Library Resources and Guidelines for 
PCC Composition Instructors

The Library is located in the Clifton W. Everett Building. There are seven full-time professional librarians on staff to serve the needs of the campus.

General Information:

• Library Homepage: www.pittcc.edu/academics/library
  Find links to the Library catalog, online databases, subject guides, request forms (ILL, purchasing, etc.), policies, and much more.
• Hours
• Circulation Policies
• Reserve Desk
• Computers & Equipment

Important Policies Regarding Library Instruction:

1. Requests should be made at least 3-5 days in advance.
2. Instructors must accompany their class to the library and remain with the class during sessions.
3. Please wait until you receive a confirmation notice before bringing your class to the library.
4. General library sessions with no pending library research assignments are discouraged. Students who know they must use library resources in order to complete a graded assignment are much more likely to be open to learning the skills needed to complete the assignment successfully.
5. Library Instruction Lab (CWE, Room 228)
   The Library instruction lab, located on the 2nd floor of PCC Library, can be booked by faculty for non librarian-led sessions when available. Check the online calendar for availability, then contact the Library Reference Desk at 493-7360 to confirm your request.

Prepare Library Staff for Library Assignments:

Many composition assignments require the use of library resources. To ensure that Library staff can best meet the needs of your students, please drop off a copy of any upcoming library research assignments at the Reference Desk (2nd floor) or send electronically to pittref@email.pittcc.edu. Available resources tend to change from semester to semester, so it is also advisable to consult with a librarian before assigning research that requires the use of specific library resources or topics that might require multiple students to access the same print sources. Library items required to complete a particular assignment may be placed "on reserve" for a limited time. Contact the Circulation Desk at 493-7350 or email pittlrc@email.pittcc.edu.

Encouraging Student Responsibility in the Library:

The PCC Library is one of our students' greatest resources on campus, and the librarians and staff are invaluable to what we do in our classrooms. We therefore ask instructors to encourage self-reliance and responsibility on the part of our students who make use of the Library and staff.

Remind students that PCC Library is not "in charge" of their e-mail accounts. PCC provides e-mail and other instructional services through Campus Cruiser. Students learn how to use this tool through ACA 111 and through information they receive from the College.

Instructors who require students to use MyCompLab should provide adequate instruction in the classroom for this tool. MyCompLab is considered a third-party vendor, for which technical assistance is not provided by the Student Help Desk, Office of Information Technology Services Department, or the PCC Library.

Incorporating Library Research into Composition Courses:

ENG 111 will:

• stress the basics of MLA documentation: quoting, paraphrasing, citing sources, doing a "works cited" page, etc.
• provide guidance and practice in using the Library of Congress Classification system, which enables library patrons to find specific items and items on related topics on the Library shelves.
• provide guidance and practice in using the online databases and electronic resources provided by the Library, such as Academic Search Premier, Opposing Viewpoints, Literature Criticism Online, and others.

Suggested activities to help students master the above skills include but are not limited to:

• a synthesis paper assignment requiring direct references to multiple sources using MLA format.
• a writing assignment requiring direct reference (with appropriate citation and works cited information) to a book found in the PCC Library by use of the online library catalog.
• a writiing assignment requiring direct reference (with appropriate citation and works cited information) to an article found in an electronic database.

ENG 112, 113, and 114 will provide guidance and practice in the use of reference materials and electronic databases in the Library. All students are required to demonstrate their mastery of the use of these tools by writing a research paper in the current MLA format.

Suggested activities to help students master skills include but are not limited to:

• an annotated bibilography on possible sources to use for the student's research paper, including a varied collection of the types of resources requested by the instuctor.
• a technical assignment geared toward business and professional writing, such as a formal report or set of instuctions on how to use one of the Library's electronic databases.
• a literature-based assignment requiring students to find critical articles on a poem, play, short story, or author, in several different reference sources or databases.
• a library instuction session and related research assignment develped in conjunction with the Library staff. Contact: Angela Davis, Reference Librarian (adavis@email.pittcc.edu or 493-7366).

All composition instuctors should:

• become familiar with the Library's resources, including the online library catalog, the Library's webpages, and the electronic databases.
• notify the Library at least 3-5 days in advance of bringing classes to work in the Library, especially if it will put an increased demand on the librarian on duty.
• contact the Library at least 3-5 days before the desired date in order to reserve the instuction lab (room 228). NOTE: Librarian-led instuction sessions take priority over non librarian-led sessions.
• give the Library a copy of any major library research assignment at least one week before the assignment is given out in class.

Instuctors may notifiy the Library as requested above by calling or e-mailing the Library's reference desk (pittref@email.pittcc.edu or 493-7360). In addition, instuctors are welcome to make an appointment with a librarian for a guided tour of the Library and/or a session to learn more about its electonic resources.

Library Databases:

What is a library database?

A library database is an online resource that contains articles and information from print sources such as magazines, newspapers, journals, and reference books. There are three main types of library databases:

1. Article Databases

Article databases enable a researcher to search through a large number of different magazines, journals, and newspapers to find articles on a particular topic. Some of the databases contain articles in full text, which means the entire article is right there online, to read, save, e-mail, or print out. Other times the database may only provide an abstract (a short summery of the article) or a citation (the article's title, author, and source information).

2. Reference Databases

Reference databases provide facts, statistics, and general information from reliable sources, many of which also exist in print. For example, the Gale Virtual Reference Library database contains electronic versions of various subject encyclopedias. Reference databases are usually more subject-specific than article databases, so that each one covers a topic such as art, music, law, literature, or science and technology.

3. Index Databases

Index databases operate like an index in a book. Rather than directly providing information, they describe where to look to find it by providing citation information. These databases are usually searched or organized by subject. Sometimes, an index database will provide links to the articles it cites, but the articles "live" in other databases.

Databases are not "Internet" sources from the World Wide Web.

Although the "Internet" is used to access our databases, it is a delivery method only. Library databases are not part of the World Wide Web. Most of the information they contain cannot be found by using search engines such as Google or Yahoo. The databases are subscription services that are paid for by the College or the State; their content is copyrighted and proprietary. They contain information from reliable, scholarly publishers and peer-reviewed sources. (As some assignments might require supplemental information from the Web however, an instruction session on website searching and evaluation techniques may also be requested if desired.)

Passwords are required when using these databases from off campus.

Library databases may be accessed from any on-campus computer without a log in name or password, but access from an off-campus computer requires a username and/or password to prove an association with Pitt Community College. The Library supplies password sheets each semester with the necessary log ins and passwords for off-campus access. Passwords can be accessed a number of ways: through Campus Cruiser, by e-mailing the Library, by phone, or by asking for the password sheet at any Library service desk. Instructions for getting the passwords in Campus Cruiser are provided HERE.