Questions about
Books
- How can I find books?
- Do you have a card catalog?
- How can I access eBooks? What about NetLibrary?
- How do I cite books? What about eBooks?
- Where do I check out books?
- How long can I check
out books? What about Reserve items?
- How many times can I renew my books? Do I have
to bring the books with me to renew?
- Can I place holds by phone or online?
- Can I check out books from the reference
collection?
- Does the library have a copy of my text book?
- What can I do if the library doesn't own a book
I need?
- How can I find out what new books COM Library
has?
- What is a call number? How do I find call
numbers on the shelf?
- What do I do when the book I am looking for is not
on the shelf?
- The book I want is already checked out to someone
else. Can you tell me who has it?
- Can I suggest books for the library's collection?
- I don't go to COM, or I am an ESL or GED student
at COM. Can I still check out books?
- Can I check out books on my friend's card?
- Does COM Library provide a way for me to see what other
libraries have?
1. How can I find books?
Search COM Library's catalog of
books, pamphlets and audio-visual materials. The catalog is
Web based and may be searched from anywhere on campus or at home.
In the Library, catalog terminals are located in the
center of the main floor, in front of the Circulation desk. The computers
in the Online Library also access the catalog. See COM Library's Map
of the ground floor to see the location of the catalog terminals
and the Online Library. To find out more about searching the catalog,
go to COM Library's Guide Find
Books.
2. Do you have a card catalog?
COM Library no longer has a card catalog in print. All
our records are on our computer database catalog, the Library
Catalog.
3. How can I access eBooks?
What about NetLibrary?
You can access full text books, or eBooks from COM Library's eBooks page. The
free eBooks listed on the page are available to anyone with Internet access.
Our best
single resource for eBooks is NetLibrary.
To find out more about NetLibrary, try COM Library's Getting Started with NetLibrary.
4. How do I cite books?
What about eBooks?
Books
That depends on the style of citation your instructor wants you
to use. At COM the most frequently used style is the Modern Language
(MLA) Association Style. English papers generally require this style.
The American Psychological Association (APA) is also used at COM. Nursing
papers require this style. COM Library has created a guide for each
of these styles. The guides include specific examples of resources
from COM Library, as well as the call numbers for the APA and MLA style
guides available in print in COM Library. There is a handout for each
available from the handout rack located near the front entrance of
COM Library. They are also available online: access the MLA or APA style
guides. If your instructor wants you to use a different format, try
COM Library's Citations page.
eBooks
eBooks have special requirements for citation. For instance, did
you know that you must include the URL of
the Internet source you use? Look at the MLA and APA style guides before
you do your research so you know what information you are required
to include. That way you won't have to come back and try to find the
same site or article again.
5. Where do I check out
books?
Circulating materials may be checked out at the Circulation
Desk. You do need need your COM ID. See COM Library's Map
of the ground floor to see the location of the Circulation Desk.
6. How long can I check
out books? How many can I check out at
once?
Books
The chart below indicates the number of circulating books and pamphlets
each patron type can check out at a time, as well as the length of
time items can be checked out.
Patron |
# of Items |
Length of Check out |
| COM Students |
7 |
3 weeks/until end of semester |
| ESL/GED Students |
7 |
3 weeks/until end of semester |
| COM Employees |
10 |
2 months |
| Visitor Card Holders |
5 |
3 weeks |
| TexShare Card Holders |
2 |
3 weeks/until end of semester |
Reserve Items
Materials placed on Reserve have a loan period determined by Faculty.
Items may be checked out at the Circulation Desk and may have a loan
period of Library Use Only, One Day or One Week.
7. How many times can
I renew my books? Do I have to bring the books with me to renew?
Books and pamphlets can be renewed two times, if no hold
has been placed on the material. Items can be renewed in person or
by phone-just call the library at (409)
938-1211 x 205. Books that are already overdue must be present
in the library in order to be renewed, and therefore, cannot be renewed
by phone.
Due to high demand, reserves and math tapes cannot be
renewed.
8. Can I place holds by
phone or online?
Holds cannot be placed by phone. You must either be in
the library to place a hold at the circulation desk, or you can place
a hold through the library's catalog if
you are logged in under your user name and password. See Access
Your Library Record for information on logging into your record.
9. Can I check out books from the reference collection?
No. Due to high demand, books in the reference collection
stay in the library. You may photocopy content from reference books. There
are photocopiers on each side of the circulation desk of the library.
Photocopies are 5¢/page. See the library map to locate our photocopiers.
10. Does the library have a copy of my text book?
Probably not. The library does not make it a practice
to acquire copies of the text books used in College of the Mainland's
classes. There may be a small chance that the book was:
a. Donated to the library--the only way to be
sure is to check the catalog for the book.
OR
b. Placed on reserve for your course--the only
way to be sure is to check at the circulation desk
11. What can I do if the
library doesn't own a book I need?
There are two main ways for you to get materials from
other libraries: TexShare Cards and Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Using
your TexShare card is generally the quickest way to get materials from
other libraries.
TexShare Cards
The state of Texas has a reciprocal borrowing program called the
TexShare Card Program. You must get your TexShare card from COM Library
at the circulation desk. Participating TexShare libraries may extend
free reciprocal borrowing privileges to each other's students, faculty
and staff. This may include a range of resources, such as checking
out books and using library computers and online databases. See the
lending policies of specific
TexShare libraries. Find out more about the TexShare
Card Program. To check local library catalogs, go to Other
Libraries.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
COM Library offers Interlibrary Loan (ILL) to the students, faculty
and staff of College of the Mainland. ILL basically involves COM Library
requesting materials from other libraries. Keep in mind that ILLs can
take 2-6 weeks. It can take longer depending on availability and other
factors, and there is no guarantee that you will get the item
requested. Requesting ILLs during summer sessions is generally not
practical. There is no cost to the patron. If the only way to obtain
an item is for a fee, COM Library will contact you to inform you of
the cost, and ask how you wish to proceed.
To request an ILL, you may get a print form in COM Library
on the tables outside the Reference Office. Please fill in all information
completely so that we can get your material for you. You may also
download forms in Adobe Acrobat format. You must download and install
the free Adobe® Acrobat Reader® to read and print this form. Get
the ILL Form in Adobe Acrobat Format.
12. How can I find out what new books COM Library has?
COM Library has a display of the newest books located at the
entrance to the library. You may also access a list of some of COM
Library's latest books, the New Books Sampler.
13. What is a call number?
How do I find call numbers on the shelf?
A call number is a unique number assigned to books
and other cataloged materials to help locate them on the shelves. COM Library
uses the Library
of Congress Classification System, as do most colleges and universities.
Public libraries and schools generally use the Dewey Decimal system. You
will generally be getting the call number from the Library
Catalog, COM Library's Catalog. Follow the steps below to find your book.
Basically, you will just be breaking down the call number into smaller chunks,
locating each portion of the number at a time.
1. |
|
You found the book Violence
in film and television in the catalog
and the call number is: PN1995.9.V5 V565 2002. The first step is
to write down or print out the call number. Writing down the title
can help you verify that you found the right book. |
2. |
PN |
Using the call number range posted
on the shelves (see image below), find the range in which the first
letters of your call number would fit alphabetically. Once within
the right range, go to the specific letters in your call number,
in this case PN.
|
3. |
1995.9 |
Then locate the correct number range. These numbers
immediately follow the first letters of your call number
This number should be read as a whole number. The
Library may have books with the call number PN 1, PN 19, PN 199,
and so on, so make sure you are looking in the 1,000's for this
book, and not the 100's. |
4. |
V5 |
You should now be seeing books that start with
PN 1995.9
Now find the V's, arranged alphabetically, so that
PN 1995.9 A would be before PN 1995.9 V. Once you
have found PN 1995.9 V, find 5, which will be arranged
numerically within the PN 1995.9 V's. |
5. |
V565 |
In some cases there may be no more numbers or
letters in your call number, but this book has additional numbers.
As in step #4, first find the letter V, the the number
565. |
6. |
2002 |
If the book has the year published in the call number,
it will be arranged chronologically. For instance PN1995.9.V5 V565 1940 would
come before PN1995.9.V5 V565 2002 on the shelves. |
It's good to double check the title just to make
sure you've got the right book. You may also want to look at the books located
near the one you found, as they will probably be on the same topic. A - P call numbers are located on the Ground
Floor, West Side (to the left side of the library as you face circulation).
Q - Z call numbers are located on the Mezzanine (the second floor of the
library). See the COM Library Ground
Floor and Mezzanine maps
(click the back button of you browser to get back to this page, if you choose
to look at the maps).
Special Collections
Some of the books in COM Library are in special collections. Special collections
are collections of books by subjects of special interest to library patrons.
COM Library has the following special collections: Baker & Taylor (leisure
reading), Juvenile (books for children), Reference (books with factual
information that cannot be checked out) and Texana (books on Texas and
Texans). How do you know if the book you have looked up is in a Special
Collection? The last part of the call number will tell you: PN 603.1
L34 Texana.
14. What do I do when the book I am looking for is not
on the shelf?
Here are some steps to go through when you cannot locate
a book on the shelf that is in the library catalog:
a. It may be checked out. You can check in the Library
Catalog to see if it is checked out:
When searching the catalog for books, you will retrieve
a list of titles. Under the title information is another row that
includes the location, call number and status. The status will
indicate whether the book is Not Checked Out, or Checked
Out.
b. Did you look in the right collection? Some
of the books in COM Library are in special collections. COM Library
has the following special collections: Baker & Taylor, Juvenile,
Reference and Texana. How do you know if the book you
have looked up is in a Special Collection? The last
part of the call number will tell you: PN 603.1 L34 Texana.
c. Are you reading the call number correctly? See
the chart above for help in reading the call
number.
d. It is possible that the book has been used
recently and may be on a desk or table nearby.
e. If you still are unable to locate the book,
ask a library staff member for help. We may be able to help you locate
the item, or place it on hold for you.
15. The book I want is already checked out to someone else.
Can you tell me who has it?
No, however library staff can tell you when it is due
back and place the book on hold for you. COM Library follows the American
Library Association's (ALA) Code of Ethics,
which states:
"We protect each library user's right to privacy
and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received
and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted."
16. Can I suggest books*
for the library's collection?
COM students, faculty, staff and visitor's card holders
may suggest books for COM Library. COM Library has Book Request forms
at the Circulation Desk. If you would like to suggest a specific book,
include Title, Author, Publisher and Publication date, or as much of
that information as you know. If you don't know a specific book but
feel the library should acquire more books on specific topics or subjects,
let us know the subject and we'll find the books. Place your Book Request
form in COM Library's Suggestion Box located at the Circulation desk.
You may also call or email the collection development
librarian at (409) 938-1211 x 204 or email at dl-library-collection@com.edu with
the same information, or mention your suggestion to any library staff.
*Books generally take 6-8 weeks from the date ordered
to the time they are placed on the shelf, but it can take longer depending
on availability and other factors. COM Library will inform you when
your book has come in or inform why it was not available.
 Tip: Want
to request books but don't know where to start?
Try Select Books, a page
designed to help you with book selection. It brings together sites
that inform about books, such as Bestseller Lists, Book Reviews, First
Chapter Collections, New Books, Publishers, and Retailers.
17. I don't go to COM, or
I am an ESL or GED student at COM. Can I still check out books?
Yes. If:
a. ESL/GED
You are an ESL or GED student at COM. ESL/GED students can get a library
card by presenting their registration slips at the circulation desk in
the library. This library card will be good for each semester that you
are registered. See COM Library's Map
of the ground floor to see the location of the circulation desk.
OR
b. Visitor
You have a COM Library visitor's card. The visitor's card is
available to resident's of Dickinson, Hitchcock, LaMarque, Santa
Fe and Texas City (these cities comprise COM's tax base) and cost
$10.00/year. Get one at COM Library's circulation desk with proof
of residence, such as a current Texas driver's license or ID.
Note to visitors: COM Library is located on the lower
and mezzanine levels of the Learning Resources Center.
OR
c. TexShare
You have a current TexShare card. You can check out two books.
See more about the TexShare
program and COM
Library's TexShare policy.
18. Can I check out books on my friend's card?
No. If you are a COM student, faculty or staff member
you need to use your own card. If you are a visitor, you can get a
visitor's card--see #17 for details.
19. Does COM Library provide a way for me to see what other libraries
have?
Yes. Access COM Library's Other Libraries page,
which has links to academic and public libraries and catalogs in the
Galveston/Houston area, Texas, TexShare libraries and US & World
libraries.
Questions?
If you still have questions after reading this guide,
try some of COM Library's FAQs, or you may
ask the Reference Librarian for assistance. The Reference Office is located
on the ground floor of the library near the Online Library.
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