Welcome from the North Central Texas College Library/Learning Resource Centers. If the information on this page does not answer your question, please ask for assistance at the Circulation Desk or contact one of the campus librarians. After all, there is no such thing in a library as a silly question. So, please let us help. We hope to save you and your students as much time and frustration as possible.

Orientation to resources and services
Faculty are invited to schedule orientation (including database and internet) sessions by contacting a librarian at the appropriate campus. Please schedule at least one week prior to the occurrence in the course calendar. We can tailor these presentations to your assignments, and in some cases, can even bring the presentation to your classroom for a hands-on tour of resources. Individual assistance in using Library/LRC resources is also available during hours of operation, through e-mail, and through video phone.

Scheduling audiovisual equipment for classroom use
A variety of audiovisual equipment including overhead projectors, slide projectors, LCD projectors, audio cassette tape players, portable compact disc players, DVD players, portable public address systems, camcorders, and digital cameras are available for instructional use. Video cassette tape players are available from the campus Library/LRC for use in those rooms at Corinth and Bowie with wall-mounted monitors. Some instructional departments also have SVGA units capable of projecting video and computer input. Please contact the campus Library/LRC as early as possible to schedule audiovisual equipment. We can help with instructions for using audiovisual equipment, obtaining a replacement projector bulb, or getting AV equipment repaired. Procedures vary slightly by campus. Please check with the librarian at the campus where the equipment is needed for scheduling information.

Reserves
Materials may be placed on RESERVE, in accordance with copyright restrictions, and the circulation of an item can be restricted for various periods of time (i.e. Library/LRC Use Only, Overnight Use, or One Week Checkout). Note: All materials are processed on the Gainesville campus; please allow five days for an item to be ready for student use. Contact the campus Library/LRC or Cecilia concerning reserves. At the end of each long semester and the second summer semester, items return to the collection for general circulation, or in the case of personal copies of items, to the faculty member.

Locating Library/LRC Resources

Books, Journals, Audiovisual
NCTC’s on-line public access catalog (OPAC) contains holdings of books, journals (paper & microfilm), and audiovisual materials. The OPAC is searchable by title, author, subject, periodical title, and keyword. The catalog is accessible from any computer connected to the World Wide Web--on NCTC’s intranet or remotely--through the Library/LRC's home page.  To learn how to view a listing of resources added to the collection the previous month, click here.

Journals, Newspapers, Periodicals--current and back issues
NCTC Library/LRC has several full-text journal, magazine, and newspaper article databases as well as current journal, magazine, and newspaper subscriptions. Each database contains a list of publications included, and current subscriptions are included in the NCTC Library catalog under the periodical title.

Databases
Electronic databases are available from any computer on NCTC’s intranet. Databases include an electronic periodical index with bibliographic citations, abstracts, and full-text articles from journals and other periodicals. Databases are accessible on-campus from any workstation on the intranet, and many are accessible off-campus by current NCTC students and faculty. Off-campus access to the NCTC E-books Collection is available. Registration from a workstation in the campus Library/LRC is required.

ID Card
Full-time faculty are issued NCTC photo identification cards for the academic year, and adjunct faculty are issued NCTC photo identification cards for the semester in which the individual teaches for the College. This card is required to check out materials as well as to obtain and use a Texshare card.

Checking Out Resources
In order to make materials available to as many patrons as possible, materials check out according to circulation rules based on material type and patron type. To extend use of materials beyond the normal circulation period, contact the librarian on duty at the campus Library/Learning Resource Center where the material is obtained. Overdue notices are sent as reminders; a response is both encouraged and appreciated.

Checking out items from the campus NCTC Library/LRC
Present a current NCTC Faculty identification card at the Circulation Desk. (Please remind students that they need a current NCTC identification card to check out materials, even reserve materials restricted to in Library/LRC use and to enter the General Access Computer Lab.)

Checking out materials from another NCTC campus Library/LRC
A courier delivers materials between Gainesville and Corinth Monday through Friday and between Gainesville and Bowie Monday through Thursday. Check with a campus librarian converning courier arrival and departure times.  Requests for materials from another NCTC Library/LRC can be made through the on-line catalog, e-mail, telephone, or at the Circulation Desk of the campus Library/LRC.

Intercampus library Loan
To obtain materials from another campus, request the material through the Library/LRC at your campus, through e-mail to a librarian at the campus where the material is located, or through the OPAC.

Other resources available

Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary loan services are available to NCTC faculty, staff, and students at no charge for instructional materials--books and journal articles--to meet NCTC assignments and within accepted interlibrary loan standards and copyright regulations. A daily courier serves (Monday through Friday) many academic and public libraries in Texas in order to provide more timely interlibrary loan services. File an ILL request at the campus library or through the OPAC.

Texshare
NCTC belongs to a consortium of public and private academic institutions and public libraries that attempt to share resources. A Texshare card issued by NCTC and a current NCTC identification card are required to check out materials from participating Texshare libraries. The lending library’s policies concerning types of materials that circulate, circulation time period, and fines apply. Check with a librarian on your campus for more information.

General Access Computer Labs for NCTC Students
NCTC Student General Access Computer Labs are located within or adjacent to the Library/LRC at each campus. A current NCTC Photo ID card is required to enter the lab. General Access Computer Lab hours correspond closely to Library/LRC hours. Labs usually open one-half hour after the Library/LRC opens and close one-half hour before the Library/LRC.  These labs are open a portion of Finals Week each semester.

STARLINK (Professional Development Programs)
NCTC participates in a consortium of community colleges which provides professional development programs in live, video, and streaming video format. 

Collection Development
The subject area expertise of faculty is very important in maintaining a Library/Learning Resource Center collection of relevant materials—books, journals, electronic, and audiovisual—to support student research needs. Recommendations and suggestions for additions and/or deletions are always welcome. Contact Diane Roether at Gainesville (940-668-4338), Beverly Snow at Corinth (940-498-6231), or Robin Studdard at Bowie (940-872-4002).

Photocopiers
Coin-operated photocopiers are available in each campus Library/LRC for patron use. For information concerning photocopies for instructional use, contact your department chair/program coordinator for procedures, access codes, location, and guidelines.

Updated 17-July-2007