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Services

Shelton State maintains two campus libraries to serve all students and employees, regardless of the program with which they are affiliated.   Library services are available to full-time and part-time students and employees.  Its holdings provide support for both vocational and academic programs offered by the College.

Students and employees may use either campus library.  Books can be checked out for three weeks.  Periodicals may be checked out for one week.  We do not charge overdue fines; replacement costs, however, apply to anyone who loses or damages items borrowed from the library.

 

All patrons must show photo identification and provide their A number to check out items.

All library materials, print and non-print, are listed in the online catalog.

 

Instructors who wish to rent AV materials or equipment must complete an Audio Visual Request Form.  Confirmation of booking will be sent to the instructor so that it can be scheduled accordingly.

 

Use of audiovisual and projection equipment must be scheduled in advance to insure availability.  Full information (e.g., title of audiovisual, equipment needed, room number, date, and time) is required for scheduling.  AV personnel are not available to remain in the classroom to supervise use of audiovisual equipment, but employees may ask for a brief training session for general equipment.

 

There are no viewing rooms for class use on either campus.  Individual and small group viewing is available on a first-come-first-served basis in the Brooks-Cork Library.

 

Most Library AV materials cannot be removed from the home campus without approval of the library staff.  Equipment may only be used for College-related activities.  ALL damages that occur when AV materials or equipment are off-campus must be repaired at the expense of the borrower.  Circulating AV may be checked out by students;  these items are located on shelves alongside books of the same subjects.

 

Instructors who wish to rent a film or video may complete a request form, which is available in the AV Office on each campus.  Confirmation of booking will be sent to the instructor so that it can be scheduled accordingly.  The library is not responsible for films or videos rented without prior library approval.

 

Copyright regulations limit the use of videos produced for the home market (and made available through local video stores);  classroom use does not necessarily constitute “fair use” under copyright regulations.  See Circular 21 from the U.S. Copyright Office for more information.

The library faculty seeks the suggestions and assistance of faculty, staff, and students in the selection of materials in the library. To make a suggestion, complete the Suggest a Title Form. Faculty members may simply provide a list of titles or a catalog with order information. The library faculty welcomes general suggestions for addressing weaknesses in the collection. Book requests may be made to any member of the library staff. When a new class or program requires immediate access to additional materials, requests for exceptions should be made to the Director of Library Services.

 

As more information is becoming available in electronic formats, the library is expanding its subscriptions and purchases of such information. Faculty requests are welcome. Internet/Web information is available in the library for research and information purposes.

 

Employees should be aware that ordering materials usually takes several weeks. If there is a specific need for a “rush order,” the Director of Library Services should be notified and efforts will be made to accommodate the need. The library does not order computer software licenses for other departments.

 

The library does not purchase current text books for the collection.

Academic reserves are managed through the library’s online catalog.  Almost any type of item (book, file, sample tests, periodicals, models, specimen, etc.) which meets library guidelines may be placed on reserve.  With the exception of College publications or resources for employee use, materials are placed on reserve at the initiative of faculty for the non-commercial educational use of students and must be directly related to the educational objectives of the College.  There are no charges for access to reserves.  Faculty who wish to place items on reserve may contact the library.  Reserves can be housed on either campus, depending on the instructor’s preference.  Copy machines are available in both libraries.

 

In general the following types of materials (and similar items) will be accepted for reserves at the request of faculty or staff:

  • Books, reports, periodicals, audiovisuals (and related equipment)
  • Practice or sample tests (see exclusions below)
  • Scientific models or specimen (e.g., rocks, minerals)
  • Copies of articles or chapters or portions of other printed matter which meet copyright guidelines
  • Complete issues or a journal or other periodical in which one or more articles appear (owned by the library or by the instructor)

Specifically, any items placed on reserve must be in the legal possession of the library or the faculty member who provided the item(s).  The library will make attempts to purchase items or otherwise help the faculty member secure copyright approval when necessary.  This may take some time because of in-house paperwork for requisitioning and paying copyright fees or purchasing books or periodicals.  The library is discouraged from providing text books in any capacity.

 

Faculty members are encouraged to use periodicals and other resources currently available in the Shelton State Libraries.  When necessary and possible, library staff will purchase individual issues and/or initiate subscriptions to provide legal copies of items that faculty wish to place on reserve.  Faculty members must provide enough advance notice to the library staff for handling such an order or purchase.  The library staff is also available to help faculty identify relevant readings for their classes.

 

Student works (e.g., papers, completed assignments, journals, etc.) are protected by copyright regulations.  Any student work that is to be placed on reserve must be accompanied by the written and signed permission of the student to do so (specifying name, contact information, title of item[s], statement giving permission, and dates included).

 

Instructors should bring items to the library at least twenty-four hours in advance of anticipated requests.  All items should be logged in at the reserve desk at the Martin Campus or the circulation desk at the Fredd Campus.  The information you provide helps the library staff understand how best to serve you and your students.  Please be sure to list a phone number and email address where we can reach you in in case there is a problem with your file(s).

 

Please log in each item individually.  Whenever possible, the library staff will file each item in a separate folder, which makes it easier for your students to get what they need and easier for the library staff to maintain control.  The library staff also asks that you mark the original with some color notation so that it will be easier to keep track of the original.  The library will gladly provide folders as needed.

 

Students should be directed to the AV/reserve desk in Brooks-Cork Library on the Martin Campus and to the circulation desk in the Lewis Library on the Fredd Campus to ask for items, which are filed by the instructor’s name or, in some cases, by department.

 

Fair use copyright regulations govern many items that may be placed on Reserve.  For more information on copyright for educators, see Circular 21  from the U.S. Copyright Office.

The Brooks-Cork Library maintains the Lon Alexander, Sr. Memorial Collection, a special collection of books, articles, and other published materials, named in memory of history instructor Lon Alexander. Publications by any employee, full-time or part-time, can be donated to the collection, which is housed in a special bookcase in the Kiwanis Room in the Brooks-Cork Library. All donations must comply with copyright standards.

Librarians are happy to provide library orientation tours, lectures, handouts, and/or exercises for any instructor on either campus for any class. Instructors may request additional web guides. Contact the library in advance to schedule a library session for a class. We request that you do not send a class without your supervision and that you ensure that your students are aware that they are expected to conduct themselves appropriately while in the library. We also require the completion of an online pre- and post-tour survey.

 

If you would like online library instruction, feel free to contact a librarian, and we will do what we can to meet your needs.

Within the parameters of College policy, the Shelton State Libraries welcome gifts of books, periodicals, and instructional materials which add value to the collection and carry no conditions of use or disposition. All gifts and donations must be made through the President’s Office. The library staff does not make evaluations for tax purposes, a voucher listing all contributions will be provided for the donor. Monetary contributions are also accepted.

In 1997 and 1998, the Kiwanis Club of Tuscaloosa contributed to Shelton State Community College’s capital campaign for the new campus. These funds were contributed for use by the library and subsequently covered the costs of furnishing this room and all of the group study rooms located in the library. In appreciation, a room in the Brooks-Cork Library was named the ‘Kiwanis Room’ and is the home of the club’s archives. These archives are stored in cabinets in the closet of this room. Some plaques and certificates for both the Kiwanis Club and the College’s chapter of Circle K, the collegiate branch of Kiwanis International, are displayed in this room. Also displayed are the original charter certificates for both organizations. These resources are not to be discarded or removed from the Kiwanis Room without contacting the Kiwanis Club of Tuscaloosa.

 

The Kiwanis Room also houses the “Lon Alexander, Sr., Memorial Collection of Employee Publications.”

Coaches and others who supervise students are discouraged from requiring “study hall” time in the library.  During afternoon hours, when such study periods are possible, numerous other facilities are available and can be requested through the Office of the Dean of Instruction.  Individual student athletes with library, research, and study needs are always welcome in the library.

  1. Supervision of students who are required to spend “study hall” time in the library is the responsibility of the SSCC employee supervising said students.  Required study halls must be supervised.  Library staff are not responsible for disciplining and supervising study halls.
  2. No more than four students should sit at one group table.  When possible, only one or two students should sit at one table.
  3. Students must follow all policies of the library, including such things as not bringing in food, drink, or tobacco.  This also includes working quietly and not disturbing other library users or staff.  Game playing and loud social interaction are not acceptable behaviors in the library; there are other areas of the College where that is acceptable.
  4. Students should bring homework or study materials to required study halls.  All students are expected to work quietly while in the library, even if this is simply reading books or magazines.
  5. The library may not be used for team meetings, to hold practice sessions, or to use sports equipment.
  6. Like all other Shelton State students, students in study halls are expected to respond immediately to directions given by any member of the library staff.
  7. Students who do not follow these guidelines will be asked to leave the library.  It is the responsibility of the student to explain to the supervising employee why they failed to comply with study hall requirements.

The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) is a collection of databases with full-text articles from magazines, journals, newspapers, and special reference sources.  It is provided through tax money for residents by the Alabama Legislature at no additional cost to individuals or institutions.  Access is available through any campus computer simply by going to http://www.avl.lib.al.us/ .  Home access is available to any Alabama resident or student or employee of the College.  Home access requires no login or password unless the user lives near the state line or accesses the Internet through a provider that uses satellite connections. Registration must be done by a librarian, but takes only a few moments.  Users have immediate access upon completion of registration.  The databases included in the AVL range from resources for children to research journals for professionals.  This is one of the best public services currently available in Alabama, and College employees are encouraged to take advantage of it.  Any librarian can register users and demonstrate how to use AVL.

Instructors may request special services, web guides, and other information related to specific eLearning classes via email to a librarian or by phone (See the Library Staff Directory.).  Requests for AVL registration may be made via email when necessary.  Audiovisual and reserve services are limited at this time for eLearning classes but efforts will be made to address requests on a case-by-case basis.