Library
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I...?
...find if we own a particular book or telecourse video?
Check the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and search by title or by author.
...find if we own a particular periodical (magazine, journal or newspaper)?
Check the OPAC and perform a journal/magazine/newspaper title search. You can also search the full text electronic periodical holding list to see which database contains the periodical.
...find articles on a particular subject?
You can use any of the online indexes available from our Articles page. Databases currently in use include CQ Researcher, EBSCOhost, Ethnic NewsWatch, Issues & Controversies, JSTOR, Literature Research Center, The New York Times, Opposing Viewpionts, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Project Muse, PsycARTICLES. All are available off-campus through MyCCP. Call the Information Desk at 215-751-8394 for further details.
...find reserve items? My instructor put materials in the library for class use. Where can I get these materials?
Reserves. Most of these materials are available for use in the library for two hours maximum per day. You can check the OPAC by course name or by instructor's last name.
...find web sites that are recommended for my subject area?
Librarians have chosen web sites specific to their subject area. These Internet Resources are available from the library’s home page.
...find help guides?
Help guides are available from our Help page.
Can I...?
...check out periodicals?
No, periodicals can be used in the library for two hours at a time. Six copiers are located in the library, with a copying cost of 10 cents per page.
...type a paper or print a word processing document in the library?
Yes, the library has 10 computers with Microsoft Office installed. The Student Academic Computing Center (SACC) is also available in B2-33 and C3-17 for Internet, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
Ask
a Librarian Service
What kind of
questions can I ask?
"Ready Reference" questions. May include addresses, phone numbers, or brief factual information.
Citation verification.
Guidance in the use of Library resources, including strategies for database searching.
Help in searching our online catalog.
Guidance on how to begin research for a term paper or class project.
What kind of
questions can't I ask?
Request for books, articles, or other library materials. You should search for book or journal titles in the Library catalog. Community College of Philadelphia faculty, staff, and students can use Interlibrary Loan to request books or articles not available at the Library.
Requests for lists of article citations. We can guide you to appropriate resources and help you formulate searches.
How quickly can I
expect an answer?
Within 24 hours Monday through Thursday. Since we are closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the Summer, response time will be longer on the weekends.
What happens when I
submit my question?
The text of your question is sent in an email message to a reference librarian at the Library who will then respond directly to you.
I'm ready...
This page is monitored by the Reference Librarians
at Community College of Philadelphia
Last Modified 6 August 2008
