Library News - Faculty Edition

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08/20/2024
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With the fall semester just around the corner, it's the perfect time for a fresh start as everyone heads back to class.  Whether you're getting ready for a new wave of students or just looking to ease into the season, we've got you covered.  We've rounded up some of our favorite tips to help make a smooth transition into fall.  Let's gear up for fall with a few handy tips and a lot help from your Library Services staff. 

 

  1. Review You Library Links

    The time between semesters is the perfect time to review all of the library sources referenced in your courses and make sure they are still working.  This includes your course eReserves! You can report any errors you find to asklibrary@tstc.edu and your librarians will work to reestablish the source or find a suitable substitute.

     

  2. Remind Students to Check Out Their Local ARC Team

    It is difficult for students to focus on their coursework when their basic needs are unmet. The Advocacy & Resource Center (ARC) is designed to assist students with non-academic barriers and help them to get back on the path to graduation.  

     

  3. Check Due dates

    Use Google Calendars to make your day-to-day chaos easier to handle.  You can make personal calendars to hold the courses you are teaching, week number of the semester, finals, office hours, and (most importantly) TSTC holidays.  It can also be help to get your daily agenda sent to your email to help plan your day.

     

  4. Boost Information Literacy Skills With Library Orientation

    By encouraging students to develop Information literacy skills, you are not only giving them the tools to question suspect information, you are also supplying them with desirable workplace skills such as critical thinking, analytical processing, and problem-solving abilities.  More than just buzzwords, these abilities show potential employers that graduates are able to process information instead of accepting it at face value. Students can sign up for these events and more at tstc.libcal.com.

     

  5. Double Check Your Email Templates

    If you aren't using templates in Gmail, you are missing out!  The first two weeks of class are filled with repetitive questions from students (most of which can be found in the syllabus🙄).  Take some of the headache out of those responses by creating templates so you can send students answers without having to spend more time at the keyboard.  

    For those already using templates, its a great time to make sure that all of the replies are still accurate.  

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07/22/2024
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Introduction to Libby 
The free Libby app is the easiest way to get started with eBooks and audiobooks from TSTC Library Services. All you need to do is download the app and sign into our library using your TSTC OneID to begin browsing the digital collection. 

 

Getting Started 
Getting started is easy! Just follow these simple instructions: 

  1. Install the Libby app from the app store on your Android or iOS device. 
  2. In Libby, follow the prompts to find Texas State Technical College and sign in with your TSTC OneID. 
  3. Browse the digital collection and borrow a title. 

What you'll need: 
What do you need to enjoy free instant access to digital eBooks and audiobooks? 

  • Your TSTC OneID 
  • Internet Access 
  • A smartphone, tablet, or eReader (Kindle, Nook, etc) 
  • The free Libby app, which can be downloaded for free from your device's app store 

Borrowing Privileges: 

  • Titles are automatically returned at the end of the lending period. No late fees!   /li>
  • Check out up to 3 titles at a time. 
  • Borrow titles for up to 21 days. 
  • You can place a hold on 10 titles at a time. 

Quick Tips: 

If a title is not available, you can place a hold. 

  • After you place a hold, view your spot in line by going to your Shelf, tapping Holds, then tapping Wait List. 

You can view your place in line for a hold. 

  • After you place a hold, go to Shelf > Holds and tap the calendar icon. You'll see your approximate wait time, the number of copies in use, and the number of people waiting. 

You can save time by saving your preferences. 

  • Tap Preferences at the top of your library's home screen, or at the top of any list. Adjust your filters and default sorting option. Tap Apply Preferences. 

You can explore more book recommendations. 

  • Tap Explore at the top of your library's home screen to discover your next great read. Search by subject, popularity, what's available, and more. 

You can add more than one library card. 

  • Tap the Libby icon in the top right corner, then tap Add a Library. You can search by name of zip code. 

Need Additional Help? 
There is an in-app support feature to help answer frequently asked questions. 

Visit: https://help.libbyapp.com/

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You may have noticed that the database page has been overhauled!  The redesign as done after a platform update which gives the page brand new features and customization options.  After carefully reviewing dozens of current college and university libraries, noting what worked and (more importantly) what didn't!  We reviewed current general trends in web design, user experience best practices, and reviewed our own analytics to make decisions about the general look and feel as well as the structure to the faculty page.  The page is designed with the desktop/laptop user in mind since almost 84% of our current visitors use these devices, but the site is fully responsive and will also work well on tablets and phones.

A-Z Databases

Our databases page has been updated to the newest version with some key upgrades.  

Current A-Z Database page
  1. New top banner to allow users easy access to commonly used library pages.
  2. An active hours widget lets users know when library assistance is actively available and includes links to 
    1. Library chat 
    2. Book a Librarian
  3. Announcements to keep users informed on database changes.
  4. Users are now able to narrow down databases based on 
    1. Database title or keyword search
    2. program/subject of interest
    3. the type of resource they are looking for
    4. vendor
  5. Not sure where to start?  The library's recommended databases page will offer some great jumping off points.

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Welcome to the new faculty site for the TSTC Library News.  

This post serves as a brief guide to where to find useful information that is relevant to you.  If you have comments, questions, or suggestions about the new site, please send an email to asklibrary@tstc.edu.

Faculty Page

To help you find resources that are relevant to your needs, the faculty page saw a complete overhaul.  Focusing on categories that mattered most based on feedback, you can find the following:

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