Distance Learning Library Services & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who qualifies for MCC Distance Learning Library Services?

Distance Learning Library Services are available to off campus MCC Students who:

• Are currently enrolled in a MCC SUNY Learning Network (SLN) online course, and are not taking any on campus courses, or hybrid courses at MCC.

• Are registered with MCC Libraries, upon completion of the Distance Learner Library Registration Form once per academic semester.
  Distance Learning Library Services are not available to:

• MCC Students taking on campus courses, or hybrid courses at either the Brighton or Damon City Campus.

• Persons not affiliated with MCC.

Back to Top

What library services are available to Distance Learning Students?

If you meet the requirements listed above, you are eligible for the following services:

• Book Delivery - Use this service to borrow books from MCC Libraries.

• Interlibrary Loan - Use this service to request a copy of an article not owned by MCC Libraries.

• Document Delivery - Use this service to get a copy of an article from a magazine, journal, or newspaper to which MCC Libraries subscribe.

Back to Top

How can I find books on my topic at MCC Libraries?

To locate books on your topic held at the MCC's Leroy V. Good and Damon City Campus Libraries first search the MCC Library Catalog. You can search the MCC Library Catalog by keyword, subject, author, or title.

If you are unable to locate books on your topic after searching our the MCC Library Catalog, please contact our Reference/Distance Learning Librarian, Pam Czaja, at (585) 292-2308 or by e-mail pczaja@monroecc.edu for assistance.

Back to Top

How can I checkout books without coming to the library?

When you find a book you are interested in, you can request that it be mailed to you by filling out our Distance Learner Book Delivery Request Form. To learn more about MCC Libraries Book Delivery Service visit our Finding & Borrowing Books: a guide for distance learners web page.

Back to Top

How can I find articles on my topic?

• To locate magazine, journal, and newspaper articles on you topic visit our Find Articles & Other Information web page. Some articles found in our electronic databases may be available full-text for you to read and print directly from your home computer. In order to search the databases from off campus, you must follow the instructions for connecting to EZproxy posted on either the Access to Library Databases from Home or Find Articles & Other Information web pages.

• SUNY Learning Network (SLN) students can also access a number of different online electronic article databases through SUNYConnect. Once connected to the SLN Access to SUNYConnect Electronic Resources web page, click on the name of the database you want to search, you will then be prompted to enter your SLN Username and SLN Password in order to log in to search the databases.

Back to Top

What should I do if I cannot access the library databases from my home computer?

• The first thing you may want to do is to select another database to search. Sometimes the server for a particular database is down, but others are working.

• Sometimes MCC's server is down, and you may just need to try to log in at a later time during the day.

• If you are still not able to log in from home to search the Library databases, follow the instructions posted on the Access to Library Databases from Home web page.

Back to Top

What if the articles I need are not available full-text from the library databases?

If the articles you need are not available full-text through any of our online databases follow the steps listed below:

• First check the MCC Library Catalog to see if we own in our print and microfilm collection the title of the magazine, journal, or newspaper the article appears in.

• If MCC Libraries own the publication the article appears in, you can request a copy of the article be sent to you by filling out our Document Delivery of Articles Request Form. To learn more about our Document Delivery Service visit our Finding Articles: a guide for distance learners web page.

• If MCC Libraries do not own the publication the article appears in, you can request a copy of the article through our Interlibrary Loan Service (ILL) using the Interlibrary Loan Journal & Magazine Article Request Form. Interlibrary Loan is a service where libraries share materials with other libraries around the country. To learn more about our Interlibrary Loan Service visit our Finding Articles: a guide for distance learners web page.

Back to Top

How do I cite books, websites, and articles?

The first thing you need to know, is what citation style your instructor would like you to follow for documenting the sources you used for your assignment. There are a number of different citation styles to choose from. Well known citation styles include: the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), Council of Science Editors (CSE), and the Chicago or Turabian style.

Visit the MCC Libraries Citing & Writing Resources page to learn more about grammar usage, the writing process, and citing styles mentioned above.

Back to Top

What about using other libraries to do my research?

Students often need to visit other libraries, sometimes more than once, to locate essential resources for their coursework.

Most college and university libraries are open to the public, for reading or copying book chapters and journal articles, and for using reference resources. Some colleges and universities offer special borrowing privileges for state or area residents. These services may be available at no cost or for a moderate fee. Information about borrowing privileges may be obtained by telephoning each library's Circulation department or by visiting the library's web page.

As a registered SUNY student you are eligible to borrow books from SUNY two and four year college and university libraries through the SUNY Open Access program. You will need to present a Valid MCC Photo ID card and Proof of Registration to check out books. You are subject to such rules and regulations, including fines and fees, as established by the campus you are borrowing the books from. To check for books held by other SUNY Libraries go to the SUNY Union Catalog.

You may also want to visit your local public library to see what resources they have in their collections to help you with your assignments. Your local public library may also be able to help you acquire articles and books you need through their Interlibrary Loan service.

Back to Top

Who do I contact at MCC Libraries if I need help?

• Circulation/Reserve Department - to renew a book or to place a book on hold contact Library Circulation Staff at (585) 292-BOOK (2665).

• Reference/Distance Learning Librarian - for questions about MCC Libraries Distance Learning Library Services, and for personal help finding information or conducting research contact Pam Czaja at (585) 292-2308 or by e-mail pczaja@monroecc.edu.

• Information/Reference Desk - for immediate research help from a Librarian during the hours the LeRoy V. Good Library (585) 292-2319 and the Damon City Campus Library (585) 262-1420 are open.

• Electronic Reference Service - to ask a brief reference question contact us through the Internet through our Electronic Reference Service form.

Back to Top

How do I find information about my MCC Student E-mail Account?

All students registered for SUNY Learning Network (SLN) classes at Monroe Community College automatically receive an MCC Student E-mail Account. MCC students can learn more about their Student E-mail Account by visiting the MCC Students home page and clicking on the "Find your Account " or "Common Questions" links in the Email Help drop down menu at the top left corner of the page.

Back to Top