Using library resources will save you time!

While at LCCC you will need reliable, pertinent information for presentations, papers, or just to satisfy your own curiosity.  During this orientation we will suggest several ways that you may access information. You will have access to the combined library catalogs for both the 28 community colleges and public state universities in Florida, to electronic resources and to full-text, electronic books.

The Catalog

What word pops into your mind when you hear the word library?  Like most people you probably think of BOOKS.  The LRC has over 45,000 books on a variety of subjects. T he books line the shelves by subject according to the call number specified by the Dewey Decimal System.  Each book has a spine label where the combination of numbers and letters uniquely identify it.

How can you determine what books the LRC has? By searching the library's electronic catalog.  "What is the catalog?" you ask. The catalog is a listing or database of all the titles of books and various materials the LRC has in its collection. This catalog tells you what is available and where it can be located on the shelves.

You can access the catalog via the Internet.  From the library's homepage, select "Book Search" and type in your search terms. Now you can search by Keywords, Title, Author, or Subject. Select LCCC if needed, and press Search.  The next pages will list different titles with their call number. If you need more information about that title, then select the title for the Title Page. If you want to know if the title is checked out or on the shelf, you will need to select "Lake City Community College" at the bottom of the title page.

The Databases

You can access the databases by going to the Library's homepage and selecting the link "Article Search and Net Library."  You must logon to access the databases, which means that first you must get a library barcode number from the library.

Select your college. Type in the 14-digit barcode assigned to you by the Library.  It should be on the back of your student ID or key tag and it is the same barcode you normally use to check out books.  If you do not have a barcode on the back of your student ID, see a library staff member. Type in your PIN # (last four digits of your social security number) Logon. You will be validated & redirected to the database menu. Selecting a Database  We have a database for just about every academic subject. Ask a librarian which database will best suit your topic, or you can find a description by selecting the information link beside the name of each database.  Select a database for a search. Each database is different, but the worksheet activity will give you some experience about how to do a simple search.

Now you are ready to complete the Research Skills Activity.  The activities are located in hardcopy at the campus library, or you can access a copy of the activities online from the Orientation page http://www.lakecitycc.edu/library/orientation.aspx . Please remember this orientation is only a brief introduction, and we expect you to have many questions which we are happy to answer!

Either give the completed activities to a library staff member for review and approval, or email the activities as an attachment to library@lakecitycc.edu

Campus Student: Upon successful completion of this activity you will receive a red LRC sticker for your student ID.  This is your proof that you have successfully completed the library user orientation.

Distance Learner: When the Reference Librarian receives this activity (as an attachment) via email, you will receive a message by email verifying your completion of the orientation.  You need to keep this message to either forward to your instructors, or bring a copy of the email to the library to receive a red LRC sticker for your student ID.