Navigating Resources at Southwestern College Library
Southwestern College Library plays a vital role in supporting the academic endeavors of students, faculty, and the broader community. With locations at the Chula Vista campus and Higher Education Centers in National City, Otay Mesa, and San Ysidro, the library provides access to a wealth of resources and services designed to foster learning, research, and intellectual exploration. The main Library is in the Learning Resource Center (Building 64) on the Chula Vista campus. Please visit the Library's webpage, www.swccd.edu/library, for opening hours, locations, resources, and services.
Comprehensive Collections: Print and Digital Resources
The Library's collection includes print and digital resources, featuring a print collection containing over 85,000 books and digital content consisting of eBooks, magazines, newspapers, peer-reviewed articles, academic journals, and streaming media.
Accessing Resources and Services
Coastline Library System Membership
SWOCC Library is a member of the Coastline Library System in Coos and Curry Counties, extending resource access to students and staff. Community members residing within Coos and Curry Counties are also eligible for a Coastline library card. Even residents in Douglas County who reside within the SWOCC taxing district can obtain a SWOCC-only library card to access physical resources.
Holds and Delivery
As a member of the Coastline Library System, SWOCC Library allows users to place a hold on most Coastline materials. These materials can then be delivered to any Coastline library within a few days, depending on availability. Holds can be placed at any Coastline Library or through an online account. Furthermore, physical library materials from SWOCC can be sent to any Coastline library by placing a hold. For those near Curry Campus, the Chetco Community Public Library at 405 Alder St, Brookings, OR 97415, serves as the closest Coastline library.
Remote Access
SWOCC Library extends its support beyond the main campus. Academic databases can be accessed remotely by entering a 7-digit SWOCC ID number. If the ID number is less than seven digits, adding zeroes to the beginning is required (e.g., 123456 becomes 0123456).
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Borrowing Privileges and Policies
To utilize the library's resources, a Coastline library card is essential for check-out. Typically, books circulate for three weeks, while films circulate for one week. Materials are automatically renewed twice unless another user has placed a hold.
The Coastline library system operates without late fines; however, users with overdue items cannot check out additional materials until the overdue items are returned. It is crucial to report lost library cards immediately, as the cardholder remains responsible for all materials checked out on their card until the loss or theft is reported.
Course Reserves
SWOCC Library houses a collection of teacher-supplied textbooks and supplemental resources. Library items may also be pulled at teacher request. These materials can circulate for shorter periods of time than other library materials due to high demand. Those periods include: 2-hour, 1-day, 3-day, 1-week, 2-week, or all term. Interested faculty can visit the library to complete a Course Reserve Request form and deliver materials, ensuring all items comply with copyright law.
Technology Access and Support
The SWOCC Library provides a computer lab open to students, employees, and the public, along with printing services. Black and white prints cost 5 cents per side, while color prints are 10 cents per side. Furthermore, SWOCC Library offers laptop checkout for currently enrolled students with Coastline library cards in good standing.
Assistance and Guidance
The librarians at Holt Library are available to assist with research questions. Students can schedule research consultations, receive citation help, or simply drop by with questions. The library staff is dedicated to supporting students with resources and assistance. All students enrolled in classes at SCC are eligible to borrow laptops, wifi hotspots, calculators, and webcams for the entire semester.
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A Comfortable Learning Environment
Southwestern strives to maintain a comfortable learning environment for adults pursuing higher and/or continuing education. Therefore, it is typically not appropriate for children to be allowed in the classroom, laboratory facilities, or office buildings and other non-public areas of Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Copyright Guidance
SWOCC Library offers guidance to help users determine if their intended uses of copyrighted materials are legally permissible and directs them to relevant support at the college.
Commitment to Intellectual Freedom
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas and that basic policies should guide their services. The freedom to read is essential to our democracy and is continuously under attack. The library stands against efforts to remove or limit access to reading materials, censor content, label “controversial” views, distribute lists of “objectionable” books or authors, and purge libraries. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are fundamental values of the American Library Association and its members, and diversity is listed as one of ALA’s Key Action Areas.
Library's Purpose and Mission
The purpose of Southwestern Library is to assist in fulfilling the college’s mission of providing quality education that helps students achieve their goals. It primarily exists to aid students in their educational goals, faculty in their instructional and professional development goals, and community members in their life enrichment pursuits. It is the Administrative policy of the Southwestern Oregon Community College District that the Library’s collection must be so constituted as to give effective strength and support to the educational programs of Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Addressing Textbook Costs
Recognizing the financial burden of textbooks, Southwestern College Library is sensitive to the high cost of learning materials and the barriers they impose on students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, textbook prices have increased significantly since 1977, outpacing the rise in interest rates and the price of cars, homes, and medical care. The national average cost of textbooks is $80-$100 per course. Low-cost and no-cost textbooks promote student success and equity by making higher education more accessible to everyone.
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Obtaining an SCC ID Card
To fully utilize the library's resources, students can obtain their SCC ID card at Orientation or on the Jackson Campus at the Cashier's office, Balsam 170, or at the Cecil Groves Center on the Macon campus.
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