Course Reserves

Your professors might require textbooks and books as part of your class reading material. You can find these on your library stacks or they might be under course reserves. You can borrow, read, or photocopy pages of your course's reading materials to prepare for class. This could save you money!​

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Tutoring Services

Many college libraries will offer tutoring in a variety of subjects like writing or math for free! These tutoring services often employ graduate and undergraduate students who have taken those courses and received good grades. Some colleges or universities might also offer Supplemental Instruction (SI), which targets historically challenging courses such as organic chemistry and calculus.

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Quiet Study Areas

The library provides lots of space for students to study. In addition, many colleges offer 24/7 areas (if you ever need to pull an all-nighter), a computer hub, the ability to reserve private rooms, and more. 

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Meeting Rooms/Space

Some quiet rooms can be reserved or used by students to meet about class, host study groups, or work on a project. You can also ask for materials such as whiteboards, computers, projectors, etc. 

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Media & Materials Check-Out

Your library has more than printed materials. In addtion to books, magazines, newspapers and blueprints, some libraries also carry motion pictures and music (digital or in a physical format such as DVD, VHS, CDs, Vinyl, etc.) and the machines or adaptors needed to play them. You can check any of these materials out the same way you would books. In adidition, you can also check out computers, video or photographic cameras, and other materials you might need for a class project. 

 

Meet with a Librarian

The term librarian describes a professional member of the academic community with an appropriate master’s degree in library science and information management. You can always make an appointment to talk to a librarian for things such as advice on a particular topic, developing research strategies, and locating and using sources.

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Search Research Databases/Guides

Learning how to use the databases available at your college can be a great way to improve your research and provide valuable sources for your school work and projects.

A research database is a searchable collection of information. Many research databases have various helpful resources for your classes, such as peer-reviewed articles, journal publications, scholarly texts, and high-quality research. Unfortunately, many of these research databases cost a significant amount of money for a subscription. Still, your college library probably has access to a wide variety of databases. These databases are configured to hold information on specialized subject material and sources.

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Use Licensed Software(s)

College students are usually eligible to install several licensed software applications like Microsoft, Adobe, Matlab, Zoom, N-Vivo, and more using their student IDs or using their library's computers.

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Printing Services & More

Your college library provides access to various technologies that can help you with your studies, such as computers, printers, copy-fax-scan machines, 3D printers, and other machines.

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Computer Labs & WIFI

Your university library more than likely has free WiFi. It might also have a computer lab or computer area where students can log in for hours to work on class assignments or for personal use. These computers have the latest software updates and the programs that are most helpful for you as a student.

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