Library Skills

You will need your library card in order to check out books, DVDs and audiobooks, as well as to access some online resources.
If you already have an E.L.I.N. card from a local library or if your NMJC Student ID has a barcode on the back, you are ready to go! 

If you don't have one of these two cards, you can always get one from Pannell Library or you can bring your NMJC Student ID to the Circulation desk and we will put a barcode on the back and set up your account. This way you only have to carry one card!

If you should need your library ID number, just look on the back of the card above the barcode. Some databases may require this. You will also need this number to request an inter-library loan or to use some of the E.L.I.N. resources. See the E.L.I.N tab to learn more.

Off-Campus Access

You can access all of Pannell Library's online resources from off-campus. However, there are some special considerations:

• The All-in-One Discovery search can be searched from off-campus using your student ID and password just like you use to log into the T-Bird Web Portal or Canvas. When you type in a search from off-campus and click "Search," you will be prompted for the username and password.
• The catalog can be searched directly from anywhere with an internet connection.
• The eBook collection and the databases can be accessed off-campus using your student ID and password just like you use to log into Canvas or the T-Bird Web Portal. When you click on a database from off-campus, rather than going directly to the database, you will be prompted for the username and password first

Occasionally, your professor will allow you to use an internet resource as one of your research sources. DO NOT use an internet resource unless your professor says to. It is always best to use one of the library’s resources, such as the library's online databases, for your assignment. However, if your professor does say to use an internet resource, here are some tips to find valid information:

• To start, use a reputable web search engine, such as Google, Yahoo, or Bing.

• Use Boolean search terms (AND, OR, NOT) where appropriate if you are using Yahoo or Bing. (Google no longer supports Boolean searching).

• Plug in your search terms, click search and review the list of results.

• Look at the URL – such http://www.nmjc.edu – the extension at the end of the URL tells you a lot about the site that the result is linking to. Look at the list below to find out which sites are the most reliable – or credible -and which to be cautious with.

• .EDU = Educational. Only colleges and universities can have these addresses. With the exception of perhaps student blogs, the information at these sites can be trusted to provide valid information. CREDIBLE

• .GOV = Government. These sites are government hosted sites and can be quite useful. They can be trusted to provide valid information. Check out the World Fact Book at www.cia.gov to find great information about the demographics, economics, and history of countries around the world! CREDIBLE

• .ORG = Organization. These sites are operated by non-profit organizations. Most of the well-known organizations’ sites are CREDIBLE, but BE CAUTIOUS with lesser-known organizations. Their information may not be up-to-date or may not be acceptable as a resource. One example of an unacceptable .ORG resource is Wikipedia. Do not use Wikipedia as a resource. Anyone can change that information, and so it is invalid as a resource.

• .BIZ = Business. These sites are not as common as the others on the list and are usually hosted by businesses. If you are researching a legitimate business and their official site is a .BIZ site, then the information should be valid up to the point that the business wants to disclose. If you are talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly about a business, you probably won’t find the bad or the ugly portions on their .BIZ sites. BE CAUTIOUS

• .COM = Commercial. Most sites are .COM sites. Anyone can purchase these and anyone can put up whatever information they like. BE VERY CAUTIOUS

• .NET = Network. Not as common as .COM sites, but much like them. BE VERY CAUTIOUS

Finding a book on the shelf is easy. Once you have found a book within the library catalog, look for the book's location and call number in the catalog results. The book will be located in one of ten places (see the map below):

Location

• Circulating – these are general use books and can be checked out (for two-week time periods). Here you will find books on everything from philosophy to literature to music to cooking.

• Reference – these are books that you refer to when you have specific questions. Here you will find dictionaries, thesauri, atlases, encyclopedias, writing guides and much more. These can’t be checked out.

• Ready Reference – these are books for quick reference, such as APA or MLA guides. These can’t be checked out. They are available next to the Reference Desk

• Reserves – these books are available at the Circulation Desk. Generally, they must be checked out to you, but they can’t leave the library. Ask one of the friendly circulation desk staff for these.

• Oversize – these are books that are just too big for the regular shelf. You will often find art books here. Oversize can be checked out, unless they say REF in the call number.

• Government Documents – Pannell Library is a depository for government printed documents. Some of those documents are online and some are located within the library. These items can be checked out.

• Law Reference – these books contain both state and federal laws and statutes. They can’t be checked out.

• Audiobooks -  the audiobooks are an assortment of best-selling and newest releases, with a focus on fiction. The audiobooks come in CD sets and can be checked out for four weeks at a time.

• New Titles – this is where you will find the newest books. You will also find the latest audiobooks and DVDs here.

Wondering what E.L.I.N. is?

E.L.I.N. (pronounced Ellen) stands for Estacado Library Information Network. It is a group (consortium) of local libraries working together to provide information resources to the community. What this means for you is that your library card works at any of the E.L.I.N. libraries and you can request materials from one library at another through an inter-library loan. If you find a book or other resource in the catalog (that is available for checkout) at a library other than your nearest library, you can request it at your local library. Go to the circulation desk of your local library and ask them how.

The libraries that make up E.L.I.N. are:

For more information, please visit the ELIN webpage