History of Libraries

First book to be printed in the West  with movable type was the Gutenberg Bible - 1450. (invention of the printing press).

Academic Libraries – colleges and universities focus – instructing and serving students, faculty and staff – focus on the subject areas of the curriculum. Support teaching and research programs of the institution.

Community College Libraries

·        Relatively small collections

·        Very closely tied to the college’s course offerings

·        Focus on current materials.

University Libraries

• Harvard University Libraries
• Stanford University Libraries
• UCLA Libraries

·        Much larger collections,

·        Support undergraduates and graduate students

·        Support faculty research.

Three things most libraries have in common

1.     Reference Librarians – professionals - assist with research

 

2.      Call Numbers: books arranged on shelves by Subject. 

 

Academic Libraries: Library of Congress (L.C.) Call Numbers

Public Libraries or School Libraries: Dewey Decimal Numbers.

 

3.     Catalog – card catalog or  online catalog

Access Points (searchable fields):

• Author

• Title

•  Subject

Library Services

Most libraries offer the following services:

1.     Library Instruction

2.     Reference - separate collection - cannot be borrowed

3.     Reserve- textbooks and other materials set aside by an instructor

4.     Interlibrary Loan -  (not available at SMC)

5.  Circulation 

• Check out books

• Reserve

• Money changing - collect fines

• Group Study Rooms

• Print and microform issues of Periodicals.

 

Link to: Glossary of Library Terms

SMC Library Collections

1.     Electronic Books

2.     Popular Books

3.     Stacks – circulating collection

4.     Reference Books – non-circulating

5.     Periodicals – magazines, newspapers and journals

a.      print format

b.     microform - (microfilm or microfiche)

c.     online databases

6.     Archives – history of the college

7.     Reserve materials

8.     DVDs and Videos

9.     Library Databases