Remote Student Assistance

While many students come to the library for research assistance in person, we also assist students in a variety of remote ways. The most frequent of these is through our chat box, located on the TCTC library’s website http://library.tctc.edu/. Many students submit questions via this tool each day. For our students, who are immersed in the digital world, this is a quick, easy way to ask for help. The types of questions we receive through the chat box range from topics related to an English 101 or 102 research paper to general questions about the college, such as when exams take place. We are happy to provide this service to the students at TCTC.

Students in the English distance learning courses are being encouraged to submit emails to the Embedded Librarian, as they progress through their research requirements. Many DL students are using email to obtain help and guidance, in regards to the library’s resources and research. This is an effective way to meet the research needs of students who are remotely taking classes. Providing research assistance to DL students through email contacts also provides a personal connection for students who are not on campus but have the same research requirements/expectations as students taking the same English courses on campus. Research is difficult for many students. It is important that the research needs of DL students be addressed and special assistance is offered to that student population.

Lastly, the library still receives the occasional phone call for assistance. Students who have questions about research or our general services can pick up the phone and speak with someone in the library department. This form of research assistance is happening less and less but it is still a viable option for students who would like to verbally ask a quick question, related to their research project!

Michele Gregg

Transformers

The Tri-County Tech Library faculty and staff members pride themselves on being a consistent beacon for student success. Known for our exemplary customer service, we make every effort to meet students where they are! This means that sometimes we may have to console them during an anxiety attack, assist them when they’ve waited until the last minute to perform research, or to simply provide them with a kind word or smile when their having a bad day. While this may not be a part of our initial job responsibilities, we are well aware that all of these things fall under the ‘other duties as assigned’ part of every college employees’ job description. We are all (as Tech employees) in a great position to transform the lives of every student that entrusts us with their education. Have you made a transforming gesture today? If not, check yourself and make adjustments…

Written by, Alydia Sims

New Resources!

Through PASCAL (Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries) and lottery funds, the library now has access to three new databases in the area of Healthcare and another collection of ebooks. They are;

• Anatomy and Physiololgy Online This database covers all a student needs to know and learn for a 2 semester Anatomy & Physiology course.
• AAFP Conditions A to Z  A handy patient-information tool that has been written and reviewed by physicians and patient education professionals at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
• MedCalc 3000 A collection of over 520 calculators, clinical criteria sets and decision trees that are indispensable to anyone practicing, teaching or studying evidence-based medicine.

All three databases are powered by StatRef!, which is a premier e-source in the area of healthcare.

We also have access to ebrary, which is a collection of 100,000 ebooks from trusted publishers. Ebooks from ebrary cover all subject areas and can be searched by the usual keyword, title, author and subject. It can also be searched by document type, document language and publication year. Books from ebrary can be read online, on an iPhone, an iPad or and an iPod touch with ebrary app.

There are links to these new e-resources on the library homepage http://library.tctc.edu/ and all subject specific pages.