Library Central 2015 - 2016 Full of surprises
Information on… Library services at Mid Cheshire College Books and other resources for your course Help to find the information and support you need to get top marks
Never be afraid to ask a librarian!
Library Central at Mid-Cheshire College Welcome! You can be sure of a warm welcome in our Libraries from all of the Library team. We are here to help you to find information from books, magazines or online so that you will get the best marks you can. We can also help you to use any of the resources in the library. Always have your College ID card with you and on display you will need it if you want to borrow something from the library.
When can you use Library Central? Opening Hours Hartford Campus Library - term-time Monday & Tuesday 8.30 - 4.45 Wednesday & Thursday 8.30 - 7.00 Friday 8.30 - 4.15 Hartford Campus Library - vacation opening Monday - Thursday 9.15 - 4.45 Friday 9.15 - 4.15 Closed for lunch 12.15 - 1.15 (Please phone beforehand to check opening times) Hartford Campus Learning Zone (term-time only) Monday – Thursday 9.00 - 4.45 Friday 9.00 - 4.15 Closed for lunch 12.10 -1.10 Winsford Campus Library (term-time only) Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9.00 - 4.00 Tuesday 9.00 – 19.00 Closed for lunch 12.20 – 1.00
Never be afraid to ask a librarian!
Where is Library Central?
At Hartford Campus the Library is on the top floor of the main block. Take the stairs from reception and follow the signs.
The Learning Zone is on the first floor just along from the middle staircase.
At Winsford Campus we are on the first floor, room 101.
Students are welcome to use any of our centres regardless of which campus they are based at.
How to contact us?
You can email us on library@midchesh.ac.uk
At Hartford our phone number is 01606 720646
At Winsford our phone number is 01606 720652
So now to tell you a little bit about what we have for you… We have books! The Library has about 25,000 books at Hartford and about 5,000 at Winsford. The books are divided up so they support the courses being taught at each site. How do I find a book? Search our library catalogue from anywhere where you can access the internet (college, home, work etc). Available online @ http://library.midchesh.ac.uk Books are arranged in subject order by number. The catalogue will show details of the item and the class number where it can be found on the shelves. If you can’t find what you want, please ask a member of staff who will be pleased to help you.
Never be afraid to ask a librarian!
Books from the other site If a book you need for research is at the other site and you are unable to collect it, we may be able to arrange for it to be brought to your site for you. Music and Sound We have a range of music CDs and audio books. You can borrow these free of charge. Most of these are at Hartford but can be sent to Winsford on request. Film and recordings We stock a range of DVDs for both entertainment and to support your learning. DVDs are held at both campuses; some of these we have bought and some are recorded from the television. The subject related recordings are housed with the subject areas and the entertainment DVDs are located on carousels within the libraries. Again you can borrow these free of charge. These resources are here for your use - So if you think we are missing something, let us know!
Never be afraid to ask a librarian!
Borrowing You may borrow up to 6 items at a time (8 for Higher Education students). You must bring your College ID card with the items you want to borrow to the issue desk. Most things can be borrowed for 3 weeks. A small number of the most popular books and all the journals can only be borrowed for one week. If you need anything for a longer period you can renew them. Renewals You may renew by email or phone (See contact information on page 3). Alternatively you can bring them in to either library and renew them over the counter (No limit unless item is reserved for another user). You can also renew online using your Library account – log in through the Library catalogue using your network username and password. Overdues Just before an item’s due back you’ll receive a notification by email. A few days after an item goes overdue we will send you a letter to remind you to return the items you have on loan. Please be aware that we do charge fines for all overdue items. We don’t charge much, just 5p a day per item. But if you have several items overdue it quickly mounts up. Non- return of items will result in us contacting your Tutor and blocking your computer access. Back to the books… Factual books The majority of our books are factual and are bought to support the subjects being studied in college. Winsford has a collection that reflects the subjects being taught there so it has books mainly for HE and HND courses. Hartford has a more general collection and a very large collection of art books.
Never be afraid to ask a librarian!
Fiction If you enjoy reading you are welcome to borrow from our fiction collections. We buy new books regularly and always welcome suggestions from students of what can be added to stock. Children’s books We have a children’s book collection at our Hartford site. Magazines and newspapers We have a range of subject-based and general interest newspapers and magazines to support your courses. We subscribe to Infotrac, an online database, through which you can access all UK newspapers; some as far back as 1990. You can access Infotrac through the Library Central Moodle pages or http://bit.ly/infotrac. e-Books Copies of full text, online textbooks, available 24/7 through the Library Central Moodle pages and the Library catalogue. Click on the Online Resources button on the left hand side and then e-books to access, or find an e-book on the catalogue. Quiet study Remember that the libraries are the only places in college where people can come and work quietly. To allow other people to concentrate, please turn your music down and switch your mobile on to silent. We also have a silent room for those who require undisturbed study.
Never be afraid to ask a librarian!
On to Computers… Library Central has computers in all its centres. Normally computers are available on a first come first served basis. However you can reserve a computer in advance online for up to 3 hours a day. Go to the college Moodle quicklinks or http://pcbooker.midchesh.ac.uk to make a booking. Please remember that the computers are provided for students to do their coursework. If you are not doing coursework and the centre is busy you will be asked to log off and free up a computer. Be aware that college staff are monitoring what you are doing on your computer! How many are there? The Library at Hartford has 20 bookable computers. The Learning Zone on the first floor at Hartford has 41 computers, 28 of which can be booked. Winsford Campus has 27 computers in the Library, 12 of which can be booked by students. The Learning Zone (First floor at Hartford) Opening hours for drop in computing (term time only) (closed for lunch 12:10 – 1:10) Monday - Thursday Friday
9.00 – 4.45 9.00 – 4.15
Do come up to Hartford Library outside these hours or if all the computers are being used.
Never be afraid to ask a librarian!
How to log in… The log in box on the screen has two lines. Where you are asked for a name, type in the six digit number off your ID card. For the password type in your postcode in lower case with no spaces. E.g. CW8 1LJ becomes cw81lj To make your account secure we recommend you change your password to something you can easily remember. Do not tell anyone else your password. Everyone has to agree to the network acceptable use policy before they can proceed. If you have any problems with your account, or think it might have been misused, go and see the IT Technicians. What can you do on the computer? Search the Library Catalogue, College Moodle pages, online databases or the Internet. Use programs to prepare your work, print off and check your e-mail. Access your college e-mail account from the link on Moodle. Download work and resources from Moodle.
Never be afraid to ask a librarian!
Online resources Click the Internet button and the College Moodle home page appears. To access online resources, click on the Library Central logo at the top and log in. Choose the online resources box on the left to access electronic materials. There are also links to a collection of recommended freely available websites sorted by subject. You must check all facts carefully, particularly with any information you find on the Internet. Remember, anyone can put anything on the Internet! Please ask library staff for help. To use these resources from home you can access via Moodle using http://moodle.midchesh.ac.uk Printing and photocopying There are 25 printers in college where you can print, copy or scan to email. You can print and copy in colour or black and white (mono); on A4 or A3 paper. Printing defaults to double sided mode. You will need your ID card to print, copy and scan at ANY printer in college. All print jobs are stored in the Cloud. When you get a new ID card you must register it at a printer for it to work.
Never be afraid to ask a librarian!
Topping up your printer credits Every student gets a printing allowance at the beginning of the academic year. If you use this up you will need to buy more! Prices are advertised near the printer/copiers and on Moodle. Ways to top up:  Register on ParentPay and pay by credit/debit card (See instructions on Moodle)  Pay cash at the library desk. Library in your Pocket You can install the Library app to your smartphone to book PCs, find resources, renew and reserve your library items. To download, go to http://goo.gl/nJJMMs You can keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook or the library blog. REMEMBER! If you need any help, please ask a member of staff.
AVAILABLE IN OTHER COLOURS AND IN LARGE PRINT ON REQUEST
at
The Library Mid-Cheshire College Chester Road Hartford Northwich CW8 1LJ 01606 720646
Email library@midchesh.ac.uk