Library Services

 

  • Access to books, journals, videos, e-books, online databases, and DVDs
  • Use of computers, printers, scanners and photocopier
  • Group study rooms, study space, comfy seating
  • Equipment includes computers, printer/scanner/photocopier
  • Free Wi-Fi access
  • Friendly place to get help
  • Research: Our library staff can help with research in-person, on the phone or via email. 24/7 access to library article databases is available on and off campus.
  • Can’t find what you’re looking for? Interlibrary loan is available for books and articles not available in our collection (Allow 7-10 days for delivery).

5 Good Reasons to Use the Library*

It's free.

Not everything on the Internet is free. Much of the web consists of subscription services that make you pay if you want to get into their website or download their stuff. Before you go and spend your hard-earned money on these services, check out the library’s website. We’ve already paid for many of these services so you don’t have to. Plus, your tuition and fees help pay for library resources like DVDs, Wi-Fi, books and computers. Why not get your money’s worth?

It's verified.

Think of the library as the blue ‘verified’ checkmark that you see on big-name social media accounts. We’re the real deal. The internet is full of lies, misconceptions, and half-truths. Almost anyone with a computer can build a website, and they don’t have to know what they’re talking about. Some sites will deliberately mislead you in order to get your money, change your opinion on a controversial issue, or just to pull your leg. Hoax sites are all over the place, and they often look real. Library resources, on the other hand, have mostly been through editors and fact-checkers who make sure you’re getting (relatively) reliable information. Also, when you write a paper, it’s important to cite your sources. Some web pages make it difficult to figure out who’s telling you what and where they got their information. Library resources, even those on our online databases, will tell you exactly where the information came from.

It's friendly.

Real live people can help you use our library. Friendly, highly-trained librarians are standing by, waiting to help you find the information you’re looking for. Don’t spend hours in vain looking for information on the web. Take advantage of our services to point you in the right direction.

It's extensive.

Not everything is on the Internet. Yes, there’s a lot of useful information out there on the web. Unfortunately, this often leads to the misconception that everything you need to know can be found online. This simply isn’t true. There are tons of published materials (books, articles, videos, music, etc.) that you won’t find using a standard search engine like Google or Yahoo. And even when you do find them, your access may be limited (see #1.)

It's quiet.

Sometimes you just need a quiet place to get away and focus on your work. Maybe you need to be alone, or maybe you need a common place to meet with a study group. That’s what we’re here for!

*This list is adapted from Navarro College and Mark Herring’s “10 Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library,” which originally appeared in American Libraries, April 2001, p. 76-78.

Contact a Librarian

Email: FVTC Library
920-735-5653