Borrowing Materials
Borrowing Requirements
HCCC students must present a valid College I.D. Card.
Herkimer County residents must present a Community Card which can be obtained at the Circulation Desk with proper identification. Residents over 70 years of age may obtain a Millenium Card at the HCCC Bookstore which may be used for borrowing Library materials as well as other activities on campus.
Alumni Association Members must present a lifetime or current membership card which may be obtained at the Alumni Office.
Mohawk Regional Teacher Center members must present a MRTC card.
Borrowing Agreements with Area Libraries
HCCC library has made reciprocal borrowing agreements with other area libraries. Faculty and students are allowed to sign material out of the following libraries:
Colgate University
Hamilton College
Mohawk Valley Community College
SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome
Utica College
All SUNY college and university libraries
You should present your HCCC I.D. Card to check out books and follow the loan regulations of the host library. Also, by obtaining a library card from a local public library, you have access to the collections of the Mid-York Library System, which included all public libraries in the area.
Loan Periods
Books: 3 weeks
Recorded Books: 3 weeks
Pamphlets: 1 week
Audio Cassettes: 1 week
Phonograph records: 1 week
Compact Disks: 3 days
Video Discs (DVDs): 3 days
Reference books, reserve materials, periodicals, microfilm and instructional media (videos and CD-ROM) are for in library use only.
Items can be renewed once. You can either bring them back to the Circulation Desk to have them renewed or you can have them renewed over the phone by giving the barcode number of each item.
Fines
The return of library material on time is the responsibility of the borrower. All damages, beyond normal wear and tear, are charged to the borrower. Late fines are $.25 per day per item. The fine for an overdue Interlibrary Loan book is $1.00 per day. The fine for reserve material overdue or taken out of the library without permission is $1.00 per day.
Lost Material
If a book or other library material is lost while on loan, notify the library immediately. Any further accumulation of fines will be stopped. If the item cannot be found within a reasonable time, the borrower will be charged: the cost of replacement (usually $25.00), $15.00 for processing and recataloging, and the accumulation of any overdue fines. An item may be replaced with a reasonable copy by the borrower if approved by a Librarian. In this case, only the overdue fines will be due for payment.
Do not let anyone else use your I.D. card to check out library materials. You are financially responsible for any overdue and/or lost materials checked out on your card.
Book Return
To the right of the main outer doors of the Library building, opposite Johnson Hall, there is a Book Depository provided for convenient book return, especially when the library is closed. You can return your Library loans there when the Library is closed or inside the Library at the Circulation Desk when the Library is open. The Depository is checked each day the Library is open.
Interlibrary Loan = ILLiad
This service is only available to HCCC faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students. Books and articles which the HCCC library does not have may be requested through Interlibrary Loan. You can set up an ILLiad account from the web page and put in requests through your account or through any of the Library databases, WorldCat or the SUNYConnect Union Catalog. You are notified of all activity on each loan through your email. When the material you have requested arrives in the library, you’ll be notified and you can pick up the material at the Circulation Desk. Electronic documents can be accessed online through your ILLiad account.
Reserve Materials and Textbooks
Faculty often put books or other materials on reserve in the Library for their students to use. The materials are kept at the Circulation Desk. Your student I.D. card is required to use materials on reserve. They can only be used in the Library. The general reserve loan period is one hour.
Textbooks for most courses are on reserve at the Circulation Desk. Your student I.D. card is required to use textbooks on reserve. They can only be used in the Library. This collection does not include novels, workbooks, or CDs required for classes.
Reference
Reference librarians are available to assist you in using the library and doing your research project. If you do not see a librarian at the Reference Desk, ask for one at the Circulation Desk.
Contact a Librarian by e-mail: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); or phone: 315-866-0300 x8394 or
Chat with Us Live at HCCClibrarian
Our Chat with a Librarian uses AOL’s Instant Messenger (AIM) service.
Download and Install AOL’s Instant Messenger (AIM) from the AOL site or
use AOL AIM Express or Quick Buddy (java enabled browser required) and set-up an account.
Add HCCClibrarian to your buddy list or
with Instant Messenger go to People then click “Send an Instant Message” to HCCClibrarian or
with Aim Express/Quick Buddy click IM and send to HCCClibrarian.
When requested, provide your Herkimer County Community College LIB# (bottom right of your ID)
and then begin your session with the Librarian.
Important - AIM is not supported by Herkimer County Community College’s Computer Services. If you need HELP,
go to the http://www.aol.com site.
The Library has knowledgeable staff that can help you become more successful when using our Library resources. Please request an in-person consultation online: http://www.herkimer.edu/library/individual_consultation/
Off Campus Access
Who Has Access
The amount of access you have to the resources on the library’s pages depends on the type of affiliation you have with HCCC, and the type of resource.
* Affiliation: HCCC students, faculty and staff are allowed by our licenses to use licensed databases via this web site. Visitors to the campus library are welcome to use all library resources while there.
* Resources: many resources on these pages are made available via contract, or license, with the database provider. Any link that prompts you to log in at the HCCC Library Login screen represents a licensed database.
How the Access Works
HCCC students, faculty and staff who follow a link to a licensed resource and log in on the HCCC Library Login screen will be passed through to the database. If, during the same session, they link to another licensed database, they will not have to log in again. http://www.herkimer.edu/library/articles/
Members of the public do not have the username or password necessary to log in to access licensed resources from off campus. The public is welcome to come to campus to use library resources. http://www.herkimer.edu/library/hours/
Distance Learning Students
Welcome to the Herkimer County Community College Library. Distance learners are very important to us. We want to help you find academic resources wherever you are. This site will help you get started. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any point in your search, or contact your closest academic library.
Telephone: 315-866-0300 x8394
Fax: 315-866-1806
E-mail: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
About Us
The HCCC Library has more than 70,000 books, which can be accessed through an online catalog , and approximately 200 periodical subscriptions. A variety of online reference databases are available as well as access to scholarly resources on the World Wide Web (WWW). Computerized access and reciprocal agreements also allow the HCCC Library to borrow needed materials from other libraries for students. These agreements help to expand the quality and quantity of information available to you.
Our Services:
We help you find books, encyclopedias, magazine or journal articles, and scholarly, peer-reviewed resources (be sure to specify this when using databases). We show you how to utilize the World Wide Web for college research. You can also ask professional librarians to help you find the information you need.
Books
Books are still a viable resource. Why? They go through a complete editing process to make sure there are no errors or plagiarism issues. They also have excellent bibliographies to help you find more information about your topic. Please try the library catalog, or the databases NetLibrary or WorldCAT to find books.
Encyclopedias
An encyclopedia is a way to find quick, reliable information that does not have to be current. You can access subject-specific, full-text encyclopedias using the Gale Virtual Reference Library, as well as the Funk and Wagnall’s New World Encyclopedia, located on our database page.
Magazine, Newspaper and Journal Articles
Full-text magazine, journal and newspaper articles are available to use 24/7. Databases are not the WWW, but you can access them on your computer, because the library subscribes to them. All our databases are listed in alphabetical or subject order. Do not limit yourself to only one when you search for reliable information. Watch the tutorials or read “How to Use this Database” provided by the vendors. It will save you time. Access to the database menu is available from our library’s homepage (left column).
InterLibrary Loan
We can help you get almost any book you need from libraries all over the world through what is called interlibrary loan. Basically, we “ask” other libraries to loan you material. The system we use now is called ILLiad. To register for an ILLiad account, go to our Library homepage and look for “ILLiad/Become a First Time User.” You will only have to register one time.
We can also loan you material from our library through the U.S. postal system. Send us an email ((JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) requesting the items you need and we will mail them to you with a return label and postage. This service is free.
Research Help
If you are not sure where to look for college research tools, please contact us to make sure you have all the information you need to complete your assignments. Please don’t depend on the World Wide Web until you contact us first.
World Wide Web (WWW) Research
Sometimes we are not available to help you immediately. There are some Web sites we can recommend. Check for recently updated material and scholarly information on every Web site you search before you use it for college assignments.
Below are links to Web sites and Search Engines we believe can help you complete your assignments. We highly recommend that you start with books and databases. A combination of all of them is the best solution to learn about college research. This knowledge will get you the great job you want, or get you into the next college of your choice.
Librarians’ Index to the Internet
This search engine is created by scholars and librarians. Updated often, they choose the best Web sites to use for all types of searches. They edit out the sites that will NOT help you get the information you need. Your time is precious.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar was designed with colleges and libraries in mind. This search engine also eliminates Web sites that you do NOT want to use when completing college assignments.
Scirus
If you need scientific information, Scirus is the search engine for you. This search engine is sponsored by an international publishing company, and allows you to search for journal articles only. Please try it!
Public Libraries
Please don’t forget that you can have access to books, databases and local newspapers through your own public library. They are excellent resources for the distance learner. Use the above link to find a library near you.
SUNYConnect
SUNYConnect Union Catalog links you to materials in all the SUNY libraries that you may need to complete your research.
Citation Styles - MLA, APA or Chicago Style
Sooner or later, your professor is going to ask you to cite your sources or create a bibliography using APA, MLA or the Chicago style. What are they? How do you do it? Please click on this link to find out how.
Almost every database we have helps you cite your sources. Look around the main page of each database to find citation assistance. Some will do it for you, but check to make sure they gave you the correct format. Everyone makes mistakes.
Also, Microsoft Word allows you to add footnotes, citations and make a bibliography in your document. Click on References to do this.
Avoiding Plagiarism
Copy and pasting from Web sites, database articles and previously written papers is plagiarism. Allowing someone else to write your papers is cheating. All this can be avoided by reading the information about your topic before writing. You will then have enough knowledge to write your own ideas, and back them up with quotations from the experts. Remember, you are just beginning your road to a great career. No one expects you to be perfect. Give credit to those who came before you by quoting every work you use. If you need help contact your instructor, a librarian, or someone from the Academic Support Center (315.866.0300 X8275) .
Group study rooms
The Library provides approximately five study rooms on the second floor for student use. They are available on a first-come, first served basis. One room holds up to eight students and the others, four. There is also a media viewing room to watch DVDs. Please limit your time to allow other students the opportunity to use them. Any damage found in these rooms will result in disciplinary action.
Individual Consultation for Students
The Library has knowledgeable staff that can help you become more successful when using our Library resources. Please request an in-person consultation online: Schedule a meeting with a Librarian
Computers in the Library
The Library has a number of different areas for computer use by students.
OPAC computers are on kiosks at eye level so students can quickly find information such as searching the book catalog. These computers are for research only and are not loaded with Microsoft Office programs.
Open area computers are on several serpentine tables throughout the Library and can be used by students at any time the Library is open, but are shut down at approximately 15 minutes before the Library closes each day. They can be used for any type of research and for word processing, email, online classes, etc. These computers should not be used for games or chatting.
Computer classrooms, LB108 and LB212, are sometimes used for Library instructional classrooms. There will be a schedule of classes posted at the doors when the rooms will be closed for classes. These rooms can be used by students when they are open, but are shut down at approximately 15 minutes before the Library closes each day if open. They can be used for any type of research and for word processing, email, online classes, etc. These computers should not be used for games or chatting.
Laptop computers are available for use inside the Library, for 2 hours at a time. They can be signed out from the Circulation Desk and students should return them to the Circulation Desk at least 15 minutes before closing.
Student-owned laptop computers can be used inside or outside of the Library in the walkway since the wireless pods extend access to the internet throughout the Library and into the glassed-in walkway outside. To be able to set up your laptop to work with the college system you can find instructions on the HCCC Student Intranet under Computer Support There you will find Wireless Instructions for Vista, XP and MACs.