Library Services
Library Services
Overview
ACC Library Services is a collaborative system of library services and resources including reference and informational, instructional, and technical services whose aim is to support teaching and learning at ACC. A full-service library is located at each campus. All ACC faculty, staff, and students have access to libraries on campuses in addition to library resources online 24/7 via the library website. Campus library hours vary according to student and faculty needs, disciplines, and programs of study offered as well as curriculum/classroom schedules at each campus. Call 512-223-3084 for a recording of the hours or see the Hours and Locations guide.
Twenty-four/seven access to ACC Library Services resources and services is available through Ask a Librarian–a live, online chat.
Library Services for Faculty
Faculty librarians work in partnership with classroom faculty in providing basic as well as discipline-specific information literacy to support student learning outcomes for general education and workforce classes. This support for the design and delivery of curriculum is extensive and provides information, links, and resources at Library Services for Faculty – Teaching and Learning.
Information Literacy Sessions
Faculty librarians are committed to hands-on information literacy instruction either in-person or online, which introduces students to information and research resources and paths, strengthens their research skills, and facilitates critical thinking. Request an instruction session for your class at Information Literacy Options for Faculty.
Research Success Tutorials
ACC faculty librarians offer their suite of award-winning research success tutorials mapped against student learning outcomes. Links to this content can be embedded in courses with topics such as academic honesty, identifying keywords, evaluating information/fake news, and demystifying research articles.
e-Resources
Extensive online content is available from the Library’s home page and includes the online catalog of digital and print resources with full-text periodical articles, databases, electronic full-text reference sources, e-books, research guides, and Library Services’ award-winning tutorials. Users, whether using computers on campus or off campus – can access these using an ACCeID. ACC’s course management system – Blackboard – as well as general internet access and online collaborative tools can also be accessed from the library’s homepage.
Selection & Purchase of Library Materials
Faculty librarian subject experts select materials for gen ed and workforce as well as basic information and research college collections. In addition, these subject experts: find resources to support course design and class assignments; create guides to resources in specific subject areas; identify or create content to support departments’ research assignments; and support classroom faculty in the design and delivery of individual class assignments. Contact the appropriate subject matter librarian or speak with a librarian on campus to suggest resources for review for purchase. Faculty members are encouraged to review the existing collection and recommend purchases, and faculty requests are given highest priority. The library does not purchase textbooks used in courses.
Checking Out Materials
An ACC ID card is required to check out library materials. ACC eID logins are required when users access online materials from off-campus locations including ebooks, articles from library databases, and streaming videos. The faculty loan period for books is three weeks plus two renewals if no one else has requested the item. All borrowers are limited to a maximum of 10 items checked out at one time.
Circulating materials may be transferred from campus-to-campus upon request. Subject expert/faculty librarians or the librarian at the reference desk/on duty can assist in locating materials from other campuses. Also, users may choose the “Request This Copy” option in the online catalog. Books and articles NOT available at ACC may be requested for borrowing through the ACC Library Services Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service.
Reference Services
Faculty librarians are available for research help, assignment design, and assessment of existing assignments to ensure library resources meet the needs of students and faculty. Librarians are available in person at the 24/7 Ask a Librarian Desk, by phone, by chat, or by email (library@austincc.edu). Contact information for all ACC librarians is listed in Library Services Staff Directories.
TexShare
ACC Library Services is a member of TexShare, a statewide collaborative library initiative that allows participating libraries to share their resources. TexShare libraries extend free reciprocal borrowing privileges to each other’s patrons. To obtain a borrower card valid at other TexShare-member libraries, faculty should bring their current ACC ID to any ACC library. More information can be found at Texshare Cards for ACC Students, Faculty, and Staff.
Note: Participating libraries may limit resources by publication or acquisition dates or by format.
Services for Students
ACC Library Services is dedicated to supporting students in their achievement of their educational goals. Students should be encouraged to consult a librarian to receive help and instruction with the many resources available for their research, but also with any basic informational or lifelong learning information needs. In addition to books and media, students may check out iPads, laptops (library use only), calculators, headphones, and more. Group study rooms, reservable online, are available at most locations. Faculty librarians are dedicated to student success, and additional information for students is available at Library Services for Students.
Textbook Collection
Textbooks are purchased by the ACC Student Affairs Student Support Center through a federal grant to assist certain student groups to gain access to required textbooks. Books are in limited supply, and students should not depend upon this source for their required textbook. For more information, go to the textbook lending library web site.