Library Home  |  Hours and Info  |  Catalog  |  Databases  |  Internet Links  |  Guides  |  Information Literacy  |  Blogos  |  Tutorials  |  Grant Resources

Notes & Quotes

    West Campus Library: Book Exchange

    by Kevin Strunk, PT Reference Librarian

    Library

    It was a simple idea, but sometimes those are the best kind!

    1. Bring in a book from home that you've read and enjoyed.
    2. Exchange it with one of the books on these shelves.

    We call it the Book Exchange. Faculty, staff, and students generously seeded these shelves with titles throughout the summer, just to get things started. A few already have made exchanges.

    Originally conceived as a paperback exchange, the program evolved as enthusiastic donors contributed hardback books and collected works.

    The real test will come in the fall semester, with its September-strength crowds. Will the patrons continue to make equitable trades, or will the "collection development of crowds" replace fine narratives with fine-print advertising supplements?

    As long as the two steps are followed, there is no wrong way for patrons to operate the Book Exchange. Some ways operate better than others, however, and we have every reason to believe fresh titles may be infused into the Book Exchange shelves on a regular basis.


    Learning Assistance Lab (LAL) West Campus

    by Sandi Gill, Tutorial Coordinator

    Hours. The hours of operation for the West Campus Learning Assistance Lab have been expanded as follows for Fall 2006.

    Monday – Thursday
    8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
    Friday
    8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    Saturday
    10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    Sunday
    1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    Schedules. The West Campus LAL publishes a set of subject-specific, bookmark-sized minischedules. For example, a yellow minischedule lists everyone who tutors mathematics and gives the hours and courses tutored. We have pink “minis” for English/Writing, salmon for Science, goldenrod for History, blue for Foreign Languages, green for Computer courses, and lilac for Business. All are available in the LAL.

    A copy of the full Tutorial Schedule is always available on the college website at http://www.mc3.edu/aa/lal/Lalwest.htm.

    Summer Projects. Over the summer, whenever they have some quiet time, tutors work on expanding their tutoring skills. This summer science tutors focused on a review of course material for majors biology and chemistry. Several tutors increased their computer skills, especially in Excel and Access. Several tutors researched subjects related to their work: one studied ways to help with students with disabilities and another replicated the process students go through to write a critical paper. Another tutor prepared handouts for math students.