Student Success
Student Success
At Nashville State Community College
There is equal library access at all campus locations.
Clarksviile Campus has a very small collection of library books. 2 locations -- The Early Childhood classroom has some children's books the Computer Lab has some other books (mainly textbooks). This include books for the paralegal students.
Southeast Campus has a fairly large library -- Includes an extensive collection of books for the Culinary and Police Science students.
This guide is designed to help the library liaisons at the off campus sites understand the services available to students through the Mayfield Library at NSCC, and how to help students access the library resources without driving to the White Bridge Campus library (Nashville, TN). It will also serve as a guide to how to access and use library resources, including library databases, for faculty who teach the First-Year Experience Course. (A course designed to help students be successful in college and graduate, and go on to find their dream career.)
QuickSearch: Discovery Tool
"Discover" all that your library has to offer using the library's "Discovery Tool". Books, E-books, journal article databases, and more.
NSCC Library Website
The gateway to library resources available to all NSCC students. The top box "discovers" everything the NSCC library has access to.
QuickSearch Tutorial
How to...
MERLOT Digital Library
A free and open online library of online teaching and learning materials across a wide variety of disciplines and education levels. MERLOT provides you the link to the material as well as peer reviews, member comments, lesson plans, and other quality assurance information.
MERLOT Smart Search
Tutorial on how to use this tool.
MERLOT Student Portal
This the student community for MERLOT. Tells how MERLOT can help students.
Quick tips for searching library databases:
Start with 1 or 2 word searches.
Use keywords or subject words.
Let the databases suggest keywords and subjects for you.
When you do a search look at the whole results page. it will suggest ways to limit your search.
Look for suggested Subject words.
Look for a button that says "Search within". It allows you to add other keywords to your original search.
The top box on the library home page is the discovery search ("Quick Search") that searches everything the the library has access to. It includes Open Educational Resources.
Search Online Resources
Search online for a specific item or a specific type of resource, such as books, e-books or databases.
Click on Find Books and Films to access physical books and e-books.
Click on Find Articles and Database to access to A-Z list of the library databases.
Click on Find Research Guides to access a list of guides to library resourses by subject area and course.
Content Builder Help
MERLOT help section with detailed instructions on how to use Content Builder.
Content Builder 101 Updated 2017
Streaming Films
Discover our online film collections.
Tennessee Electronic Library
TEL provides free resources for every citizen in Tennessee. It's a good "Plan B" if students cannot access the college's databases from off campus using their A# and password.
Resources for studying for tests
· Go here: www.merlot.org
· “Browse search"
- Filter by discipline
· Pick the subject you want to study.
· Then limit your search by looking under:
· “Material Type” and checking one of these boxes:
· Drill and Practice or
· Quiz/Test or
· Tutorials
MERLOT is supported by the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Online Workshops and Librarians
If you do not see what you need help on you can make an appointment with a librarian for a one-on-one help session.
The 3 librarians on the White Bridge campus are:
Charles May -- Collection Development (Subject specialty: architecture, geography, engineering) charles.may@nscc.edu
Elizabeth Heffington -- Cataloger elizabeth.heffington@nscc.edu
Peter Lyon --Instructional Services
peter.lyon@nscc.edu
Why develop a research question
A 6 min. tutorial telling the how and why of research questions.
Chat with the library at NSCC Library Chat
Choosing a topic / thesis
The research question.
Academic Writing help
Writing help for ESL students or anyone wanting help with writing.
Picking a topic is RESEARCH
When you pick your topic, it's not set in stone. Picking and adjusting your topic is an integral part of the research process!
Is my source credible?
Tutorial covers articles, OER's, Web domains, and fake news.
One-on-one help
Fill out this form to get personalized help.
Online Library Workshops
Learn when you need it and at your pace.
Crafting a Research Question Coming up with a good research question is essential for any research!
http://nscc.libguides.com/contactus
3 ways to get help:
- Text us: 615-640-0006
- Call us: 615-353-3555
- Chat: Link is on the home page.
- Click on this link to: Schedule One-On-One Help
- Through Zoom or in-person
- You can request a certain librarian or staff member.
- Here is how you can request physical books during the pandemic. Library take out It is no longer necessary to do this. We are back in-person now.
Library Services
Here is a guide to everything the library can do for students and faculty.
MERLOT Student Portal
MERLOT's student portal is a community to help make higher education more affordable. Find open textbooks, tutorials, animations, and a lot of other free educational resources.
MERLOT
The main MERLOT site. This is a place to find quality open resources for teaching and learning.
Suggested databases for topic ideas
Both of these can be easily browsed by topic issues which then connects you to magazine articles and peer-reviewed journal articles.
Databases that search all subject areas.
Academic Oneffile (focuses on the peer-reviewed journal articles)
General Onefile (Includes newspaper articles in the search)
Academic Search
JSTOR -- This is an archival database of journal articles. It has the full text of the journal articles back to the beginning of the journal, but does not include the current 3 to 5 years.
Interlibrary Loan
Need material that the Mayfield Library does not have?
We will be happy to request it from other area libraries.
Allow about 1 week.
Need help with your research paper citations?
Make it a habit
Build an E-Portfolio
Using MERLOT's Content Builder tool
Students: Create an online resume (e-portfoloio) while a student using Content Builder.
Teachers: Have your students write comments about their learning in MERLOT. Once you catalog your ePortfolio in MERLOT, your students can become members of MERLOT (it's free and easy) and then they can add their own reflections.
Student e-Portfolio
An example student e-Portfolio. (e-Resume)
Example E-Portfolio
Made using MERLOT's Content Builder tool.
Films and Videos
The Mayfield Library has a collection academic and entertainment films and videos. On the main campus they are located on the 2nd floor. You can search the catalog or just browse the shelves.
Some of the databases include cilps from videos.
Reserve Textbooks
Reserve textbooks
Textbooks are for 2 hour checkout in the library only.
Textbook Revolution
Find free books and textbooks, and find the best prices for the books that are not free. A student-run site dedicated to increasing the use of free educational materials by teachers and professors.
Careers
Explore different careers.
Career profiles
The VUMA! Careers space contains information and news on tons of careers, including general information, university information, news, links and more.
Equipment that can be checked out.
Computer Laptops (Dell laptops with separate monitor, HP's) (All semester)
Calculators (All semester)
Headphones
Chargers for mobile devices (1 hour checkout)
Photographic equipment (some in the White Bridge Campus library)
Most of the photographic equipment is located in the Photo Library in the Clement Building on the White Bridge campus. For photography students.
Anatomy and Physiology models and bone box - located in the Models room -- White Bridge and SE Campuses.
About Me
I am the retired bicycle commuting/sustainability librarian of NSCC. I love being a librarian and helping people find the information they need. I am the catalog/serials librarian. My subject specialties are history and environmental sciences. On my lunch hour I pick up trash and ride the greenway around the college. One reason I ride to work on my bike is because bicycles are sustainable transportation.
My MERLOT Member Profile
This URL shows my interests, learning objects, and other materials in my MERLOT profile.