Online Orientation

Oconee Fall Line Technical College libraries serve on‐campus students, online students, as well as students at affiliated learning centers. There are two main libraries located at the Sandersville and Dublin campuses and two library resource centers at LOIC in Helena and at the Jefferson County Center in Louisville.

What is at the Library?
What library procedures should students be aware of?
What is available online?
What if I need assistance?

What is at the Library?

Thousands of resources including print, electronic resources, audio, and video formats (available with the technology to use them). A selection of newspapers, magazines, and journals are also available.
An online library catalog which can be searched from any computer with Internet access as well as from the library. (Currently we have one centralized catalog. Users have the choice of searching the main campus or all locations. Circulating resources on each campus are available to all students. A courier will carry resources among Campuses and Centers.)
A collection of reference works (Encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, plus much more).
Computer/Internet access
- 30 computers on the Sandersville Campus, all with Internet access. Wi-Fi is available. An additional computer is available for sight-impaired patrons.
- 30 computers on the Dublin Campus, all with Internet access. Wi-Fi is available. An additional computer is available for sight-impaired patrons.
Reserve Collections, selected periodically by instructors, for specific classes to utilize in the library.
Study rooms which can be reserved for small group work on both Sandersville and Dublin campuses.
Printers are available. The library abides by the posted copyright information.
Space for quiet study, worktables, soft-seating, and a coffee area.
Librarians and staff to assist you.
Lending Library program

What library procedures should students be aware of?

Borrowing

Most circulating items may be borrowed for a 3-week period but some types of resources have different circulating rules.
Limited renewals may be processed in person, over the phone, or through emails.
ALL items are due at the end of the semester regardless of date due.
Fines accrue on late items. All fines are due at end of semester with the returned item. If the item is lost, the current cost to replace that item is then charged.
A Banner record hold will result if library items are not returned or fines are not paid.
Items may be circulated among OFTC Sandersville Campus, Dublin Campus, Jefferson County Center, and Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center (LOIC) locations.

Non-Circulating Items

The reference collection, certain journals, newspapers, reserve items, computers, and AV instructional materials are for in library use only.

Holds

Reserves may be placed on items that are currently checked out. When the item becomes available, the library will notify the patron that it is available.
The item will be held at the circulation desk for 4 library business days. It will then be shelved or passed to the next hold on the list. Holds are tracked in Surpass, the library catalog.

Reserves

Materials or a collection of materials may be requested by an instructor to be put on reserve in the library or in a classroom.
Students may sign out these materials for in library use if the reserve materials are held in the library.
If the instructor houses the collection in the classroom, he/she can set the use parameters as long as the materials are accounted for and returned at the agreed upon time. The instructor is responsible for returning all of the reserve resources if the collection is housed in a classroom.

Reference Service

Reference service is provided to facilitate fast and efficient access to needed information. This will be provided for any patron by the library staff.
Reference questions may be directional – i.e. where to locate an item, how/where to signup for a study room, a specific area of the library, the location of the restroom, etc.
Reference questions may be instructional – i.e. how to look for specific information, which sources would be best for needed information, how to use equipment, etc.
Reference questions may require assistance for more in-depth research when multiple resources are needed.
Reference questions may be communicated in person at the library, over the telephone, or through email to serve local, distance, and online students as well as faculty and staff.
In-library patrons will be assisted as soon as possible. Telephoned questions may require a return call, and emailed questions will be checked at multiple intervals during the day and assigned to appropriate personnel for action.

Student IDs

All OFTC students must have a valid student ID to check out library materials. These IDs must be validated each semester.

Information Literacy/Library Orientation

Will be provided by the library staff during a scheduled COLL 1060 class early in the semester.
Will be provided when requested, at an agreed upon time, for special projects, assignments or techniques.
Will be provided for special groups as needed, i.e., for new faculty or staff, or for new resources.
Will be provided individually upon request. If instruction is requested by a student, it will be scheduled for a time convenient for both the student and library staff.

Computer Lab and Laptops

Accessible during library hours.
Sign-up for use required.
OFTC Internet policy applies.
Equipped with appropriate software.
Laptops are available to be checked out for the semester through the Lending Library program.
Wi-Fi access for laptops (Sandersville and Dublin campuses).

Cell Phones

Phones need to be on silent mode.
Please take any phone conversations outside of the library.

Food and Beverages

Food is allowed at the study table and the study rooms but not around the computers. Please keep beverages away from the computer areas as well.

Children and Other Dependents

Adults must accompany and supervise children who are under 16 years of age.
Adults may not leave children unattended in the library. Children must stay with adults.
Children’s computer use is restricted to school work. Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult in the computer area.
Adults with disruptive children, toddlers, and babies will be asked to remove the children from the library.
The library staff assumes no responsibility for watching or caring for children.

What is available online?

Primo – Search the OFTC Library Catalog of holdings
Online resources available 24/7
GALILEO – (Georgia Library Learning Online) is an online resource that includes a vast collection of databases, journals, and reference materials – many in full text.
- GALILEO requires students to login using their OFTC credentials to access GALILEO off campus.
eBooks on EBSCO Host – over 119,000 full-text digital books available for your use.
- This online resource is password protected. From off-campus, these books are accessed by logging into GALILEO and selecting the eBooks database.
Facts & Comparisons – an online tool with key drug and clinical information for consumers and pharmacy staff
Library web page – current hours and quick links to resources.
LibGuides – a Content Management System used by libraries to curate knowledge and share information by creating online Guides on any topic, subject, course, or process. These guides provide the students assistance in doing research projects. A link on the OFTC Library’s web page takes the students to the LibGuide web site where subject guides to the OFTC Library’s resources have been created. Each subject guide lists books from the library’s catalog, online full text journals in the subject area, and web resources which may provide additional information about the subject.

What if I need assistance?

Please contact the library with any questions. Contact information for your local OFTC library is found on OFTC’s main Library web page.

Tutoring (both online and in-person) is also available for FREE to current OFTC students.