NEW Building Research Papers - Checkout Student Success at ACC Libraries

NEW!

Finished your research...now what?
Learn how to build a research paper-
View our new Research Success Tutorial!

Click on the image below or go to: http://acclsknowhow.articulate-online.com/9250301815 

Checkout Student Success at ACC Libraries: 

We support your Guided Pathways!

Explore ACC Libraries Research Guides:

Class Guide: EDUC 1300

Student Learning Success Toolbox

National Native American Heritage Month

Man-on-the-Hill and Wife, Sioux

November is National Native American Heritage Month, a period for focusing on the history and cultures of America's indigenous people. ACC Library Services has many resources to help you appreciate and explore our country's many native peoples.

Interested in finding books and e-books? Try the following catalog search:

Indians of North America

An especially good series of books are the volumes of the Handbook of North American Indians, published by the Smithsonian Institution. Each volume covers native groups in specific areas of the country (Plains, Southeast, Great Basin, Northeast, etc.) and goes into a great deal of detail.

We also have an excellent database full of information about native people, American Indian Histories and Cultures. This resource contains chronologies, maps, timelines, photographs, drawings, primary resources, thematic areas, essays, online exhibitions and more. It's a great starting place for learning about different groups, especially with its emphasis on visual resources. The portrait at the top of this post come from this database.

 

In addition to books and document databases, we also have access to documentaries and dramatic films through our Kanopy streaming video services. This month, they are featuring over 200 films related to Native American Heritage month, free for you to watch whenever you want. 

 

And finally, check out the many online exhibits from federal government agencies which highlight Native American history and life. Created by offices like the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service, there's a wealth of good information to explore. Some examples:

• Omaha Indian Music (Library of Congress) 
• American Indian Records in the National Archives (National Archives & Records Administration)  
• George Catlin Painting of Native Americans (National Gallery of Art)
• Chaco Culture National Historic Park (National Park Service)
• White Dog Song, Blackfoot Tribe (Library of Congress)

There's so much information available about our country's Native American heritage. Let ACC Library Services help you find it!

kanopy

Kanopy is a streaming video resource with a board collection of over 26,000 films on every subject imaginable and from leading producers such as Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, New Day Films, HBO California Newsreel, Kino Lorber, PBS, BBC, First Run Features, The Video Project, Media Education Foundation, Documentary Education Resources. Kanopy’s website makes it easy to watch, share and discuss films across campus. 

Enjoy!

International Cinema

                    

The Criteria Collection

           

Art House/Indie Films

                




ALSO,

Check out these hot documentaries

Miss Representation
Like drawing back a curtain to let bright light stream in, Miss Representation uncovers a glaring reality we live with every day but fail to see. Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media's limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

Broken On All Sides: Race, Mass Incarceration & New Visions for Criminal Justice in the U.S.
Today, there are more African Americans in prison or jail, on probation or parole, than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began. The prison population has exploded by 500% since the end of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. America locks up more of its racial and ethnic minorities than any other country (including South Africa at the height of apartheid). Mass incarceration has emerged as America's new caste system. How could this happen? With Philadelphia as an entry point, Broken on All Sides explores the intersection of race and poverty within the criminal justice system.

Dangerous Living; Coming Out in the Developing World
Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World is the first documentary to deeply explore the lives of gay and lesbian people in non-western cultures. Traveling to five different continents, we hear the heartbreaking and triumphant stories of gays and lesbians from Egypt, Honduras, Kenya, Thailand and elsewhere, where most occurrences of oppression receive no media coverage at all. By sharing the personal stories coming out of developing nations, Dangerous Living sheds light on an emerging global movement striving to end discrimination and violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

And so much more on topics such as,

Women, Body Images and Society

A History of Voting Rights

Focus on Globalization

Spanish Language Cinema

Filmmakers on Their Films

Whistleblowers, News Leaks and Consequences

International Cinema

Art House/Indie Films

Weird Science

and just in time for Halloween:

Countdown to Halloween: Classic and Indie Horror

You can access these and much more by visiting the ACC Library Homepage, Click on A-Z list of databases and click on 'K' for Kanopy.  To access from home, you only need to enter your ACC eID and password.

MLA Handbook, 8th Edition

The new Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook, 8th edition is now available at ACC Library Services together with many accompanying resources!

In order to support all ACC students and faculty, the Library Services will provide both 7th and 8th MLA edition resources this academic year. MLA resources that you can find at ACC Library Services:

• Research Success tutorials are updated to show all MLA citations following the MLA 8th edition rules. We included notes on appropriate tutorial pages to inform students and faculty about MLA edition changes.  

• MLA citation page info on our website has changed and now includes the MLA 8th edition information with a link to the MLA 8th edition KnowHow handout. Note more links on the right sidebar which include a link to the MLA 7th edition information.

• Print KnowHow handouts are available for both MLA 7th and MLA 8th edition at every ACC library.

• MLA handbooks - the 8th edition of the MLA handbook is available in our reference and circulating collections. At least one copy of the 7th edition is kept on our reserves shelf for this academic year.

• MLA 8th Edition Faculty Toolbox LibGuide highlights all differences between the MLA 7th and 8th editions.

• Citation Tools in the ACC Databases do not yet generate the MLA 8th edition citations. Please be aware that these databases also do not specify which edition of MLA is available in the database citation tools.  

• Information literacy classes - we can instruct your students on both the 7th or 8th edition of MLA.

Contact us if you have any questions - we are here to help!

Voter Registration & Election Info

Election 2016

On November 8th, Americans will have the opportunity to exercise the most important responsibility we have in a democracy – our right to vote. Please take some time to review the resources and information listed below. And get out there and VOTE!

Registering to Vote:

You must register before you can vote. The last day to register to vote for the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election is October 11th. You can register in person or by mail. VoteTexas.gov has information on registering to vote in your county. You can check to see if you are already registered on the Am I Registered? Website.

Early Voting:

Early voting in Texas will be held from October 24th to November 4th. All registered Texas voters can vote early in person. Bring an acceptable form of photo ID. You can find your early voting locations using the Am I Registered? Website.

Election Day:

Polls are open from 7am to 7pm on November 8th, Election Day. Bring an acceptable form of photo ID. You can find your poll location using the Am I Registered? Website.

What's on the Ballot?:

You can find out what will be on the ballot at VoteTexas.gov. The League of Women's Voters also publishes a non-partisan voters' guide for the counties around Austin.

More Information:

For more information on elections and voting, check out the library's Government Subject Guide. The library also has books on U.S. Presidential Elections, Presidential Nominations, Political Campaigns, and Political Culture.

National Park Service Centennial

National Park Service Centennial

The National Park Service turned 100 on August 25, 2016

Austin Community College Libraries Collection

Ken Burns: The National Parks: America's Best Idea. PBS. 6 videos; 697 min.

Conflicts over Natural Resources: A Reference Handbook by Jacqueline Vaughn. S944 .V38 2007 ebk ebooks on EBSCOhost

Building the National Parks: Historic Landscape Design and Construction by Linda Flint McClelland. SB482.A4 M3 1998

National Parks and the Woman's Voice: A History by Polly Welts Kaufman. SB481.5 .K38 1998 ebk  ebooks on EBSCOhost

Preserving Nature in the National Parks: A History by Richard West Sellars. SB482.A4 S44 1997

Reshaping Our National Parks and Their Guardians: The Legacy of George B. Hartzog Jr. by Kathy Mengak. SB481.6.H37 M46 2012 ebk ebooks on EBSCOhost

Find related fiction and streaming media.

The Library of Congress Blogs:  Inside Adams: Science, Technology & Business

John Horace McFarland: Unsung Hero of the National Park Service

Roosevelt, Muir, and The Camping Trip

The National Parks Conservation Association

"Since our founding in 1919, the National Parks Conservation Association has been the independent, nonpartisan voice working to strengthen and protect America's favorite places."

"Then and Now" by Kate Siber, Spring 2016.

ACC Libraries Support Pathways + Areas of Study

Learn how ACC 

Libraries support 

Pathways and Areas of Study:

Visit the ACC Libraries Areas of Study Research Guide to find:

• Subject guides for your Area of Study created by Subject Experts
• Recommended library resources to use for your pathway and research assignments
• Best websites to use for your paper
• Meet your Subject Librarian

Explore the Library A-Z Databases to find resources in your Pathway / Subject Area:

• Films (Streaming Media)
• eBooks
• Journals
• Magazines
• Conference Proceedings

Discover Research /Subject / Class Guides in your Area of Study

Get Help from an Expert Librarian: Citation Styles, Research Help

• In-person at the Ask a Librarian desk
• Chat 24/7
• Email us
• Call us

Find Books about your Area of Study:

• Biographies
• Career Information
• Recommended Professional Associations
• Study Guides for Test Preparation

Professors-  Request an Instruction Session with an Expert Librarian:

• Introduce how to use the library
• Teach students how to evaluate information
• Learn about citation style formatting
• Expert search strategies

OR - Assign Students our award-winning Tutorials

Quick Tour of the Library Catalog

The Library's online catalog (http://alicat.austincc.edu) has a new look.

Take a quick tour of the Library Catalog. [pdf]

No need for a special app; mobile-responsive

Cleaner, leaner look...

HeritageQuest Online

Interested in genealogy? Curious about your family history? Then HeritageQuest Online is the database for you!

Created in conjunction with Ancestry.com, this easy to use database allows you to search U.S. Census records from as far back as 1790, along with city directories, mortality schedules, agricultural and industrial schedules, and more!

Search through Revolutionary War records and Freedman’s Bank records to see if you can trace your roots to two of the most tumultuous and transformative times in U.S. history.

View historical State maps that show the changes in boundaries and names that the counties or parishes that your ancestors lived in may have gone through since the U.S. Census began.

HeritageQuest Online even offers “Tips of the Day” to help you find what you are looking for and tools to help you keep track of your research. 

Found a record you like? Send yourself a copy using their Send option!

Check out all that HeritageQuest Online has to offer and begin your genealogy journey today! 

Demystifying Research Articles

NEW Demystifying Research Articles Tutorial!

Click on the image to go to http://acclsknowhow.articulate-online.com/9250399619 

Learning Outcomes:
Learn how to:

1. Identify the sections of a research article

2. Explain the purpose and contents of each section

3. Distinguish between different types of articles

The quiz results may be printed, emailed or uploaded as a document in Blackboard. The tutorial is available 24/7 from the ACC Library web site and makes an excellent introductory assignment for any science writing assignment as well as a discussion topic starter for any science lecture. This tutorial may also be assigned before a librarian-led research instruction class, such as a CHEM lab librarian session.

Students who are assigned to write a paper or research information in any of the science courses or programs will find helpful information - just in time to complete their assignments. The interactive and engaging tutorial is designed to give students the information they need to understand how to research in any area of the sciences including nursing, environmental science, veterinary technology and biology.

We are working on more tutorials to help your students be successful in any research assignment. Stay tuned for more updates!

Confused about Textbooks?

	The Library does not purchase textbooks as a rule. So why can we check out textbooks from the Library? Although the Library does not purchase textbooks for all ACC campus libraries, we do shelve the ACC Student Support Center Textbook Collection at the Highland Campus Library.
What is it?	It is a collection of textbooks selected for classes offered in workforce programs. These textbooks are purchased by the ACC Student Support Center through a grant to assist certain student groups to gain access to required textbooks. The majority of ACC textbooks ARE NOT in this collection.  Books are in limited supply and students should not depend upon this source for their required textbook.
Who can check the textbooks out?	Most students are not eligible to check out textbooks from this collection BEFORE the second week of classes. Visit with staff in a Student Support Center BEFORE the semester begins to determine your eligibility. Eligible students will receive information and required forms to begin the process. See information and a list of textbooks.
Where do you go to check out a textbook?	AVOID LONG LINES -- Beginning the second week of classes, you can go to any ACC library and ask that an available textbook be sent to you at that campus for checkout.  See the list of available textbooks.
What is the Student Support Center?	ACC's Student Support Center provides specialized assistance and referrals to a select group of students who would benefit from additional assistance to overcome challenges and complete their education.The Support Center maintains a collection of textbooks for students to borrow and gives priority to students receiving assistance. Other students may request a loan after the first week of classes.

Practice Tests

Do you need to study for an upcoming standardized test? Are you looking for free practice tests that you can complete on your computer? The ACC Libraries have the resources for you!

Check out our Learning Express Library! It contains practice tests for the TOEFL, MCAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT, GRE, and AP tests, as well as practice occupational exams, and much more.

You'll need to register and create a login the first time you use Learning Express, but registering is easy and free for ACC students!

You can find additional practice tests in our Testing & Education Reference Center! Here you can find over 300 practice tests, including the NCLEX, GED, TOEFL, TAKS, ACT, SAT, and CLEP, to help you get started studying today.

Have a question about how to use these resources? Ask a librarian! We're here to help you!

Shakespeare and Nabokov – Happy Birthday April 23!

William Shakespeare (1654-1616) is, of course, generally accepted as the greatest writer in English (and several other languages; his works have been translated into over 80). 

Vladimir Nabokov is regarded by some—including yours truly—to be the greatest writer of English of the past century. They share the birth anniversary of April 23, so, what the hell, let’s celebrate them together. 

It’s unfortunate that Shakespeare probably seems to very many to be a difficult assignment from school rather than a profound and entertaining artist. The antique language can be daunting, but, especially when seen on stage or film, he still resonates and entertains. The ACCLibrary has many DVDs of his plays and also gets a video streaming database, Films on Demand, that has many Shakespeare plays you can watch on any internet device whenever you want.

Vladimir Nabokov, born in Russia in 1899, grew up speaking and writing Russian, English, and French. His aristocratic family fled the Communist revolution and he ended up a poor immigrant in Berlin, writing novels at night and giving tennis lessons by day. He published 10 novels in Russian before switching to English and writing 8 more. To be a top-notch novelist in two languages is a remarkable feat not equaled by any other author.

Lolita is definitely his most famous novel (and is also a great movie done by StanleyKubrick). The novel initially was banned in the U.S. but went on to be a huge bestseller. Several of his other novels, such as Pnin and Pale Fire (a title taken from Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens) are quite comical. If you’ve never tried any Nabokov, give him a whirl. The ACC Library has several works.

-         Red Wassenich, RGC Library

Jazz Appreciation Month

April is  

Browse the NAXOS Music Library and listen to some jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Stan Kenton, and many other jazz and blues greats.

                               

Access the Naxos Music Library 

   Listen to Symphony in Black: A Triangle, "Saddest Tale"

   Listen to "Loveable Lunatic"

    Listen to Operator 13: Jungle Fever

     Listen to Miles Davis on trumpet in "Pharaoh"

Look for Jazz titles in our Library Catalog like these:

    

   

Visit Films on Demand and watch thousands of videos on jazz like this segment on Jazz Legends from Jungle Music: Jazz- All You Need Is Love: A History of Popular Music

Watch full length movies and documentaries on Kanopy like these:

Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans

Imagine the Sound - Jazz in the 60's

Maxine Sullivan: Love to Be in Love

Chick Corea & Charles Dutoit

Tablets @ the library

Want to get your hands on some new technology? The library now has iPad Minis and Dell Venues (Android) available at every campus location!

You can check out a tablet and take it home, just like a book! Tablets are a great way to read ebooks, access Blackboard, and use hundreds of free educational apps. 

Checking out a tablet is easy. Just bring your ACC ID to the library and the librarian will take you through a short setup process. More information here.

Information Literacy Sessions for Early College High School and Dual Credit

Did you think that Austin Community College librarians only visited classes on ACC campuses? Not anymore! We make it our mission for provide information literacy instruction to all ACC students no matter where they take their classes. 

(Manor New Technology High School)

This means we will hop in the library-mobile and teach at your high school! 

Just in the last year we have visited classrooms in Pflugerville, Manor, Round Rock, Lakeway, Dripping Springs, AND Buda! 

(Colorado River Collegiate Academy)

Are you teaching an ACC course for high school students? Request a library instruction session today!

Library Group Study Rooms

ACC Faculty often assign group projects to their classes but sometimes, students have difficulties finding a location to work together in a 'clean, well lighted place', with technology available to support your learning.

Locations: These ACC libraries have group study rooms available for currently enrolled ACC students studying together: Cypress (CYP), Elgin (EGN), Eastview (EVC), Hays (HYS), Northridge (NRG), Rio Grande (RGC), Round Rock (RRC), Riverside (RVS), and South Austin (SAC). At this time, the Pinnacle (PIN) library does not have a group study room.  Highland Campus (HLC) has lovely group study rooms, but they are located in the ACCelerator (across from the Library). Show your ACC ID and ask about availability at the ACCelerator's service desk.

For Library Group Study Rooms: Come to a library's Reference Desk in person and show the librarian your ACC ID card. If you are at one campus but need to make a reservation at another, take your ID to the Reference Desk and request the librarian call the Reference Desk at the second campus to arrange the reservation.

• Slots are available from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and depending on availability, at the end of your reservation you may be able to extend the time.
• Reservations are accepted up to 7 days in advance, but be sure to arrive punctually -- if you're more than 10 minutes late, your group forfeits the reservation!
• Use the white board or check out laptops at a Library's Circulation Desk so group members can collaborate via Google docs, view media, review Blackboard materials, print documents, etc. In a few study rooms you can connect a laptop to a projector or flat screen for added convenience!

Rules: 'Group study' means just that - 2 or more currently enrolled ACC students - these are not individual study rooms. The study rooms may not be used for tutoring, meetings of organizations, or for faculty to meet with students. Please see complete rules about the study rooms.

Sign-up, meet your group, and be successful with that project or ace that test! Would you like more info? Need other locations to study on your campus? Are you stuck getting started researching your topic? Ask a librarian! We're here to help you!

New to Austin Community College? Checkout the ACC Libraries Student Learning Success Toolbox-

Start Here-Get There!

New to Austin Community College? 

Checkout the ACC Libraries Student Learning Success Toolbox- complete with all you need for getting started. Available 24/7 from the ACC Library home page, this Toolbox is packed with great tools and links to help you get started this semester.

Answer frequently asked questions such as:

How do I manage my job, kids and my courses at ACC? 

How do I learn how to research the way the professor said in class?

How do I find peer-reviewed journals?

Where can I get help for one of my assignments?

Did your professor ask you to pick a topic for a paper? Try our short tutorial Choosing a Topic and learn how to choose the best topic for your assignment.

Are you tempted to consult Wikipedia about an unfamiliar topic? Try our short tutorial Finding Background Information and learn how you can get started on your assignment.

Need more assistance? Ask a research expert- any librarian at Austin Community College! You can walk into any campus library to get help, call or email us. We even offer help after hours - chat 24/7!

Don't be shy- we love to help students with your questions! Come by and see us today!