How Good is our Library Service?

Alvernia College Responses to the ACRL Guide to Evaluating Libraries in Colleges and Universities

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association, has prepared a series of important questions to serve as a guide to help prospective students and their parents evaluate college campuses.

The Frank A. Franco Library at Alvernia College lists these questions below with our answers about the library services we offer to our students. Additional questions may be addressed to Sharon A. Neal, Assistant Director of Library Services.

Services

Is sufficient staff available to help you?
The Franco Library is staffed by five full-time professional librarians and five paraprofessionals, who are available during all hours of library operation. A full time Information Specialist who provides both library and technology assistance is also available at the Philadelphia site.

Is the staff friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and available when you need them?
A library's greatest asset is its staff. Our knowledgeable staff is easily accessible, eager to help, and will assist you in locating library materials, using online and print reference resources, or anything else you may need.

What instruction programs are available to teach you how to use the library?
A combination of group and individual instruction is available to assist students in using the library. Instructors schedule library instruction sessions, which are often customized for a specific class assignment. Students receive individual library instruction in the reference area and printed and electronic pathfinders are available to assist students in locating information in a particular subject area. Students may also schedule individual appointments directed specifically towards their assignments.

Are computer terminals available and easily accessible?
There are computers on the first floor from which students can search online databases, access the Internet, or search the online catalog. The second floor houses a computer lab where students can also do word processing and check their e-mail. Similar access to public terminals is available at both the Philadelphia and Schuylkill sites.

What ways can you access the library from your personal computer?
Students can search the library's online catalog remotely. Students can also search any of the library's research databases from on-campus. Off-campus access is available for the majority of these databases.

Are there fees for services, such as printing? If so, are the fees reasonable?
There are no fees for printing or interlibrary loan. Photocopies are 10 cents a page.

What services are available on a 24-hour basis?
Twenty-four hour access is available to the Web-based catalog, electronic library resources, interlibrary loan request forms, and the Ask a Librarian reference service.

Can you get help electronically, such as via an e-mail question to a library staff member?
Students can get help by using the Ask a Librarian located on the library's web site. This service allows students to e-mail a reference librarian for answers to questions or for help with an assignment.

How does the library support distance education if the college or university offers courses you can enroll in from off-campus?
Alvernia College does not currently offer distance education.

Does the library support emerging technologies, such as laptops, palm pilots, and e-books?
The library focuses on technology which aids in instruction. Net Library E-books are accessible from the Library Electronic Resources page. The Library has an information literacy classroom with an instructor station and laptops for the students. The library also circulates laptops and LCD projectors for instructors for classroom use.

Facilities

Is the library building easy to find?
The library is located in the center of campus and is easily identifiable by the statue of St. Francis on the building.

When you are in the library, can you easily find your way around?
Both the circulation and reference desks are visible from the library's entrance. Directional signs are provided on both floors of the library, indicating where various collections and offices are located. Maps of the library are provided in the library guide.

Is the library space inviting?
The library is a bright and spacious building with a variety of areas for reading and studying.

Is there adequate space for users and collections?
In addition to housing the library's print, audiovisual and computer materials, the library has a seating capacity for almost 300 patrons.

Is there a variety of study spaces?
The library contains a variety of spaces for both individual and group study. Facilities include a lounge area, study carrels, group study areas, a seminar room and reading rooms.

Are the library hours convenient?
The library's regular hours are:

These hours are extended during the end of the semester and finals.

Can the library accommodate any disabilities or special needs you may have?
The college strives to allow users to access information regardless of any disabilities or special needs they may have. Library users with vision, hearing, and learning disabilities have the following resources available to them to meet their needs:

• IBM Home Page Reader which provides spoken Internet access information as presented on the computer screen,
• A video magnifier which provides magnification and a wide field of view for written materials,
• A reading machine to convert text from books, magazines, and other printed materials to speech, and
• A TV/VCR unit to provide closed captioned video access.

All of these resources are available in the Academic Support Center located in the Student Center.

Are multimedia production facilities available for your use?
The library does not have a multimedia production facility.

Resources

Is there an adequate collection in a variety of formats?
The library maintains a collection of approximately 100,000 print, audiovisual and computer materials. It contains almost 900 periodicals with approximately 400 current subscriptions.

Is the collection sufficiently current?
The librarians purchase materials to ensure that there are current resources in all subject areas. The library adds approximately 2000 volumes in a variety of formats each year.

Is there a web-based catalog?
The library's electronic resources page provides access to an online catalog of materials available at the Franco Library, as well as the area public libraries. Patrons can also search libraries worldwide via the WorldCat database.

Are there electronic tools for locating magazine and journal articles?
The library subscribes to several research databases. These databases (EBSCO, FirstSearch, LexisNexis, Philosopher's Index, and OT Search) provide citations, abstracts, and often full-text access to journal articles and books in a variety of academic disciplines.

Are required readings available electronically?
Through WebCT course management software, instructors can make course content available to students electronically.

Are resources available electronically in full-text format?
The library subscribes to electronic research databases which provide some full-text access to journal articles. The library also has online subscriptions to the Encyclopedia Britannica and the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Are library resources available remotely?
All online subscriptions to research databases or encyclopedias can be accessed college-wide. Off-campus access is available for EBSCO, LexisNexis, FirstSearch, Philosopher's Index, and OT Search.

Will the library readily obtain materials for you that are not owned by the library?
The library will obtain books or copies of journal articles from other libraries at no cost to the student. Students can request materials through an electronic form located on the library's web site. Electronic copies of journal articles can be e-mailed directly to the student.

Updated: August 29, 2006

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