.

USA Today - daily
Investors Business Daily & Wall Street Journal
Des Moines Register - daily & Sunday
Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier

Top of page Return to NIACC Library Home Page Return to NIACC home page

What electronic resources are available in the Library?

Nine workstations with access to the World Wide Web are also available for faculty and student use. The library subscribes to several licensed databases, including the following:

EBSCOhost Academic Search Premier, Business Source Elite, CINAHL, Health Source: Consumer & Health Source: Nursing/Academic, ERIC, Professional Development Collection, PsychARTICLES, Vocational and Career Collection, Auto Repair Reference Center, Small Business Reference Center, and Newspaper Source Plus
Credo Reference
Des Moines Register (Proquest)
Issues and Controversies & Issues and Controversies in American History
Opposing Viewpoints in Context
FirstSearch
AccessScience
Encyclopedia Americana
LearningExpressLibrary & Career Guidance Center
LexisNexis Academic

The library also owns a collection of electronic books available through EBSCOhost Ebook Collection, Gale Virtual Reference Library, and several other publishers. These can be found by searching the PAC or by direct links on the library web page.

Most of the online databases do not require a password from a library or computer lab workstation. If you are not on campus, you need to use your NIACC username and password to access these databases.

The library's web page has direct links to all of its online databases. There are also links to a complete list of available databases by subject or title. For a description of each of the databases, click here.

The web page also has links to many government resources and databases, as well as other helpful reference resources on the Internet.

What if the library doesn't have the book or periodical I want?

Anyone who takes a class on the NIACC campus or works or teaches for NIACC or one of its partner institutions can borrow books and obtain photocopies of periodical articles from other libraries through NIACC Library's Interlibrary Loan Service. A nationwide computer network connects the library with many other libraries across the country.

Interlibrary Loan request forms are available at the circulation desk. Please fill out the form as completely as possible and indicate the date by which the material is needed. Be sure to allow enough time for the book or article to arrive. Requests for articles are subject to restrictions of the copyright law. Please feel free to use interlibrary loan whenever you need it. The material does not have to be related to your classroom assignments. The library pays for the cost of this service. Please see Cindy Eyberg or Karen Dole for assistance.

The library also provides access to the SILO Locator, a database listing materials located in many libraries across the state, and WorldCat, which lists materials available across the country. Both are available through the library web page.

Top of page Return to NIACC Library Home Page Return to NIACC home page

How much is it going to cost me if I lose materials or return them late?

While the library does not charge fines, written notices are sent to students having overdue materials. Students are encouraged to return materials on time to make them available for other users. Students are responsible for paying replacement costs, plus a processing fee, for items that are lost or not returned.

Charges for Lost Materials
Three-Week Books: Cost of book, plus $3.00 reprocessing
Reserves: Cost of book, plus $3.00 reprocessing
Magazines: Cost of material, plus $3.00 reprocessing
Photocopies: $1.00 minimum
Vocations File: $1.00 per pamphlet
Videotapes & DVDs: $10.00 minimum

Overdue and lost materials must be returned or paid for before a student may re-register in the college, get grades, or be issued a transcript. Long overdue items may be sent to a collection agency.

Where can I get help?

Please come to the library to study or to research subjects. All of the library staff are ready to help you with your library needs. Please feel free to walk into the library office and ask for help. Use the Ask-A-Librarian link on the library web page for other ways to get assistance. The library staff is never too busy to help students.

Use this map to assist you in finding your way around the library and locating materials. Library orientation sessions are available at the beginning of each semester; an online video version is available on the library web page. "Like" us on Facebook to get updates and links to some library resources. Return to the table of contents for links to more pages to help you in planning your research, evaluating resources, and using electronic databases. There are also links on the library web page.

The Library is Yours to Use

Please respect the rights of others to quiet study in the library. Conference rooms are available for group study. Cafe Bean is also a casual place for individual or group study. A coffee machine and microwave oven are available, and the area is wireless, so bring your laptop!
Please restrict food and uncovered beverages to Cafe Bean; please take or make cell phone calls in Cafe Bean or the hallway outside the ibrary. The library exists for you, so use it wisely.

DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION OF BOOKS

000 GENERAL WORKS 500 PURE SCIENCE

010 Bibliography 510 Mathematics

020 Library Science 520 Astronomy

030 General Encyclopedias 530 Physics

040 General Collected Essays 540 Chemistry

050 General Periodicals 550 Geology

060 General Societies and Museums 560 Paleontology

070 Journalism 570 Biology

080 Special Libraries & Collected Works 580 Botany

090 Book Rarities 590 Zoology

100 PHILOSOPHY 600 APPLIED SCIENCE

110 Metaphysics 610 Medicine

120 Special Metaphysical Theories 620 Engineering

130 Physiological, Abnormal & Differential Psychology

630 Agriculture

140 Philosophical Systems 640 Home Economics

150 Psychology 650 Business

160 Logic 660 Industrial Chemistry

170 Ethics 670 Manufactures

180 Ancient, Medieval & Oriental Philosophy 680 Mechanic Trades

190 Modern Philosophy 690 Building

200 RELIGION 700 FINE ARTS AND RECREATION

210 Natural Theology 710 Landscape Art

220 Bible 720 Architecture

230 Doctrinal and Dogmatic Theology 730 Sculpture

240 Devotional and Practical Theology 740 Drawings and Decoration

250 Pastoral Theology 750 Painting

260 Church Institutions and Work 760 Engraving

270 Christian Church History 770 Photography

280 Christian Churches and Sects 780 Music

290 Non-Christian Religions 790 Recreation

300 SOCIAL SCIENCES 800 LITERATURE

310 Statistics 810 American

320 Political Science 820 English

330 Economics 830 German

340 Law 840 French

350 Public Administration 850 Italian

360 Social Welfare and Institutions 860 Spanish

370 Education 870 Latin

380 Commerce 880 Greek

390 Customs 890 Minor Literatures

400 PHILOLOGY (LANGUAGE) 900 HISTORY

410 Comparative 910 Geography & Travel

420 English 920 Collective Biography

430 German 930 Ancient History

440 French 940 Europe

450 Italian 950 Asia

460 Spanish 960 Africa

470 Latin 970 North America

480 Greek 980 South America

490 Other languages 990 Oceanica and Polar

Top of page Return to NIACC Library Home Page Return to NIACC home page