Orange Coast College Library News and Events: 2020

Friday, December 11, 2020

Chat and Curbside Pickup CLOSED for Winter Break

Happy Holidays from the OCC Library Staff!

Chat with a Librarian and curbside pickup closed from Saturday, December 12th - Sunday, January 3rd.

Librarians will be back online during Intersession starting Monday, January 4th at noon.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday season and winter break!

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Extended Chat Hours for Finals!

Get ready for extended Chat with a Librarian hours during the last two weeks of the semester!

Librarians will be online for longer hours to help you with your research and information needs starting Wednesday, December 2nd.

Finals hours are:

Wednesday 12/2: 8:00am - 12:00am

Thursday 12/3: 8:00am - 12:00am

Friday 12/4: 10:00am - 3:00pm

Saturday 12/5: 10:00am - 3:00pm

Sunday 12/6: CLOSED

Monday 12/7: 8:00am - 12:00am

Tuesday 12/8: 8:00am - 12:00am

Wednesday 12/9: 8:00am - 12:00am

Thursday 12/10: 8:00am - 9:00pm

Friday 12/11: 8:00am - 3:00pm

CLOSED During Winter Break (Dec. 12 - Jan. 3)

Chat with a Librarian Closed for Thanksgiving Weekend

The OCC Librarians and Library Staff wish you a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Chat with a Librarian will be CLOSED Thursday, Nov. 26 - Sunday, Nov. 29

Access to the virtual library is available 24/7!

Monday, August 17, 2020

Wishing you a great start to the Fall Semester!

While the Library is physically closed, we have many resources and services available to help you succeed in your classes. We hope to see you online!

Library Online Chat hours are (Aug. 24 - Dec. 12):

Monday - Thursday: 8am - 9:00pm

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 - Curbside Pick Up: Our physical collection is still available to you! Curbside pickup is now available Monday-Thursday from 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. Sign into OCC Discovery to locate an item and request it. Staff will check items out to you upon pickup. The pickup location is located behind the library, and the usual 10 item limit policy applies. For information on how request a book, please contact the librarian through chat or click on the "help" button in 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.
Library Workshops: Throughout the Fall semester 12 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.
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.

Get Help from a Librarian

The librarians are online and ready to help you with your information needs and research!

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Online Chat Reference: Find the chat icon in the lower right hand corner of our website to get help finding books, articles, or other information! Librarians are online:

Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday: CLOSED

Online Research Appointments: If you have a more in depth research question, just prefer talking to a librarian, or want a dedicated time for you, sign up for a research appointment. These research appointments are scheduled for either 15 or 45 minutes. Find a time that works for your schedule on our sign up form, and make the request!

Library Workshops: Twelve times throughout the semester we offer online library workshops. They introduce the library's services and resources, and focus on how 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. Check out the dates available and sign up for the time of your choice!

Fall Online Library Workshops

The library provides 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 will be available if requested by your teacher.

Description:

These 60 minute extra-credit workshops, held online, 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.

Fall 2020 Workshop Schedule

(Click on links below to sign up for the workshop)

September

Picture of person sitting on a stack of books.

Image by Pexels at Pixabay

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11:00am-12:00pm
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 3:00-4:00pm
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1:00-2:00pm

October
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 5:00-6:00pm
Saturday, Oct. 10, 11:00am-12:00pm
Thursday, Oct. 15, 1:00-2:00pm

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 3:00-4:00pm
Monday, Oct. 26, 6:00-7:00pm

November
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 5:00-6:00pm
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 3:00-4:00pm
Saturday, Nov. 7, 11:00am-12:00pm
Thursday, Nov. 19, 3:00-4:00pm

For More Information:

Contact Erin Gratz at egratz@occ.cccd.edu or click on the Chat with a Librarian icon in the lower right corner.

Student Learning Outcomes:

When a student has completed these library workshops, they will be:

Aware how to identify, access, and evaluate credible library and information resources using a variety of search strategies.

Aware how to correctly cite library and information resources and avoid plagiarism.

ProQuest Central is Now Available at OCC Library

ProQuest Central is now available through the OCC Library! As a multi-disciplinary database, it is a good place to start your research. Proquest Central has an ample amount of articles for most subjects. This database mostly has articles from magazines, newspapers, and journals. Start searching today!

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Summer Chat with a Librarian Hours

Librarians are available to chat during summer term. We hope to chat with you soon!

Decorative image of palm trees. Text reads Summer Chat Hours.

May 24 - June 7
CLOSED

June 8 - August 13
Chat is available Monday - Thursday: 12pm - 6pm

August 14 - August 23
CLOSED

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Extended Chat Hours for Finals Week

Photo by Sarah Kilian on Unsplash

Chat with a Librarian hours are extended for Finals week. Have a late night question? We will be online until midnight.

Chat hours through Finals Week are:

Wed., May 13. 8am - midnight
Thurs., May 14. 8am - midnight
Fri., May 15. 8am - 3pm
Sat., May 16. 10am-3pm
Sun., May 17. CLOSED
Mon., May 18. 8am - midnight
Tues., May 19. 8am - midnight
Wed., May 20. 8am - midnight
Thurs., May 21. 8am - 9pm
Fri., May 22. 8am - 3pm
Sat., May 23. 10am - 3pm

Monday, April 20, 2020

NEW! Request Books and Textbook Chapters

Photo by Studio Media on Unsplash

The library is rolling out two new services for you! You can now request physical books in the library collection to be mailed to your home and, if a textbook on reserve is not available freely online, you can request a chapter to be scanned and emailed to you. Both of these services are free to OCC students, faculty, and staff.

To place a request, click on Search the Library to get started, and then sign in (located in the upper right corner) with your OCC username and password. For step-by-step instructions, visit the Getting Started guide's Requesting Books & Scanned Chapters page.

Number of Requests and Timelines

For physical books, you can request up to 5 books to be mailed to you. This service will take 5-10 days depending on the time it takes for USPS delivery. Note: Oversize book requests potentially may be cancelled due to packaging limitations.

For scanned chapters, you can request up to 10 scans (but no more than 2 chapters from the same book). This service will take approximately 48 hours to be emailed to your OCC email.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Holds on Your Account?

Do you have a hold on your account due to library fines or overdue books? If so, please Chat with the Librarian (icon in the lower right hand of the library website) with your information (Name, student ID, and OCC Email) and your situation, and we will put you in touch with the appropriate staff member. You can even leave a message for us after chat hours.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Search for Your Textbooks Online!

Picture of a book with letters flying out of the pages.

Yes, that's right! Many of the textbooks for OCC courses have been made available freely online. (If you checked out your textbook from the library, this post is for you!) Thanks to a number of companies have given access to online textbooks due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Follow these steps to see if your textbook is available online:

Check the library catalog or free textbook list. Use the "Available Online" filter to see online books in the library search.
If your textbook is NOT available online here, look for the title of the book in the Vital Source and RedShelf lists.
If your textbook is listed on the Vital Source list. You will need to use your OCC email to sign up for an account. From there, search the site for the title of the textbooks.
If your textbook is listed on the Red Shelf list. Search for the title of the textbook in RedShelf for free access.

For more thorough directions, visit the Getting Started guide.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Research Appointments Now Available!

Image of three people working on a computer

Do you need some dedicated time and help finding articles, books, or other resources?

The OCC librarians are now offering research appointments via Zoom video conferencing. Appointments are either 15 or 45 minute slots and are offered throughout the day on weekdays.

Find available times on our online scheduler.

Upcoming Online Library Workshops

Image of a person working at a computer.

There are still a handful of library workshops being offered this semester. Now you can attend in the comfort of your own home through Zoom!

Upcoming dates:

Tuesday, Apr. 7, 5:00-6:00pm
Wednesday, Apr. 8, 3:00-4:00pm
Saturday, Apr. 11, 11:00am-12:00pm
Tuesday, Apr. 14, 5:00-6:00pm
Thursday, Apr. 23, 3:00-4:00pm
Tuesday, Apr. 28, 11:00am-12:00pm
Monday, May 4, 6:00-7:00pm

To attend a workshop, please select the date/time you would like to attend and sign up at least 1 hour before the workshop. The day of the workshop, you will receive a reminder email including a link to the Zoom session. If you would like to receive extra credit, please include your instructor's name in the sign up form. We will notify your instructor that you attended the workshop.

Monday, March 30, 2020

Need Help? Chat with a Librarian

While the library remains closed, the OCC Librarians are here to help you!

A librarian is available through chat (see the icon in the lower right hand corner of the library webpage). We have the capability to screen share and video conference through Zoom with you, if you have a more in depth question. It can be a simple question or a robust research question to help you find ebooks and electronic resources to use in your upcoming papers or projects.

Chat with a Librarian Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8am - 9pm
Friday: 8am - 3pm
Saturday: 10am - 3pm

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Access to Free Textbooks Online

Due to the COVID-19 virus, many publishers are allowing students to download textbooks for free. Check these sites out to see if your textbook is free online!

Check the library catalog or free textbook list to see if your textbook is available online. Use the "Available Online" filter to see online books in the library search.
You can also check and see if your book is available through VitalSource Helps program. This site allows you to download some textbooks free of charge, due to COVID-19 difficulties. You need to use your OCC email to sign up and not all texts are available. Directions are here.
You can also check RedShelf for free access to some textbooks.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Getting Started with Using the Library (During COVID-19)

Have your classes gone online? Are you unsure how to get started searching for resources in the library?

Then this Getting Started guide is for you.

Students

View videos on how to search for books, articles, videos, and market research. There are also recommendations for databases in which to search, and citing in MLA style.

Faculty

Are you interested in having a library lecture for your classes, but you've moved your classes online? There are options for you. We offer online lectures, librarians being embedded in Canvas courses, or you can simply introduce this guide to your students along with how to access the chat with a librarian feature. See the guide for more information.

Monday, March 9, 2020

CANCELLED - Banff Film Festival World Tour, March 17 & 18

Due to public health concerns related to preventing the spread of COVID-19, the Banff Mountain Film Festival at Orange Coast College has been cancelled. We regret this, but feel it is a prudent preventative measure for the benefit of the community.

If you purchased Banff Film Festival tickets with a credit card through our college website or at the Bursar's Office, you will be issued a refund automatically. You should see the refund on your credit card statement within the next few weeks. If you purchased tickets with cash at our campus Bursar's Office, you are welcome to bring your tickets and receipt to this location for a refund. A check will be issued to you within 4-6 weeks. If you are unable to come to campus for a refund of your cash purchase, please feel free to contact Shannon MacGregor in the Bursar's Office for further details. Here is her email address - smacgregor@occ.cccd.edu

If you purchased tickets from REI, they are happy to provide a refund. Simply return your tickets and receipt to the store where you purchased them.

For more information, call (714) 432-0202 x21058.

Monday, February 24, 2020

Using the New Library Search Tool

Have you used OCC Discovery yet?

The new OCC Discovery search tool has been launched for over a month now. Have you given it a try yet? The goal of this blog is to highlight some of the features that may be helpful to you in your searches.

New Navigation Links on the Website

One of updates you may have noticed is the links on the left hand navigation have changed. The key search options are: Search the Library and Databases A-Z.

Search the Library

The Search the Library link will take you into OCC Discovery. From here you can search for:

Textbooks for your courses
Print books and e-books
Films and documentaries
and many of the library's subscriptions to newspapers, magazine, and journal articles.

While this sounds like a one-stop shop, in order to get to the results you want it is essential to use the filters available to help you narrow your search. (If you have conducted a search, you may have received hundreds of thousands. . . or even millions of results!) These filters or facets can dramatically help in finding the resources you need. Let's look four of these way to filter just a little more. (See the number on the image to the right which corresponds with the description below)

Let's say you are looking for books containing monologues, you do a search, and you receive results for articles, books, films, and more.

Discovery interface highlighting the filters to help narrow results

At the top of the screen, the number of results you have received for your search appears. While the number is not necessarily important, not many of us will look through 30,000 results to find what we want. (The example to the right shows over 50,000 results.) The next three ways to filter can help reduce that number.
You have the option to search: Everything, Articles, Library Catalog, or Textbooks. Choosing one of these, besides Everything, is a great way to get started narrowing. Everything: searches everything in Discovery. Articles: searches the articles and book chapters from our database subscriptions (so you will get more than just articles). Library Catalog: searches books (print and electronic) and films. Lastly, Textbooks searches only those items on reserve for your courses (textbooks, bone boxes, etc.)
The Availability option can also help you narrow. Those that are particularly helpful are Peer-reviewed Journals (identifies items that are peer-reviewed) and Held by library (identifies items that are physically within the library).
Resource Type can very quickly limit your results to the type of resource you are looking for. In the example above, the student needed a monologue book. By selecting Books from the resource type, only books will appear in the results list.

Databases A-Z

The other new link is Databases A-Z.

This takes you to a list of all the databases (or electronic resources) available through the OCC Library. This is a phenomenal resource.

If you know the name of the database you want (i.e. Films on Demand), you can go directly to the letter the title begins with. Or if you aren't sure which database you want, but you know the subject (i.e. psychology, history, business), you can select that from the drop down options. Additionally, there are links to the most popular databases to get you quickly to the most used databases.

Interested in learning more about the library? Attend one of the library workshops! No reservations needed!

Monday, February 10, 2020

Library Closed: February 14-17 & 20th

The OCC Library will be closed Friday, February 14th - Monday, February 17th for the Presidents' Day holiday, and also on Thursday, February 20th for FLEX Day.

Monday, February 3, 2020