Library Services & Support for Faculty

Contacting Us ~ Instructional Options ~ Books & Articles ~ Program-Related Guides/Pathfinders ~ Collection Development ~ Reserves ~ Professional Development & Research ~ Accreditation Support ~ Cameras, Scanners, Computers... ~ FAQ

Welcome to the Library! We have a wide range of materials and services to help you and your students.

Please feel free to call or ask us for assistance. We look forward to assisting you and your students.

Relevant Links:

Contacting Us

Please feel free to call, email or drop by the Library:

Instructional Options

Library Instruction Competencies

Our librarians can present detailed library orientations/information literacy classes tailored to the needs of specific classes or assignments. Instruction sessions can be scheduled for a particular day or over several days. The librarians will tailor exercises and worksheets to meet your needs.

Students are much more interested in library sessions when they have topics and deadlines assigned prior to their library visit and the visit occurs just before they are ready to start their assignment.

Instruction sessions are offered during the hours the Library is open and outside of regular hours by special arrangement.

Please schedule as far in advance as possible. Time slots do fill up quickly!

Class sessions may include:

Our librarians will work with you in integrating information literacy into your class!

Instruction helps students develop search strategies, evaluate information, and use information effectively.

To request a class orientation or instruction, call the Reference Desk (214.860.2174) or fill out our Online Orientation Request Form.  It is best to talk directly to a Librarian so that details such as the amount of time required and expectations can be discussed and agreed upon.

The Library also provides a variety of print materials to assist students and faculty. These include:

Many of these are available online under TUTORIALS. Websites that provide directions and examples for creating a term paper with bibliographies are listed under MLA TIPS and EXAMPLES.

If you would like to bring your students to the Library during their class time, please check with the Library staff to make sure computers will be available. More than one class in the Library creates a very challenging learning experience for your students and others!

Books & Periodicals

The Library Catalog is available on campus or online, searchable by: author, title, author/title, subject, call number and keyword. Faculty can use their El Centro staff ID or driver's license to check materials out. Books can be checked out for 3 weeks and renewed for an additional 3 weeks.

Books owned by other DCCCD campuses can be requested by clicking on the REQUEST button. The book can be sent to any DCCCD campus library for pickup and returned to any DCCCD campus library. As soon as the book is available, we will call you!

You can also put a HOLD on any title currently checked out. As soon as the book is available, we will call you!

We have e-books! It is necessary to set up your NetLibrary account using an El Centro College computer. That is the only way NetLibrary can determine your El Centro status. To create an account, use the NetLibrary link from the Library homepage. At NetLibrary, click on "create an account". Once your account is set up, you can browse NetLibrary (through the DCCCD Online Databases) or search the DCCCD Library Catalog for e-books. This can be done on-campus or at home. You can check the materials out and read the materials at home or on-campus. NetLibrary books "check" themselves in, i.e., after the check-out period expires, you will no longer have access to it. NetLibrary allows printing 10 pages at a time. Public Domain e-books are also available. Check out the various subjects with our Web Links for ezines.

It a title is not owned by a DCCCD Library, you can request a title via InterLibrary Loan. It may take 2-3 weeks to receive the title. The Library will let you know when the title has arrived.

You can ask at the Library Circulation Desk for a TEXSHARE card , which allows you to walk in the door and check out items from any Texas public college. You can return the items to us and we'll return to the owning Library for you!

New Book Email Alert: Please let us know if you would like to be notified as we receive new books on topics or program areas of interest to you..

The Library subscribes to over 150 periodicals. The most recent issues are kept on display near the Reference Desk. Most periodicals are stored behind the Circulation Desk for 3 years. These are for in-library use only.

Approximately 30 online databases are available 24/7, either in the Library or at home. These databases are available via the DCCCD Libraries website or the El Centro Library website. Remote access is available 24/7. Remote access does require an ID number and password. Online video tutorials of the most popular databases are available for faculty and staff 24/7.

Faculty can also create request that the Library purchase a title.

Program-Related Guides/Pathfinders

Recommended subject headings, reference books, databases, and websites are included in each Guide. Also included is a listing of periodicals relevant to the subject area.

Please let the Librarians know if you would like a customized Guide for your class!

Collection Development

We appreciate and want your recommendations for titles (books, periodicals or videos) we should purchase that support your program area. You can call (214.860-2174) or stop by the Library

Please let us know what instructional topics you will be covering over the semester. We will identify and purchase supplemental materials, identify relevant databases and/or websites that will assist you and your students.

Reserves

Personal and library materials may be placed on reserve for two hours or three-day access.

Repeated use of copyrighted materials (beyond one semester) not owned by the College require that the instructor obtain permission from the copyright holder.

Many students have a difficult time purchasing textbooks at the beginning of the semester. The Library does not purchase textbooks but we encourage faculty to leave a copy of their textbook on Reserve in the Library for students to use.

There is a 24-hour turnaround time for placing materials on Reserve. NOTE: Please allow a 3-day turnaround time for the first week of class.

Additional information on Reserves is available, along with an Online Reserves Request Form.

Professional Development & Research

El Centro subscribes to the Chronicle of Higher Education and The Community College Journal.

The Library also has books related to:

Our librarians are available to assist you in database searching.

Education-related databases include:

The Library Web Links or Faculty Quick Links  provide links to professional education-related websites.

Notify Linda Baker (by email at lindabaker@dcccd.edu or by phone at 214.860.2175) if you wish to receive the online daily news summaries from the Chronicle of Higher Education. The full-text of the Chronicle of Higher Education may be accessed in the Library.

Accreditation Support

The librarians can assist you in obtaining statistics and in reviewing the current collection for accreditation purposes.

Cameras, Scanners, Computers...

The Library has several digital cameras available for faculty/staff class preparation and official school use checkout.

The Mobile Electronic Classroom provides 16 wireless laptop computers to be checked out to your classroom.

The Library has one scanner available.

Web design and image editing can be done on any Library classroom computer, using Macromedia Studio (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash), Photoshop and Illustrator.

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Reference/Information Desk: 214-860-2174         Circulation: 214-860-2175
Comments or suggestions are welcome.
©2006    El Centro College Library    Dallas, TX
Last Updated: February 6, 2007