Library

The Learning Resources Center (LRC) is a place where students, faculty, and staff can receive support for their personal, educational, and vocational needs. The LRC provides access to a variety of physical resources, including books and DVDs, as well as computer and printing technologies.

Mission

The Eastern Shore Community College Learning Resources Center advances the mission of Eastern Shore Community College by supporting the teaching, learning and research needs of ESCC students and faculty. The LRC provides excellence and innovation in resources and 21st century technologies empowering the college community to be lifelong learners and effective users of information.

Vision

The Eastern Shore Community College Learning Resources Center will provide a dynamic, high quality teaching library that enhances student learning wherever programs or courses are located and however they are delivered. In addition to serving as an integral part of the educational process at the College, the LRC will function as a vital information and technology resource for the Eastern Shore community.

Library Research Tools and Resources

The fully-automated LRC houses approximately 22,000 printed books and periodicals as well as a collection of videos, CDs, and other media; it also provides access to an extensive collection of electronic resources including more than 50,000 e-books, over 100 databases providing access to thousands of full-text journals, newspapers, pamphlets, government documents and other reference tools. Many of these tools are made available through cooperative VCCS projects and the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) a consortium of 39 state-assisted Virginia colleges and universities, 33 independent, private, nonprofit Virginia colleges and universities, and the Library of Virginia.

Consortia agreements enable students, faculty, and staff to visit and borrow materials from the 18-member academic libraries of the Virginia Tidewater Consortium. Membership in the LYRASIS/OCLC interlibrary loan network provides ESCC students and researchers access to the resources of the Library of Virginia, as well as college, university, and public libraries worldwide.

Students may use any workstations on campus to search the variety of online resources, and there is no charge for computer printing. Remote access from home or other locations to ESCC online resources is also available to all students, faculty and staff. Patrons are encouraged to begin their research by selecting Library on the ESCC Web site, www.es.vccs.edu. Everyone is expected to abide by ESCC/VCCS Computer Ethics Guidelines.

Reference assistance in the use of equipment and locating information is readily available in the LRC. For distance education students and those who are researching from home or from other off-campus locations, help is available by phone and through the library Web page in the form of virtual reference and email. Also, all handouts and brochures are available online.

Library Facilities and Services

In addition to providing a quiet, comfortable place for reading, study and research, the LRC provides public computers for information retrieval, email, and word processing. The library supports a wireless environment. Also, laptops are available for student use within the library. Instructional technology services support classroom instruction, student projects and presentations, and community services. E-Readers are available for select reserve materials. Equipment for the use of media is also available to patrons for use in the library or for checkout.

Committed to teaching students the lifelong learning information literacy skills that have become essential in today’s world, the LRC provides online tutorials, printed and online handouts and brochures, formal tours, and specialized information literacy instruction sessions and projects. The LRC staff always considers individualized instruction to be the strength of the college’s information literacy program and encourages students to ask for assistance when needed. Ongoing evaluations of services and facilities, as well as research tools and other resources, provide an avenue for measuring effectiveness and initiating change.

For library privileges, current students are registered automatically. To check out books, media and other circulating materials, students key in their MyESCC login. Library cards are not issued. Students may sign into VCCSLINC, the online catalog, using the same usernames and passwords they use for MyESCC. This allows them to view individual library accounts and to renew and place holds on items. Students also will be prompted to log in with their MyESCC usernames and passwords for remote access to databases. For on-campus access to online databases, the World Wide Web and other Internet services, students log into library or lab computers with their college network accounts. All students are encouraged to check their ESCC email accounts daily in order to be well informed of library and general college announcements.

Library Distance Learning Services and Resources

The LRC supports distance learning activities wherever they are located and however they are delivered. All students have access to the following resources and services which are especially supportive of distance learning:

Library Fees

The LRC does not charge fines for overdue materials. If a student has overdue materials, two reminders are issued. After those notices are sent, students will be billed for a default replacement cost, which is $50 per item. Patrons may replace any items that are available, pending approval of Learning Resources. Processing fees are not assessed.

Additional items may not be checked out by anyone owing fees or having overdue material. Bills not paid promptly will be forwarded to the Virginia Set-Off Debt Program for deduction from state income tax returns, lottery winnings or any other payment issued by a state agency. With financial obligations noted on students’ records, they will not be issued degrees, certificates or transcripts nor be permitted to register for classes.

Library Hours and Additional Information

For additional information. Visit the LRC webpage at http://es.vccs.edu.