Getting Started - Getting Started with College Level Research

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Good to Know

It's true: an academic library is different than your school or public library, with different kinds of collections, resources, and rules. Our students work hard so we ask everyone--even fellow students--to please respect our students. Help them out by following these guidelines:

Cell Phones
Allowed for texting.
Music
Allowed if inaudible to others.
Conversation
Allowed if you keep it down and don’t disturb others.*
Children
Allowed when accompanied by parent or guardian at all times, but children under 16 should not be in the Library Lab.

Good News for Parents
The good news is that COM now has a kid friendly place on campus in the administrative building with multiple computers where you can do what you need to do with a great area set up for kids!

Administration Hours
Monday & Tuesday 8:00am – 7:00pm
Wednesday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm

*At times there may be events and library classes; Library & Lab staff may need to converse with students to help them.

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Your Tutorial Questions Answered

Real questions from COM students answered by COM Librarians. Click on the question to see the answers or view website to see all questions and answers.

Want to ask your own? Go to asklibrary.com.edu (make sure pop-up blockers are off to see answers).

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Get to Know Your Library

Question Did you know that library anxiety is the most common academic anxiety among college students? It's nothing to be ashamed of!

One of the best ways to get started with college level research is to get to know your library. Taking the time to get to know your library now can really save you time and frustration when you actually have to do research for your classes. Here are some library basics to help you get to know COM Library.

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What's in the Library?

COM Library has lots of great Guides resources for COM students, faculty, and staff.

LibGuides
LibGuides are great one stop resources designed by COM Librarians with COM students in mind, to help you find the best resources for your projects and save you time.
LibAnswers
You've got questions, we've got answers. You can tweet, text, chat and more to get answers to your question. Go to LibAnswers to ask a question or see some we've already answered from real live COM students!
Face 2 Face Help
Librarians are available to help with research issues and Lab Managers and Assistants are available to help with software and other issues. While classes and researchers are given first priority, COM students, faculty, staff and community are welcome to use the computers. You can Ask COM Library whenever the library is open.
Books & eBooks
COM Library provides a book collection of over 45,000 print volumes and over 34,000 eBooks. The library has special book collections: Texana and Juvenile, as well as the Baker & Taylor Collection of books of current interest. The COM Library Catalog can be used to search for books. Access our Find Books resources.
Periodicals
The periodical collection includes subscriptions to limited print titles and thousands of full text journals through more than 40 subscription databases. Access our Find Articles resources.
Databases
Access our databases on or off campus (your COM ID required off campus) which provide access to thousands of full-text articles from journals and magazines, as well as other resources.
Library Classroom
The Library Classroom is used for the instruction of Information Literacy, the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information to become an independent life-long learner
Library Lab & Tech Help
The main purpose of the Library Lab is to provide access to college level research for COM students. Computers in the lab and classroom provide access to the Internet, Library catalog and databases with hundreds of thousands of articles, thousands of eBooks and the extensive COM Library web site, designed to help users find the information they need. There are numerous software applications available for use including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, AutoCAD, and GIS software. Best of all, you can get tech help from our great Library Lab staff! Go to the Library Lab LibGuide.
A Place to Study
The library has several study rooms available for students on the mezzanine, as well as various tables and carrels throughout the library.
Wi-Fi
On campus with a laptop or PDA? The library is a hotspot. Spread out on our round tables on the mezzanine, plug into an outlet and go Wi-Fi!

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What Can You Do in the Library?

Everything from finding a quiet place to study to getting Wi-Fi access. Here is our top 20 list:

Do college level research, accessing thousands of full text articles online from our Databases by Subject LibGuide.
Get research help from the research experts--librarians! Ask COM Library.
Check your email.
Play chess, backgammon or put a puzzle together.
Browse the Internet.
Get Wi-Fi access, with places to plug in on the Mezzanine.
Read thousands of eBooks online.
Find a quiet place to study in our study rooms, our large tables where you can spread out, or our study carrels.
Check out, renew or return books.
Listen to audio on any of our computers--headphones are available on each computer--or bring your own.
Make copies on our copiers (5 cents/page).
Work on your paper or other class projects using MS Office on library computers.
Read books from our Spanish language collection.
Print out documents from our printers (5 cents/page).
Read magazines and newspapers.
Relax in our lounge area near the main entrance.
Read a bestseller. The bestsellers are located on our new books rack near the main entrance.
Check out media materials (math tapes, and materials of general interest).
Read a paperback. Our paperback collection includes a variety of books, including mysteries, romances and classics.