Tech Toolbox

Tech Toolbox is one of the many Library Research Guides available through the library website to help you with your classes. While the Subject Guides provide resources and information about every academic subject and workforce area offered at ACC, our Library Guides help with certain research-related skills and topics.

The Tech Toolbox Library Guide focuses on technology skills and information. Confused about Google Docs? Need to brush up on your PowerPoint skills? Unsure where to go to to set up your ACC online account? Wondering what resources the library has about technology? Visit the Tech Toolbox to answer these questions, plus many more!

Like all other Library Research Guides, Tech Toolbox is divided into tabs, each with its own sub-topic, appearing across the top of the guide. You can click on these tabs in any order, or skip some entirely, depending on the information you seek.

The Home tab provides information about how to use a computer, what the Internet actually is, a glossary of technological terms, and what software and hardware is available to you in the ACC Library.

The Google Docs tab explains how to use this tool (and provides tips and tricks), which you have access to through your ACCmail account.

The Word and PowerPoint tabs include three different tutorials to get you started, a list of ACC Library materials about the software, and step-by-step instructions on several FAQ topics.

The Email tab discusses ACC student email accounts, general email safety and security tips, and provides links to tutorials on using email services.

The Printing, Wireless, and Library E-Resources tabs provide information about these services at ACC libraries, as well as general information and tips.

The Social tab defines and gives examples of the most popular types of social media, as well as providing links to video tutorials, informational websites, and books at the ACC libraries.

No matter your comfort level with technology, there's always something new to learn, and the Tech Toolbox is the best place to start! Start exploring this resource today!

Spotlight on Library Group Study Rooms

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

These ACC libraries have group study rooms available for currently enrolled ACC students studying together:

CYP, EVC, NRG, RGC, RRC, RVS, and SAC (At this time, the PIN library is the exception.)

Come to the library’s Reference Desk in person and present your ACC ID card to sign-up to use a room Slots are available from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and depending on availability, time may be extended for 30 minute increments. 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! 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.  A few study rooms even have projectors!

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

Sign-up, meet your group, and be successful with that project! Need more info? Need other locations to study on your campus? Ask a librarian!

Library's Blackboard Tab

Did you know that the Library has a tab in Blackboard?

You can access the library’s resources quickly and easily. You can:

• Search for books or videos
• Connect to the article databases
• Find help for your assignments

All in one place!

Just click the “Library Services” tab near the top of your Blackboard page.

STAT!Ref: Healthcare Ebooks

STAT!Ref is an online e-book service offering full-text access to over 70 essential titles in the health sciences. Each book is listed separately in the catalog and can be accessed separately. According to our statistics, the most popular STAT!Ref ebook titles in FY 12, with over 1000 uses each, were:

• Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses® - 13th Ed. (2013)
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 4th Ed. (DSM-IV-TR™, 2000)
• Nursing Diagnosis Reference Manual, Sparks & Taylor's - 8th Ed. (2011)
• AHFS Drug Information® (2012)
• Stedman's Medical Dictionary - 28th Ed. (2006)

But the real strength of STAT!Ref lies in being able to search topics across the entire platform. Searches on terms go to specific sections and chapters for easy access. Double-clicking on medical terms in the results provides definitions. Results can be filtered by point of care, or by books in particular disciplines, such as nursing or pharmacology. Other features include hundreds of medical calculators, and links from search results to federal health resources like the CDC and PubMed.

The following video briefly describes many of the useful features of STAT!Ref:

STAT!Ref is also available on-the-go. There are both a mobile site, available on the ACC Libraries Mobile site (just click Articles & More on the site), and apps available for iPhone/iPad, Android  and Blackberry. Be aware that you may have to set up an account with STAT!Ref in order to authorize these apps for use on your device.

Do take advantage of this helpful resource. If you would like to integrate STAT!Ref or any of it's titles into your course, we can help you create permanent links that can be emailed to students or posted in Blackboard. Contact Eastview librarian Steve Self for more information.

Election 2012 Information

WEBSITE COUNTDOWN CLOCK

Election 2012

On November 6th, 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!

Government Subject Guide

Books and eBooks in your ACC Library!

• The Presidential Election Process
• Understanding the Fundamentals of the U.S. Presidential Election System
• Understanding the electoral college
• Voting in America

Important Dates

• October 22nd: First day of early voting
• October 30th: Last day to apply for ballot by mail(Received, not Postmarked)
• November 2nd: Last day of early voting
• November 6th: Election Day

Election and Polling Information

• Travis County
• Williamson County
• Bastrop County
• Hays County
• Find your Polling Place
• Texas Secretary of State
• League of Women Voters
• Vote Texas

News Sources

• ABC
• CBS
• CNN
• C-SPAN
• MSNBC

Using Other Libraries

 We in Austin are fortunate to have a wealth of libraries. 

ACC students have access to almost all of them.

TexShare is a state-funded service that allows you to use almost every library in the state. Get a free TexShare card by filling out a form at any ACC library. Rules may vary some at individual libraries as to which materials may be borrowed. The TexShare card allows you to check out books from the University of Texas and Texas State University, among others.

Austin Public Library (http://library.austintexas.gov/) -With over two dozen branches, APL is a convenient source. In addition to books, they have many videos, audiobooks, music CDs, and a collection of online databases that can be accessed by those with a library card. If you don't live in Austin, you can get a TexShare card (see above) and use the library. The Round Rock Public Library (http://www.roundrocktexas.gov/library) also participates in TexShare.

University of Texas at Austin Library (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/) - UT has 13 libraries on campus with over 5 million books. A TexShare card (see above) allows ACC students and staff to check out most material. Their huge collection of e-books and databases is only available by visiting the libraries in person and obtaining a temporary EID ("electronic ID").

Texas State University, St. Edward's University, Huston-Tillotson University are other area libraries that participate in TexShare.

Interlibrary Loan
If you need a specific book or article that isn't available nearby, you can request it through interlibrary loan. The ACC Library Services can borrow from a libraries all over the nation. Fill out the online form. (This service does NOT work for textbooks.) Expect it to take 10 or more days for an interlibrary loan to arrive.

ACC Libraries Can Help

ACC Libraries have resources for Math PLUS.  You can search for this book and similar books in the Library Catalog.
Type keyword(s) in the box below then press Enter or click the Search button.  Keywords can be any combination of words from the author, title, or subject fields. For example:

algebra and bittinger (algebra, titles or subjects, by Bittinger)
math* and history (retrieves math, mathematics, mathew, mathias, and so on combined with history)
Isaac Newton (by or about Isaac Newton)

Use the drop down box to limit your search by campus or item format.

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