Monday, November 21, 2022

It's Thanksgiving Week! Library Closed 11/24 to 11/27


Happy Thanksgiving! 

The library will be closed Thursday, 11/24th and will reopen Monday, 11/28th.  Make sure to swing by the library for any books you may need over the long weekend.  The virtual resources will all still be available.  

Wishing you a wonderful holiday! 

Monday, October 3, 2022

October is LGBTQIA+ History Month

 

image of the OCC Library with rainbow coloring.  Text: LGBTQIA+ History Month at the OCC Library
In honor of LGBTQIA+ History Month, take some time to check out a new author, read a memoir, or watch one of the library's many documentaries on LGBTQIA+ people, history, and culture. 

Get started by looking at the guide highlighting resources in our collection or taking a look at the book display! 

Friday, September 16, 2022

Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month Resources


Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month is September 15th - October 15th.  The OCC Librarians have put together a guide of resources celebrating Latinx and Hispanic history, culture, and people in the United States.   

Read a new-to-you author, watch a film or documentary, or learn a bit of Latinx history during this month! 


Wednesday, September 7, 2022

OCC Library YouTube Channel for How-To Videos

Image of library in bluescale. Text says OCC Library Develop Your Library Skills
The Library now has a YouTube Channel.

It's a great place to get step-by-step instructions for getting started or refreshing your knowledge for how to search the library.

Some videos available now include: 
  • What are Keywords? 
  • Searching for Books at OCC Library
  • Using Books for College Research
  • Primary v. Secondary Sources 
and more!  

Tools to Help You Find Articles

 The OCC Library has three new tools to assist you in finding scholarly articles more easily!  

LibKey

LibKey lets you search our articles using a DOI or PMID.  What does this mean for you? If you have a citation of an article you want to read, you can use the DOI or PMID that is listed in the citation to find whether the OCC Library has access to the article and if so, what database it is located in and a direct link to the article.


LibKey Nomad

LibKey Nomad takes connecting to articles available through the OCC Library even more simple. LibKey Nomad is a browser extension that connects you to articles from websites like Wikipedia, PubMed, and publishers websites. It will help you find whether OCC Library has the article and if so, will like you to the article.

The browser extension is for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi browsers.  

The library subscribes to this service and the browser extension is safe to download. 

Browzine

Browzine gives you a whole new way to search for journals!  If you want to discover...or browse...for journals within a specific subject area, Browzine is a great way to do that.  Browzine then directly links to the articles.  

Note: this resource does not search all periodicals within the OCC Library.  It highlights our scholarly journals in particular.  

Fall Workshops

The library provides a variety workshops for students to learn how to do library and information research. The goal or mission of these workshops is based on the ultimate goal or mission of Information Literacy, which is that students learn library and information research skills that make them independent and life-long learners. Extra credit is available if offered by your instructor.  

See dates and information on: Research for College Papers (general library workshop), Understanding Scholarly Sources, Evaluating Information, Citing Your Sources

Brightly colored image of a desk reading Library Workshops


Research for College Papers

This is a general library workshop. These 60 minute extra-credit workshops will teach library and information research skills using print and electronic resources. They will also introduce the library's services and resources. Student will learn to identify and access the various library and information resources; to identify scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals; to search discipline-specific and advanced electronic resources; to do research on the web; to evaluate search results for credible resources; to cite their sources in either MLA or APA styles; and to understand how the proper use and citation of library and information resources helps avoid plagiarism. 

Tuesday, Sept. 27, 3:00-4:00pm (in person)

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 1:00-2:00pm (in person)

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 5:00-6:00pm (online)

Saturday, Oct. 15, 11:00am-12:00pm (in person) 

Thursday, Oct. 20, 1:00-2:00pm  (online)

Tuesday, Oct. 25, 3:00-4:00pm (online)

Wednesday, Nov. 2, 6:00-7:00pm (in person) 

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 3:00-4:00pm  (online)

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 3:00-4:00pm  (in person)

Saturday, Nov. 19, 11:00am-12:00pm  (in person)

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 11:00am-12:00pm (online)

Monday, Dec. 5, 6:00-7:00pm (online)

Understanding Scholarly Sources

This 60 minute workshop will teach skills to identify and use scholarly sources.  Students will learn to identify scholarly books, how to access them, and how to use the index and other tools to access the information needed. Additionally, students will learn how to identify scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals; to identify the parts of the article; basics of how to read scholarly articles; why scholarly articles are credible and the basics of peer review.  

This is a specialized workshop. If you want extra credit for this workshop, please make sure your instructor will accept this workshop. 

Thursday, Oct. 13, 11:00am-12:00 pm (online)

Monday, Oct. 24, 4:00-5:00pm (in person)

Evaluating Information

This 60 minute workshop will teach you how to critically evaluate information that you find online and in the library. Learn tips and tricks for determining whether a source is credible, including reading laterally to verify information, Google search syntax, and more. Navigate the Internet more confidently. You can use these skills for both your coursework and your everyday life!

This is a specialized workshop. If you want extra credit for this workshop, please make sure your instructor will accept this workshop. 

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 3:00-4:00pm (online)

Thursday, Nov 17, 10:00-11:00am (in person)


Citing Your Sources

This 60 minute workshop will teach skills to formatting and citing in either MLA or APA citation style.  Students will learn why citing is important; the basics of formatting a paper; basics of in-text citations; basics of creating a reference list; and skills for paraphrasing and avoiding plagiarism. 

This is a specialized workshop. If you want extra credit for this workshop, please make sure your instructor will accept this workshop. 

MLA Citation Style, Thursday, Sept. 22, 4:00-5:00pm (online)

APA Citation Style, Monday, Nov 28, 4:00-5:00pm (in person)

MLA Citation Style, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1:00-2:00pm  (in person)

Bring Your Questions about APA & MLA, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 1:00-2:00pm (online)



Monday, August 29, 2022

Welcome to Fall 2022: Get Started Using the Library

 

Wishing you a great start to the Fall Semester! 

The Library is now open six days a week.  Additionally, online chat with a librarian is available whenever the library is open. We have many resources and services available to help you succeed in your classes.  We hope to see you soon!

Library & Online Chat Hours: 
Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 8:00pm 
Friday: 8am - 3:00pm
Saturday:  10:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday: CLOSED


Some key resources include: 
  • Ebook Collection:  You can search for e-books in our library catalog.  There are thousands of ebooks available through the library. You can download sections of books, highlight & annotate, and access citation information for the book. 
  • Print Books: Our physical collection are available to you! Start searching the library resources in OCC Discovery. 
  • Magazine, Newspaper, & Journal Articles: Use the Databases to find magazine, newspaper, and journal articles. Get started by going to Databases A-Z, and selecting a database by the subject area you need (or pick one of our favorite general databases, like Ebsco Power Search or ProQuest Central)
  • Streaming Videos: The OCC Library has thousands of streaming films, documentaries, and newsreels.  Get started by searching in Films on Demand or Kanopy Streaming Video. 
  • Research Guides: Searching for resources in a specific topic area? Need to know how to cite in MLA or APA? Our collection of research guides point you to recommended resources, provide how-to info on searching and using the library, and more! 
  • Library Workshops: Throughout the Fall semester online library workshops are available to learn the basics of using the library.  Come with your questions or just to learn more about how to conduct library research. Sign up online! 
  • Get Help: Librarians are available online for asking questions via chat (icon in lower right hand corner) or research appointments
  • Follow us on Instagram: Find us at @occ_library for info on the library, resources, and little bits of motivation.