Information for Faculty
The Housatonic Library exists to serve students, faculty, and staff and strives for maximum access. In response to COVID restrictions, the library has expanded services. We remain a twelve-month operation, and plan to open six days a week during Fall and Spring semesters (weekdays during Summer or when no classes are scheduled). We have at least one professional librarian available at all times, in person and through remote chat, and offer online access to our databases. To foster communication between faculty and librarians and facilitate practical and efficient use of the library, see below for other information you may find useful.
Reference
Reference service, both on ground and online, is provided during all hours of library operation.
Information Literacy/Library Instruction
In the current uncertain environment in which we now live, it is important that the teaching of information literacy be accomplished in many ways, beyond the in-class lecture. For several years we have created LibGuides that cover both broad and specialized subject areas and respond to specific class assignments https://hcc-commnet.libguides.com/index . Since it is an active source, we can update and insert links to databases, websites, videos, etc. and various tutorials. Information Literacy Instruction sessions to familiarize students with library services and resources are available upon request of the faculty member teaching the class. (The exceptions are the mandatory presentations given to English 094 and English 101 classes.) The presentations are adapted to the needs of the group and range from basic information to more advanced or subject specific sessions. If you would like to have a librarian prepare a guide, fashion a tutorial, or give a presentation to your class please contact the Reference Desk - 203-332-5071.
Class Visits
If you wish to bring your class to the library, make the request (if possible) at least three days in advance. You can call us on shorter notice, but there may be another class already scheduled. Please note the library hours. If your class meets at a time when the library is unavailable, contact us and we will try to accommodate you. We will be happy to work with you and can serve students more effectively if we are able to plan ahead.
Reserve
Reserve is back! A Reserve collection is maintained behind the Circulation Desk. We encourage you to use Reserve for books, articles, DVDs, etc. when a substantial number of students need to read, view, or listen to material for a class. Use of the Reserve collection is an effective way of sharing limited resources amongst a large group.
Assignments
If you are giving a homework assignment that requires all of your students to use the library, please send us the syllabus or assignment ahead of time. That allows us to prepare by setting aside resources in advance. You may also want to consider putting some material(s) on Reserve. Keep in mind that we won’t have copies of the same title for every student.
Library Databases
Currently, approximately 35 separate and distinct databases (indexes to full-text articles in magazine, journal, and newspapers as well as other informational directories), are available in the library. These databases offer mostly full-text articles. The databases can be accessed from off-campus. A partial list:
- Academic Search Premier/Academic Onefile - General Interest/Comprehensive/ (viable for most topics) full-text popular magazine and journal articles.
- Business Insights - Comprehensive Business and Industry information.
- ABI/Inform Complete - Worldwide Business & Management articles.
- Literature Resource Center - Biographical information about authors and criticism of their works.
- Opposing Viewpoints - Articles, essays, documents, etc. on controversial, current event topics.
- Health and Wellness Resource Center - Health/Medical/Psychological, a large database with periodical articles and excerpts from reference books and pamphlets.
- PsycInfo - Access to full-text peer-reviewed articles and other documents in the realm of psychology and the behavioral and social sciences.
- ¡Informe! Spanish-language magazine index.
Library Computers
The library is one of the areas providing computing services to HCC students, faculty, and staff. The role of the library, and therefore the purpose of library computers, is to provide access to information. The computers are intended primarily for academic and research use. Access is provided for the following areas:
- Catalog: For locating and gaining access to any books, DVDs, or CDs that are found in the library.
- Databases: For accessing full-text magazine, journal, newspaper articles and other proprietary information via searchable indexes and directories.
- Internet: For access to the Internet for purposes of academic and research use.
Other
The Library also offers electronic services such as e-books, a large collection of streaming educational videos, and tools to help citing sources and organizing your research. Contact the Library for your free online subscription to the New York Times.
Let us know if you would like a library tour or information regarding any particular aspect of library collections or services. This can be delivered in-person or remotely. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact: Curleen Elliott, Interim Director of Library Services – 203-332-5179 .
