Library orientations

You can help your students go beyond Google by scheduling an in-person or virtual (Zoom) library orientation for your class. In just one hour or less, a librarian can provide an orientation that is custom-tailored to the needs of your students and course assignments. 

Library orientations increase students’ ability to find research materials for their assignments and help them make the best use of the electronic resources available to them. Help us help your students by giving us just 1 hour of your class time.

• Instructors (no substitutes) are required to attend.

• Orientations should be scheduled at least two weeks or more in advance.

• Orientations are not scheduled during the first week of the school term.

• In-person orientations are held in the instructor's smart classroom or, if a hands-on session is required, in the Library computer lab (BT-118).

• Virtual library orientations are conducted via Zoom.

How to schedule an orientation:

• Check our online calendar below for the date and time availability. If you cannot see the calendar, either update your browser or switch to a different browser.

• Fill out the online Orientation Request Form.

NOTE: If your students will be working on a specific assignment, please include a copy of the assignment.

You will receive a confirmation with the date and time scheduled, and the name and contact information of the librarian who will be conducting the orientation. If you have any questions, please email Elaine Wong at [email protected].

Virtual tour of the Library

Virtual Tour of the temporary Library space and services.

Librarian assistance

Librarians provides research assistance to students. A librarian is at the Information Desk during all open hours. Please encourage your students to ask for help!

The Library also provides academic support services for faculty in all programs. Stop by the Library or make an appointment for a personal orientation to our services and resources. Reviewing course needs with a librarian will ensure that we have all the materials students need to successfully complete your course.

For assistance please contact the librarian specializing in your division/school:

Tina Boghozian: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math

Michele Speck: Health, Wellness, Public Safety; Business & Education, and Service Industries; Counseling & Learning Services

Elaine Wong: People, Culture, Society; Creative Arts & Communication

Instructor Reserves

Instructor Reserves are items placed on reserve by faculty for the students in their classes. You may place as many of your own materials as necessary on reserve. You may also request items from the Library's print or media collection to be placed on reserve for your students' use in the Library. You may place up to five books from the Library's collection on reserve per semester, for a maximum of one semester.

If you wish to place material on reserve, please print out and attach one Reserve Request form for each item. Please allow 48 hours notice for processing new reserves. Note that the call number for personally owned items is the instructor's last name. Along with the normal catalog search features (title, author, and keyword) Instructor Reserve items will also be listed in OneSearch under the Instructor and Course.

To check if the Library has your textbook on reserve, conduct a Textbook Reserves search in OneSearch. For instructions on how to conduct a search, go to How can I tell if the Library has my textbook on Course Reserves?   

For additional information regarding instructor reserves, see the Instructor & Textbook Reserves Policies for Faculty section of the Mission College LIbrary Policies and Guidelines.

Textbook Reserves & SemesterText (includes Faculty Request Form)

Textbooks will only be considered for purchase for the Library’s Textbook Reserves Collection and SemesterText Program if a Faculty Textbook Request Form is submitted (link is below).

You do not need to fill out this form if your textbook is already in the Library's Collections. This form is to request that your textbook be considered for addition to the Textbook Reserves Collection and/or the SemesterText Program.

To check if the Library has your textbook on reserve or in the SemesterText Collection conduct a Textbook search in OneSearch. For instructions on how to conduct a search, go to How do I search for my textbook?

If you would like your textbook to be considered for purchase for the Library’s Textbook Reserve Collection and/or SemesterText Program for Spring 2025, please submit the Faculty Textbook Request Form by September 27, 2024. You will be notified prior to the start of the semester if you textbook is selected. 

Please fill out a separate form for each textbook. Filing out the form is not a guarantee that your textbook will be added to the Library’s collection. It just guarantees that your textbook will be placed on the list for consideration.

For information on how textbooks are selected for purchase, review the information below.

Textbook Reserves Collection

The Library has a collection of many of the textbooks used in courses at Mission College.Textbooks are on reserve behind the Check Out Desk. Items are checked out for a two hour time period, Please note that we are unable to purchase textbooks for all courses. Textbooks are purchased based on factors such as number of sections, revision of book, cost and the Library's budget.

These textbooks are some of the most heavily used resources in the Library. We encourage faculty to provide copies of textbooks that can be placed on Instructor Reserve (see above).

Note that students need to have the call number for a book to request it at the Check Out Desk (If the item is owned by an instructor, the call number is the instructor's last name). As a courtesy to your students, please include the Library call number on your syllabus.

For additional information regarding Textbook Reserves, see the Instructor & Textbook Reserves Policies for Faculty section of the Mission College LIbrary Policies and Guidelines. 

SemesterText Program

The Library has a collection of textbooks and calculators available for semester long check out. Textbooks for this program are purchased based on factors such as number of sections, the number of years the material will be used, cost, and the Library's budget, with priority going to courses with two or more sections and for which the material will be used for at least three more years.

Books that are not edition specific will have the highest priority. Workbooks will not be added to the collection. The Library will try to purchase material across as many disciplines as possible. 

Please encourage your students to donated their used textbooks to this program. Textbook donations are accepted at the Library Check Out Desk. Students do not have to donate a textbook to participate in the SemesterText Program.

For more information about this program, and to see a list of textbooks currently available, go to the SemesterText page.

Faculty borrowing guidelines

A Mission College ID card is needed to check out materials. Faculty library privileges are more flexible than student privileges. Loan rules are as follows:

• Circulating books – Three weeks, renewal possible.
• Textbooks on reserve – Four hours.

When you check out, you may request extended loan periods. However, Library materials are not to be borrowed to use for an entire semester.

Interlibrary Loan

Faculty and students may request books from West Valley College through OneSearch. For instructions, go to How to find/request books from West Valley.

Credo InfoLit Modules

Credo InfoLit is a set of information literacy modules that you can use to help teach information literacy skills to your students. Items include videos, text tutorials with interactive exercises to practice concepts, and quizzes that can be easily added into courses in Canvas. 

Short videos to help students get started with using Library resources for research

The Library offers a series of short videos to help students get started with using the Library resources for research. They include information on where to start your research, finding articles through OneSearch, finding articles in the Library databases, and creating citations.

Library catalog and research databases

To find information resources for research projects use OneSearch or the individual research databases listed on the Research Databases page.

OneSearch searches the Library's physical resources (print books, calculators, etc.) plus most (but not all) of the Library's research databases. In addition, there is an option to search for books to borrow from West Valley College. For information on how to use OneSearch, go to the About OneSearch guide. It includes a list of the databases not included in OneSearch. 

The Library subscribers to over 50 different research databases, many are subject specific, while others include only one type of source, such as streaming films or newspaper articles. They include online searchable collection of information such as articles, ebooks, streaming films and videos, and reference materials. 

Streaming videos

The Library provides online access to films and videos. Some may be accessed through OneSearch but all can be accessed directly from the Research Databases page. Mission faculty have permission to use the films and videos in these databases as class material (copyright restrictions do not apply). All videos and films are closed captioned.

Films on Demand
Provides 24/7 access to streaming videos across a variety of topics. Includes videos from HBO, PBS, TED, Frontline, Films for Humanities & Sciences to name a few. Instructions on how to embed Films on Demand videos in Canvas.

Kanopy
A video streaming platform with movies, documentaries, foreign films, classic cinema, independent films, and educational videos that inspire, enrich, and entertain. Browse films focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Instructions on how to embed Kanopy films in Canvas.

Archival Films & Newsreels Collection is a collection of archival and historical films from multiple sources (from Filmes on Demand).Instructions on how to embed Films on Demand videos in Canvas.

BioMedia Associates Streaming Collection
These are instructional life sciences videos. Programs feature new techniques of microscopy, animation, and photography to reveal the structure, process, and behavior in living things. To access the video controls to enlarge them, play closed captions, or fast forward, right click on the video and select Show Controls (on a Mac, CTRL+Click). Instructions on how to embed BioMedia videos in Canvas.

eBooks

EBSCO eBook Collection
Search and view full text books online across a variety of topics. Use this EBSCO eBooks: For Faculty guide to learn more. 

ProQuest Ebook Central
Search and view full text books online across a variety of topics.  Video: Search for a book on Ebook Central

O'Reilly Online Learning
Provides access to more than 21,000 digital books on a large range of topics from the humanities and social sciences to tech and business from more than 250 publishers along with videos, case studies, exclusive O’Reilly-produced content from world-renowned innovators and corporate leaders, expert-curated learning paths and self-assessments. O’Reilly has a mobile app for Apple and Android devices. Sign in with your college email and password.

Other eBooks

Digital magazines

The Library subscribes to over 50 digital magazines you can read on your computer or mobile device. Go to the Flipster page to browse available magazines or click on a magazine below to go directly to it. For a list of available magazines, go to the Flipster Title List.

Flipster has a mobile app for Apple devices, Android devices, and side-loaded to Kindle Fire Tablets. Once you download the app, select Mission College as your library. If you are off campus you will be prompted to sign in with your Mission email and password.

Digital subscriptions to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal

Mission College faculty, staff, and students have access to full complimentary subscriptions to the digital versions of the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Both publications provide additional faculty resources. Go to the guides below for information on how to register for your free digital access and to learn about the faculty resources available.

New York Times Digital Subscription

The Wall Street Journal Subscription

Digital access to SJ Mercury News & SF Chronicle

The Library subscribes to NewsBank: Access World News Research Collection which offers extensive coverage and differing viewpoints from global, national, regional and local news sources, including image versions of the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Chronicle.

Digital access to Fire Engineering magazine

Mission College has a campus wide subscription to Fire Engineering magazine. Fire Engineering provides training, education, and management information for fire and emergency services personnel worldwide. Articles are written by experts in the fire service and focus on lessons learned. Feature articles cover real-life situations such as collapse void search, confined space rescue, high-angle rescue, and extractions. Regular magazine departments focus on education and management issues. Access to the digital supplements and the Fire Engineering website are also included. 

Full access to The Chronicle of Higher Education

The Library subscribes to The Chronicle of Higher Education which enables full access to Chronicle.com. There is a link to the current issue at the top of the page. Click on the “Sign Up” link in the upper right to create a free account using your Mission College email address. You also have the option to sign up for The Chronicle’s free email newsletter during the registration process.

Note: This product/service does NOT fully comply with accessibility criteria as outlined in Section 508. For more information contact Michele Speck.

Full access to The Economist

The Economist provides unlimited digital access to all reporting, podcasts, and newsletters on their website. You can log in to The Economist using a browser or through The Economist app with your Mission College email and password. To log in from The Economist homepage, click on Log in (upper right), then enter your Mission College email and click login (no password required), you will then be redirected to the Mission College sign in page.

Note that faculty are not to use videos from the website as instructional materials as they do not fully meet accessibility requirements.

Visual Body Suite (includes mobile app)

The Visible Body Suite provides access to visual and interactive study aids for human anatomy, general physiology, common illnesses, and introductory biology topics. It includes Visible Body Suite, an easy-to-use interactive platform containing full female and male 3D models. It is also available as a mobile app. For a list of products available from the Visible Body Suite go to the Visible Body Suite Products page. 

The Web Suite and app are study tools for students, but faculty can also use them during live or recorded lectures and incorporate and share links via Canvas.

The first time you click on the link you will need to sign up for an account. Once users create an account, they can download the Visible Body Suite app, (formally Human Anatomy Atlas 2022+) and log in using their email address and password they created.

It is important for users to create an account using the Mission College Visible Body Suite link. If they do not, they will be prompted to pay for a subscription. If this happens or a user already has an account, they need to sign in using the Mission College Library Visible Body Suite link to attach their account to the Library’s subscription.

The Mission College link is available on the Library’s Research Databases page, under Health & Nursing and Science.  If you wish to incorporate the link into your syllabus or Canvas, use: https://mission.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://websuite.visiblebody.com

Online journals list  

Find out if a specific magazine or journal is available in one of Mission College Library's databases by searching the Journals List in OneSearch. Coverage dates are included.

BrowZine is a tool that allows you to browse the table of contents of scholarly journals available through the Mission College databases or from open sources.

NoodleTools & citing sources

The Library subscribes to the citation creation tool, NoodleTools, to help students cite and organize their research. To access NoodleTools, go to the Sign In page and click on the Microsoft 365 icon, then enter your Mission College email and password.

The Library's Citing Sources guide includes links to style guides for MLA, APA, etc., tips for avoiding plagiarism, and information on how to access, and create citations, bibliographies, and annotated bibliographies in NoodleTools. 

Additional NoodleTools resources for faculty:

• How to create an assignment inbox
• How to share a project with your professor
• How to work on a collaborative project with other students
• How to use note cards
• How to create an outline

Example NoodleTools set up assignments. These are Word documents that you can edit to fit your needs. They will download to your computer when you click on them.

• Example set up assignment - bibliography
• Example set up assignment - annotated bibliography

Research guides and handouts

The Library Research Guides portal provides subject specific guides and handouts to help with research in a specific discipline or on a specific topic. Includes a comprehensive guide to "The Five Steps to Writing a Research Project."

OER/ZTC and copyright resources

EBSCO Faculty Select (OER Resources)
A single, user-friendly platform, where you can easily find and access quality open educational resources (OER) to support your courses, and search and request access to relevant e-books from top academic publishers. View this video on how to use Faculty Select.

OER, Zero Textbook Cost Resources
Defines what qualifies as a zero cost textbook and provides resources for finding them. Includes information on open education resources (OER) and Library resources.

Copyright Resources
Resources to help you understand Copyright, Fair Use, and the TEACH Act. Includes tips for avoiding copyright infringement.

For information on how to avoid copyright infringement when using streaming videos found on the free web, refer to the Streaming Videos Guide.

Recommend a purchase

Instructors are encouraged to participate in the development of the collections in their respective subject areas. Final decisions on materials will be made according to the Library's Selection of Material Policy. To recommend books and other materials please contact the librarian specializing in the appropriate material for your division/school:

Tina Boghozian: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math

Michele Speck: Health, Wellness, Public Safety; Business & Education, and Service Industries; Counseling & Learning Services

Elaine Wong: People, Culture, Society; Creative Arts & Communication