LIBRARY SERVICES FOR E-LEARNING

Welcome

Alabama Virtual Library
Books by Mail

Locating Current Information
Ask-A-Librarian

Tutorials, How-To Tips, Instruction & Orientation
Inter-Library Loan and Other Libraries

Locating and Using Reserves
Non-Print Media and Equipment

Traditional Library Resources
Student Opinion Survey

Questions? Comments?

WELCOME

Welcome to eLearning services offered by the Shelton State Libraries. These services are available to students who are enrolled in eLearning classes at Shelton State but who are not concurrently enrolled in classes on campus. We hope you find everything you need to succeed in eLearning at Shelton State Community College.

As an eLearning student, your best bet is to search the library's Advanced Search Catalog (Encore), logging in with your name and library barcode. This will give you off-campus access to the greatest number of resources -- from ebooks to articles to information on traditional books and periodicals available on campus. If you do not yet have a library barcode, you may contact Glen Johnson or you may stop by the library on either campus. Establishing your account will take only two or three minutes.

Additional features available to you through login/barcode include:

Starting with one simple search box, you can find all the library has to offer.
Simple, easy-to-use design makes finding information a snap.
Cool Web 2.0 features -- like tag clouds -- help you focus your search by format, collection, subject headings and lots of other ways.
Google-like relevance ranking ensures the best answer rises to the top of your search. You'll see highlights of suggested titles, and best of all, no advertisements!
Great detailed information is now just a click away.
"Did you mean?" feature eliminates confusion and corrects common spelling mistakes.
Quick pre-selected links to the library's electronic and web-based resources.

TRADITIONAL LIBRARY RESOURCES

You may find more traditional library resources through the Advanced Search Catalog (Encore) or through the Classic Catalog for print holdings and request that an item in a traditional format (book, periodical article, pamphlet, etc.) be sent through the U.S. Mail.   Every effort will be made to place materials in the mail to you within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays when the library is closed and no staff are available). We can also hold an item for you at the main circulation desk on either campus so that you may pick it up in person. Please see Circulation & Reserves for more information on the library's circulation policies. Don't forget that college, university, or public libraries in your area may also have suitable resources to support your class work. And note that the catalog also includes links to a number of electronic resources, such as ebooks and recommended websites.

ASK-A-LIBRARIAN

The Shelton State Libraries cannot provide online reference services at this time. You may request reference assistance by clicking here for an email response to your reference question. We will attempt to answer your question by e-mail or fill your request within 24 hours (during regular library hours). You may also phone any librarian directly at the following numbers. You may wish to include a time to return your call if you leave a voice mail message.

    Mr. Bell                   205-391-2245 (evenings Monday--Thursday, 8:00 -- 12:00 Friday)
    Ms. Davis               205-391-2364 (day)
    Dr. Grimes             205-391-2233 (day)
    Mr. Johnson           205-391-2327 (day)
    Ms. Patterson       205-391-2228 (day)

ALABAMA VIRTUAL LIBRARY

Any student enrolled in eLearning classes at Shelton State Community College may access the Alabama Virtual Library from home, office, or other remote site. The Alabama Virtual Library provides online access to encyclopedias, full-text magazine and journal articles, and full-text reference tools.

Since this service is reserved for state residents or students, no online registration is available to the general public. If you live outside of the State of Alabama (or possibly near the borders of Alabama), you may access the AVL with a user account and password assigned by the AVL. If you live out of state and are currently enrolled in an eLearning class at Shelton State, simply contact gjohnson@sheltonstate.edu to request an AVL card. Be sure to include your name, email address, and mailing address in your request.

Technical Requirements:    Acceptable browsers are Internet Explorer 8 and higher, Firefox 3 and higher, Safari 4 and higher, or other standards compliant browser. If you are using an older version of these browsers you may experience formatting errors or broken pages. For security reasons you should always download the most recent version of your favorite browser. If you use AOL or Compuserve, you should log on to the Internet as usual but minimize your AOL or Compuserve browser and open up Explorer, Firefox, or Safari. Some databases in the AVL will work better this way.

BOOKS-BY-MAIL

If you would like to have a book from the Shelton State Libraries collections sent to you through the mail, please identify a specific book title in the online catalog and/or send an email request for books-by-mail . You must include the following information: Author of book, title of book, call number.

Every effort will be made to contact you within 24 hours (excluding weekends and college holidays when the library is closed). You may request up to three titles by mail at one time. Additional details may be required by return e-mail from a librarian. Please note that we may be able to suggest alternate resources if the title you request is not available.

You must be enrolled in an eLearning class to receive these services.   Enrollment in distance education classes will be verified; students who are concurrently enrolled in classes on campus and in eLearning classes are not eligible for this service.   All books-by-mail are due within five weeks. Overdue policies and fines are applied to books-by-mail as indicated in the Library Handbook on Library Debts.

TUTORIALS, HOW-TO TIPS, INSTRUCTION & ORIENTATION

If you would like assistance in learning to use library resources at Shelton State Community College or in searching the Web, click on one of the following links:
     SheltonLibWiki (for information on works cited, plagiarism, search techniques and more!)
     How to Evaluate Web Sites & Other Helpful Hints
For more information on searching through Internet and evaluating websites, go to Ways to Search the Web.

LOCATING CURRENT INFORMATION

There are a number of ways to locate current information online. Choose the source that best meets your needs or explore the possibilities until you learn which route to take for the kind of information you need.   See Magazines, Journals, & Newspapers for more detailed information. You may also find current information on the library's Quick Info page, with links to almanacs, statistical sources, maps, and more.

The following databases are available to you from anywhere, provided you choose Advanced Search Catalog (Encore) and log in with your name and library barcode. You will find links to these resources in the upper right hand column under "Articles and More."
    EBSCO Premier Sources
     Biography Reference Bank
     CQ Researcher
     Newspaper Source
     Opposing Viewpoints

You may access additional databases when on campus through the library's web page (see the main library web page at www.sheltonstate.edu/library).

LOCATING AND USING RESERVES

Instructors may place resources on reserve for class use. These resources, which can be located by using the online catalog, are currently available in person on campus (usually at the Martin Campus). Instructors in distance education courses generally provide links to electronic materials used to supplement online instruction. Students may also go to web sites provided by instructors; links to instructors' sites (also listed in the Faculty Website Directory) are usually included on the class syllabus or through Blackboard.

INTER-LIBRARY LOAN AND OTHER LIBRARIES

The Shelton State Libraries participate in an inter-library loan agreement with Lyrasis, within established guidelines. The Shelton State Libraries charge no inter-library loan (ILL) fees unless there are extensive costs (greater than $10.00 per item) for loaning or photocopying requested items. Borrowers, however, are responsible for ILL fees charged by other libraries. To request a book or periodical article from another library, click here to request an item by Inter-Library Loan (ILL).   Your email request must include the following information: name, email address, complete mailing address, phone number (with area code), title of item to be borrowed, amount you are willing to pay to cover these costs (i.e., $5, $10, etc.).

The item(s) will be requested and sent to you at the address you indicate in your message. You will be contacted in advance if there are borrowing fees charged by the loaning library. A librarian may suggest an alternate title on the same subject, which may suit your needs just as well, cost you less, and save you time.

Be aware that ILL requests sometimes take several weeks to fill. If you need a specific book for a specific purpose, this is a good choice. In most cases, you get better results by using resources available through the Shelton State Libraries or a college or university library in your vicinity. Most academic libraries allow anyone to use facilities free of charge. If you intend to use a library in your vicinity regularly while you are enrolled as a distance education student at Shelton State Community College, contact the Glen Johnson at gjohnson@sheltonstate.edu to see if special arrangements can be made to allow you to check out materials directly.

Click here for a sampling of links to libraries in the West Alabama area. You may also go to Google.com and enter the name of any college or university and the word "library." In most cases, this will lead you to the online catalog and other links about library services at that institution.


NON-PRINT MEDIA AND EQUIPMENT

The Shelton State Libraries do not have the resources to transmit or loan non-print media (e.g., videos, slides, etc.) to distance education students. Equipment is not loaned off-campus to any student. If you need resources of this nature, please contact your instructor for alternative assignments and/or solutions.


STUDENT OPINION SURVEY

Click here to participate in the eLearning Student Opinion Survey and tell us what you think! From time to time, the Shelton State Libraries run other surveys on the home page and you are encouraged to participate in those surveys as well.   Other opinions, comments, and observations -- particularly about library services to students in distance learning classes -- may be made to Glen Johnson at gjohnson@sheltonstate.edu .

Updated 2/19/12.