About the Library

RPCC Library Services exists to support the mission and goals of River Parishes Community College. Library Services provides the RPCC community with materials, resources, and instructional services necessary for excellence in teaching and learning.

Philosophy

Library Services staff members are dedicated to partnering with members of the RPCC community in providing responsive and effective access to materials, collections, facilities, equipment, technologies, resources, instruction, and learning opportunities necessary to obtain knowledge, skills, and information for personal, academic, and professional excellence.

Description of Resources

RPCC Library Services provides a variety of services and resources for the RPCC user community [See 2.9 (01) and 2.9 (02)]. The physical collection is housed in two rooms in Building C on the RPCC campus, the Library and the Learning Resource Center (LRC), and access is available during normal operational hours [See 2.9 (03)]. Online resources, including the Library’s Catalog, are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by means of the internet and access is provided through the Library Services web page. A link to Library Services is on the RPCC home page [See 2.9 (04)].

The Library’s collections of books, CDs, DVDs, and VHS videos were developed cooperatively with teaching faculty to support current academic programs and courses [See 2.9 (05)]. Requests for materials from both students and faculty are welcome and acquired through purchase or interlibrary loan.

As of spring 2008, the Library owns over 16,500 physical volumes (including 2,600+ A/V items and 13,500+ print resources). Library Services provides materials for cross-enrolled students through interlibrary loan and by mail to individual students.

The Library provides access to commercial databases containing over 10,000 online journal, newspaper, and magazine publications, plus other types of resources and information acquired through consortium memberships. Licensed database resources include products from CQ Press, EbscoHost, Gale Group, Lexis Nexis, OCLC, Oxford Press, ProQuest, and World Book [See 2.9 (06) – 2.9 (07)]. Remote use is authenticated via proxy server and instructions for valid user login are on the Library’s web page and available in printed instructions in the Library.

Over 56,800 e-books (approximately 11, 000 leased and 45,000 owned) are available to RPCC users through NetLibrary [See 2.9 (08)].

Description of Consortia Agreements

RPCC Library Services maintains membership in several consortia organizations in order to provide maximum services and resources for Library users [See 2.9 (09)]. Consortia memberships include:

SoliNet/OCLC: Southeastern Library Network/Online Computer Library Center, a consortium providing resource sharing opportunities and services. Through Solinet/OCLC, RPCC Library Services has access to the following: interlibrary loan management system and interlibrary loan privileges with other member libraries, copy cataloging resources and software, MARC records, and the opportunity to purchase NetLibrary Shared E-Book Collections [See 2.9 (10)].

LOUIS: Louisiana Library Network, a statewide consortium of Louisiana academic and special libraries that cooperatively purchase and maintain online databases, library management tools, a statewide digital library collection and other resources. RPCC membership benefits include access to electronic database products (over 60 databases from 12 vendors), SIRSI Symphony automated library management software (cataloging, serials holdings, circulation, patron catalog, etc.) which is managed and housed on LOUIS servers, a union catalog of resources held by LOUIS academic library members, and specialized training [See 2.9 (11)].

LALINC: Louisiana Academic Library Information Network Consortium, a statewide consortium of academic libraries that strives to provide resource sharing opportunities, such as, reciprocal borrowing privileges for users, cooperative state-wide ILL delivery, and selection of effective shared electronic database resources [See 2.9 (12) to 2.9 (15)].

Description of User Services

Library Services provides a variety of services to students, faculty, staff, and other users [See 2.9 (16)]. Circulation of physical materials, access to online resources via the Library web page, interlibrary loan services, instruction in accessing and using resources, reference services, course reserves, student workshops, and proctored testing are all available. The Library Services Advisory Committee works with librarians to plan and improve services and access to resources.
Course-integrated instruction and orientation for students, Student Success Workshops, point of use instruction, faculty orientation and updates during in-services and other meetings, print handouts, as well as online tutorials and printable handouts are all instructional services offered by the Library. Help from a professional librarian is also available by phone and email during normal operational hours.

Information about Library Services in general, as well as services, resources, contacts, and policies is available on the Library’s web page and in the Library. Assessment of Library Services is conducted annually through surveys and usage statistics [See 2.9 (17) – 2.9(20) and additional supporting documentation 2.9 (21) – 2.9 (23)].

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: