How Do I?

Finding Books and Other Materials and Using Reserves

How Do I Find Books on My Topic?

In order to find books on a specific topic, you can search by keyword or by subject. This User's Guide will offer suggestions to make your searching more effective. Often beginning your search by using keywords is a good strategy. Once you have found a good title, look at the Subject Heading information for that title. By clicking on the subject heading, you can run a Subject search that will lead you to alphabetical lists of related subjects. Because books on a topic may often be located in several different parts of the collection, it is often helpful to ask a librarian for assistance.

How Many Books May I Check Out?

There is no upper limit on the number of books you can check out from the DACC library. Other libraries in the system, however, may have limits that they impose.

How Long May I Keep Checked Out Items?

Books checkout for 4 weeks and may be renewed twice. Users may renew them online by logging into "My Account" in the Online Catalog. Reserve items and other types of items have different circulation rules and periods.

How Do I Renew an Item I Have Checked Out? Can I Renew a Reserve Item?

Users may renew them online by logging into "My Account" in the Online Catalog. Reserve items cannot be renewed. Fines of $1/day are charged on Reserve items. (It is $1/hour for items that check out by the hour.) The checkout period for reserve items are set by the course instructor.

What If the Library Doesn't Have a Book on My Topic?

First, be sure that it doesn't. Finding books in the library can be a little complicated. Often there are several ways to approach finding a topic. If you're having trouble finding books, it's a good idea to check with a librarian at the Reference (Information) Desk.
If the library does not have any books on the subject that you need, you have a couple of options.
1. Consider whether electronic resources will provide what you need. Among our electronic resources are e-book content (if you are required specifically to have book material), either as anthology essays, reference works or books in their entirety in NetLibrary. They also contain the most current information if you have strict limitations regarding how up to date your research must be.
2. Consider using the I-Share system to request material from another library. Often it only take 2 to 3 days for a book to be sent from another library to DACC. We will call you when the item arrives.

How Do I Find Out if the Library Has My Textbook?

Textbooks currently being used for classes are kept on Reserve. Ask at the Circulation Desk to see if the book you want is available. All are set to In-Library 2-hour Reserve in order that they may be available to as many users as possible. This means you will be charged $1/hour for each hour you keep them out past the due time.
If the book you need for a course is unavailable, ask your instructor if he or she would place a copy in the library. Often your requests will be more effective than the library staff's in this regard.

How Do I Get Books from Other Libraries?

Only students and staff members may request items through interlibrary loan. Community members need to address any interlibrary loan requests to their regional public library. (Per state policy, this may require payment of a fee.)
DACC students and staff members can place requests directly through the online catalog using the I-Share Request system. This User's Guide offers information on the process on page 2. You must have a library-issued barcode in order to place requests. (This is different than your student ID number or your DACC user ID and password.)
You can go to other system libraries and check materials out as well. You will need your DACC library card, current student/staff ID, and a photo ID. Items checked out at another library may be returned to DACC's library and we will send them back through the system for you.

How Long Does It Take to Get Materials from Other Libraries? Does It Cost Anything?

Items requested directly from our partner libraries using the I-Share system typically arrive within about 3 working days, although the actual delivery time varies depending upon the library sending the item. Items ordered through the more complex interlibrary loan system processed by library staff may take significantly longer depending upon the rareity of the item.
There is no charge for items ordered from other libraries.

How Do I Find Out What New Books the Library Has?

See new items in the Library's collection here.

How Do I Return Books and Videos?

Return books to the circulation desk (or to the slot on the side of the desk) or to either of the two drop boxes. One drop box is located on the stoop on the brick road between Clock Tower and Lincoln Hall. The other is inside Clock Tower in the wall next to the Library Entrance.
Return Reserve items and videos to the circulation desk to a library staff member. This is to assure that they get checked in promptly. If you return a video or reserve item to a drop box, it may not get checked in until the next day (or the following Monday if it is the end of the week), leaving you responsible for the fines that add up while the item sits in the drop box.

How Do I Find Magazines? Can I Check Them Out?

Current magazines and journals are in the back (browsing) room on the main floor of the library, across from the video collection and opposite the entrance to the computer lab. Previous year's issues are stored downstairs on the left hand side in the first room at the foot of the stairs.
Issues of magazines and journals published at least three months prior to the current month (or current issue) can be checked out. You should be aware, however, that it is easy to misplace or accidentally throw away a library magazine. You will then be charged for its replacement and for processing costs and your college account will be frozen until such charges are cleared up.
If you are simply looking for magazine or journal articles, it is much more efficient to use the online databases, see How Do I Find Articles?

How Do I Find Newspapers? Can I Check Them Out?

Current newspapers are located in the back (browsing) room on the main floor of the library, behind from the video collection. The Commercial News is removed once it has been replaced with a microfilm copy that is stored downstairs under the stairwell. Other newspapers are kept for six months and then the paper copies are disposed of.
Newspapers cannot be checked out.
Many newspapers are available through the library's databases, so that individual articles of interest may be located going back several years.
For additional specific questions related to newspapers, check with a librarian at the Reference Desk, or by phone 443-8739.

How Do I Get Something My Instructor Has Put on Reserve?

If you know exactly what you are looking for (a specific film for example), go directly to the Circulation Desk and ask for the item. (Be prepared to tell the staff member the name of your instructor and the course!)
If you need to find out what is on reserve for a particular instructor's course, go to the online catalog and click on the Course Reserves tab. (You cannot use the new version of the catalog for this.) Complete the information for instructor and course and you'll be able to see what titles are on reserve and whether they are available or checked out.

How Do I Find Out What I Have Checked Out?

In the Online Catalog, log into "My Account". A list of the items you have checked out from both the DACC library and other libraries in the system will appear. You will also be able to renew items from this screen. The screen will additionally list the status of any requested materials as well as whether or not you have any outstanding fines.

How Do I Find Your Fiction Section?

Unfortunately for pleasure readers, DACC Library's fiction is interfiled with the regular literature collection, a decision that was made several years ago with the idea of making it more convenient for students and instructors needing materials for classes. For this reason, it is not an easily browseable collection. However, the Library has added significantly to its fiction collection in response to an increasing demand from users. To help you find possible titles of interest, take a look at this suggested titles guide.

How Do I Find Feature Films?

Like fiction, feature films are mixed into the regular video collection according to subject. However most general feature films can be found between the call numbers: 791.433 and 791.437 (excluding documentaries and those that are film versions of literary classics). Feature films can be searched by title, director or major actor in the Online Catalog.

If you have questions about this or any other library web page, contact a librarian at 443-8739 or by means of the convenient web form.

Created November 13, 2008
Revised, January 25, 2011