|
Library
ALICE Catalog (find books & more) Electronic Databases (find articles & more |
Library Research Tools
Searchpath Research Tutorial
To begin a research project...
Do you have a research plan? Would you like some help getting started?
-
Define your research topic CalPoly web tutorial
-
Seven steps to effective library research Cornell University web tutorial
Begin research at DVC:
-
Library training and instruction at DVC. Check out Library Studies 121. Possibly the best one-credit course in the world!
-
Finding library material at DVC Brief guide to finding books, periodicals, and other parts of the DVC collection
-
Begin using ALICE, the library's on-line catalog
-
Search the World Wide Web by using Internet Search Tools.
-
Answer a reference question using DVC's Electronic Reference Desk
Finding Books and Periodicals (Magazines and Newspapers)
DVC's Online Catalog, ALICE
ALICE (Access to Library Information for College Education), is the Library's online catalog. ALICE includes information on the more than 90,000 books in the DVC Library, the Library's magazine and newspaper subscriptions, and the films, videotapes and audiotapes in the Media Center. It also includes information on books at our sister colleges, Los Medanos College and Contra Costa College. ALICE is available on the Internet or through a computer and modem. Please ask at the Reference Desk for additional information.
Locating the Books You Need
Books in the Library catalog have Library of Congress call numbers, which consist of letters and numbers.
-
ALICE displays the call number horizontally:
PA 151P3313
but the call number on the spine of the book actually looks like this:
PA
151
P3313 -
Locate the correct area by matching the letters on the signs at the ends of the book stacks with the letter or letters of the call number.
-
After you find the correct area, (PA), look for your book by number (151).
ALICE will indicate the college where the item is located and will tell you if it is checked out or available. If it is at DVC it will tell you whether to look in the stacks (book shelves), or reference, periodicals or media center. If the book is checked out, you can place a hold on it at the Loan Desk.
If You Can't Find the Books You Need
When the book you are looking for is not on the shelf where it should be, ask at the Circulation and Reserve Desk, giving the call number and title of the book. If the book is not checked out, the Circulation and Reserve staff will search the stacks for it. If you request, you will be notified by mail as soon as the book is available.
The Library has subscriptions to approximately 400 magazines and 18 newspapers. Staff at the Periodical Desk provide assistance in locating magazine and newspaper issues and in use of the microform reader-printers. If you need help finding magazine and newspaper articles on specific subjects, ask the Librarian at the Reference and Research Desk to help you use the Library's Electronic Databases.
Reserve
When books and other materials have been selected by faculty members for required reading, copies are placed "on reserve" at the Circulation and Reserve Desk. Materials on reserve are listed in the online catalog, ALICE. The materials are checked out from the desk for a limited period of time.
Use of this collection of rare books, Californiana, and DVC archival materials is restricted to the Special Collections/Archives Room. Request access at the Reference and Research Desk.
