HOURS
Q. When is the library open? A.The Library is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. The Library is closed on Sunday and on all legal and College holidays.
LIBRARY CARD:
Q. Do I need to get a library card or other ID in order to check books out? A. The Library does not issue library cards. Instead, we use your Associated Student Body ID card, or a copy of your class schedule (with accompanying photographic ID to verify who you are and that you are a currently enrolled student. We then access you by student identification number in our computer and are able to check out a book to you. All that you need to check out books is one of the following: An Associated Student Body photo ID or a current semester computerized printout of your class schedule, along with some sort of photo ID, preferably a driver's license.
WHO IS ALLOWED TO CHECK A BOOK OUT?
You must be a currently enrolled student at Compton College in order to check out books. Others are welcome to use the library but they do not have borrowing privileges. You are entitled to check out up to six books at any time but no more than three on a given subject. This last restriction is designed to ensure that books on a particular topic are available for other students in your class.
PHOTOCOPY MACHINES
Q. Are there photocopy machines available for student use? A. The Library has three photocopy machines for student use. These machines are owned and operated by an outside vendor. The cost per copy is 10 cents and the machines will make single-sided copies at sizes 8 1/2X11 or 8 1/2X14. The machines also take dollar bills and provide change, as applicable.
MICROCOMPUTERS TO ACCESS THE INTERNET AND ELECTRIC TYPEWRITERS
Q. Are there microcomputers or electric typewriters available for students? A. The Library has three Pentium microcomputers for student access to the Internet, using the Netscape browser. There is no cost to use these computers but you must sign up for their use each hour. There are also six Pentium microcomputers which house CDROM programs containing articles from magazines and newspapers for use in completing assignments or reports. If you want copies of pages accessed in the Internet or from the CD-ROM programs, you must buy a special "print card," which costs 50 cents for 5 pages and $1.00 for 10 pages. The Library also has two self-correcting electric typewriters which are available for student use. These machines belong to an outside vendor and the cost for their use is 50 cents for every twenty minutes of use. You are also required to bring your own paper.
SEARCHING FOR A BOOK:
Q. How can I find out if the Library has a particular book? A. The library has two card catalogs. One contains the names of authors and the titles of books, the other is arranged by subject. If you know the name of the author or the title of the book, you would look in the Author-Title catalog to see if we have it.. If you are looking for a book on a particular subject (e.g., abortion, drug abuse, AIDS) you would look in the Subject catalog.
SEARCHING FOR A MAGAZINE ARTICLE:
Q. How can I find out if the library has magazine articles on a particular subject? A. Magazine articles on a particular subject can be obtained in 2 ways. The Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature is an index of magazine articles, arranged by year and subject. This title can be found at the Index Table in the Reference Room. Magazine Article Summaries (MAS) and SIRS are databases on CD-ROM which can be accessed on the six reference computers. MAS has the full text of an article or a short summary describing it. SIRS always has the full text of a specific article. Information on these databases can be printed. If you want to print the texts of articles, you must buy a "print" card. These cards cost 50 cents for five copies or $1.00 for ten. The reference computers belong to and are operated by an outside vendor; therefore, the Library is unable to refund money for any copies which are not used on a specific print card.
SEARCHING FOR A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE:
Q. How can I find an article which appeared in the newspaper? A. The only newspaper with an index that the Library has is the Los Angeles Times. For articles between 1972 and 1993, there are printed indexes of this paper located at the index Table in the Reference Room. Articles form 1994 to date can be found on a CDROM database available on the six reference computers. These CD-ROMS contain the full text of articles, which can be printed with a "print " card for 10 cents a page.
USING MAGAZINES:
Q. Can I check out magazines? Can I make copies of magazine articles? A. Magazines may not be taken outside of the Library. You can make copies of print articles for 10 cents a page. Magazine articles which appear on CD-ROM databases can also be printed for 10 cents a page, as can those which are to be found on microfilm or microfiche.
TEXTBOOKS:
Q. My teacher has told me that the Library has copies of the textbook. What does this mean? A. The Library tries to purchase at least one copy of each textbook per semester. These may only be used in the Library and can not be checked out. Sometimes, however, the Library does not purchase a specific textbook. For example, the Library does not buy workbooks because students are expected to write inside them. To find out whether the Library has a book that you need, ask at the Circulation Desk. You will not find textbooks listed in the catalog.
RESERVE AND DESK REFERENCE BOOKS:
Q. My teacher has told me that a specific book is on "reserve" at the Library. What does this mean? Also, at times I see cards in the card catalog with red jackets that say "reserve" or with green jackets that say "ask at desk." What does this mean? A. "Reserve books" are books which are on reserve at the Circulation Desk at the request of an instructor or because the Librarians believe that they will be heavily used by a specific class. Cards with green jackets signify books which are permanently on reserve; they are books often consulted by the Librarians for reference purposes.
COLLEGE CATALOGS ON CD-ROM
Q. I want to know what classes are offered at a particular 2 or 4 year college. I also want to show my counselors that a class which I took somewhere else is the same as that offered here. What can I do? A. The Library has a complete collection of college catalogs on CD-ROM, which is updated twice a year. Copies can be made from these catalogs at 10 cents a copy. This CD-ROM can be accessed at the six reference computers.
EASIER TO READ BOOKS:
Q. I need to do a report but my reading ability could be better. Are there any books available in the Library that are a little easier to read? A. The Library maintains a special collection of books which are a little easier to read. These are classed as the Willie D. Davis Collection. Students in ESL or basic English classes will find these books, on every imaginable topic, useful and easier to understand. These books are housed on bookcase #20.
SECURITY SYSTEM
Q. I have been in the Library when an alarm has sounded and students have been unable to exit. What is going on? A. The Library exit is protected electronically by a system which alerts Library staff when a book is being removed improperly or without having been checked out. Sometimes this system will alarm falsely; at other times students will have books from other libraries which set off the alarm. Unfortunately, there are also times when students or others are actually trying to take out books or other materials not designed to leave the Library.
OVERDUE BOOKS:
Q. What happens if I don't return a book on time? Will I be charged? A. Usually books circulate for approximately two weeks. If you need to keep a book for a few more days, there is no problem. Just remember to return it when you no longer need it. However, if you need a book for a few more weeks, you must bring it to the Library and tell us so that we can renew the book and change the due date on the computer. We can not renew books by phone. If you do not do this, we will send you an Overdue Notice, followed by a notification that a HOLD has been placed on your records. A "hold" will mean that you will not be able to receive your grades or obtain a transcript. Also, it might result in your not being allowed to register for the following semester until the matter is cleared up, the book is paid for, or the book is returned. The Library does not normally charge for overdue books, except in the case of "One Day" and "Seven Day" books, for which there is an overdue fine of $1.00 per day. However, if you check out a book and do not return it, you will have to pay for the entire cost of the book, usually set at $40.00.
LOST BOOKS:
Q. I checked out a book a year ago and want to re-register for school now. What do I do? A. The charge for a non-returned or lost book is the cost of the book itself and the cost for processing a replacement title. The Library will also accept a new copy of the lost book. Please understand that the cost of the book is based on the average price of a new book, as set by the book trade. If you have paid for a book and then find it, you will be able to have your payment refunded as long as you return the book and it is in satisfactory condition. Please note that if you have overdue books you will not be able to check out new books from the Library and may not be able to enroll in new classes.
CONCLUSION:
The Librarians and the Library Clerks are here to help you. If you have a question which is not covered in these pages, please do not hesitate to ask. That's why we are here, to serve you!