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!