PCC Library Blog

May the 4th Be with You! 

To our Star Wars fans, we wish you a happy Star Wars day (May 4th). The ComicsPlus database includes many Star Wars stories both new and old. 

Speaking of things that are new… see What's New at the library for May!

Below are just a few of the new things that are now available. Check out our What's New guide for more details on what is new for Spring 2025!

Print Books

Welcome back from the holiday break! We have a few new things to share . . .

• There are new print graphic novels, YA fiction, and nonfiction books about A.I., as well as many new additions to Dogwood Digital, ComicsPlus, and Flipster.
• An additional large study room is now available for booking on the 2nd floor (Room 214).
• The VR room has been relocated to 219.
• NC LIVE has provided access to a new database that provides primary sources related to the Indigenous Peoples of North America.

Get the details on our What's New for January 2025 page.

New Collection Development Librarian! 

• Evan Schmoll is not new to us, but her role in the Library has changed! She is now in charge of acquiring and cataloging new materials for the Library. She will still be your primary contact person for setting up Library instruction (for now). Please congratulate Evan on her new role!

You can now view entire issues with images of the The Atlantic Monthly online through the Library's subscription to Flipster.  It includes full issues from May 2014 to the present. 

Flipster

• 

View digitized versions of select magazines: Atlantic Monthly, National Geographic, Entrepreneur, Popular Mechanics, and Consumer Reports.

Need help using Flipster? Take a look at our Flipster explainer page.

 

POP-UP Library

The PCC POP-UP Library for the Early College High School is held on Thursdays during lunch in the Multipurpose Room. This is an opportunity for students to visit with a PCC librarian, request, renew, or check-out library books, and get research help. Of course ECHS students can get help anytime by visiting the Library's ASK US page or by coming to the Library in person.

When the librarian comes over, they will have a selection of books available for check-out, but you can request specific books be brought over. Complete the POP UP form and let us know what you need!

The Films on Demand database includes some titles produced by UNC TV. 

To find them . . .

1. Go to the Films on Demand database via PCC Library's databases page. Log in with your myPittCC credentials. 
2. From the Films on Demand homepage, click Advanced Search.
3. Under Select Type of Content, use the drop down menu to select Custom Videos.
4. In the Choose Filters section, use the Producers drop down menu to select UNC TV.
5. Click the Search button.

PCC instructors can now provide easier online access to high school, continuing education, or other types of students in their areas needing to study and prepare for things like the GED, TEAS, HiSET, ACCUPLACER, EMT, CDL, ASVAB, CLEP, ACT, SAT, NCLEX-RN . . . and so many more.

The Library can provide you with a custom link (or set of links) that you can pass along to your students, leading them to the exact tutorial, practice test, etc. that you want them to complete with fewer steps.

For example . . .

Students in a Pharmacy Technician class through Con Ed, can be sent a custom link (or set of links) from their instructor that allows them to directly access very specific modules. The student clicks the link and is taken directly to the login page for a specific practice test, tutorial, learning center, etc.

How is this better?

The custom links remove the extra steps of having to click the database link, login through the proxy via myPittCC (or with a generic proxy username/password), then spend time searching the database and sifting through the various results to find the exact test or tutorial that they need. 

Why create an account?

Personal accounts make it so you can save your progress and return to finish later. The first step is to click "Sign In or Register to Begin." To create an account, enter a valid e-mail address and create a password. A student ID and course number are NOT required and the e-mail does not have to be one from PCC. Next time, just sign in and pick up where you left off.

Try it!

Here are just a few examples of custom links that do not require you to login via the usual Library Online Database Access page, so that you can see how it works. 

• ExCPT Practice Test 2
• Cosmetology Practice Exam 1
• TEAS Mathematics Practice Test 1
• Skeletal System Game
• Career Prep Center: Build Workplace Skills
• Core English Skills Center

There are literally thousands of individual tests, tutorials, study materials, and learning centers for which we can provide custom links. To see what's available, click the PrepSTEP link below, and when prompted, login to myPittCC. Create your own personal account to take tests, access tutorials, etc. 

We can create the links for you, or we can show you how to do it on your own. Contact Angela Davis (asdavis688@my.pittcc.edu) to get started. 

Here's quick run-down of what's new in the Library for April 2024. For all the details, visit our What's New page.

Children's Books Online

The Comics Plus database now includes a huge collection of children's picture books. Topics include weather, using American Sign Language, diverse families, healthy lifestyles, manners, fiction, colors, cultural holidays, shapes, history, science, and much more.
NOTE: This database includes resources for all age levels, from Pre-K through adult.

New Print Books

Many new books have come in through our leased book program through McNaughton. They are currently on display on the 1st floor across from the Circulation Desk. Come check these out before they disappear. From romance to biography, there's a little bit of everything included in this latest haul.

Flipster Digital Magazines

You can literally flip through the pages (online) of the latest issues of National Geographic, Entrepreneur, Popular Mechanics, and Consumer Reports. 

Artificial Intelligence: AI

AI ChatGPT, OpenAI, GPT-4...and the list goes on. What's all of this stuff anyway, and how can you learn more about it? That's easy! Visit our new Artificial Intelligence research guide and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know.

Dogwood Digital Library

This resource is shared among many NC Community College libraries across the state and new e-books and audiobooks are constantly being added. Learn more about Dogwood Digital and how you can access this growing collection of fiction (and even some nonfiction!) titles. Additionally, you'll find a growing number of comics, graphic novels, and manga as well. 

Library Catalog: Evergreen

We have changed over to an entirely new library system called Evergreen.
What does this mean for you?

• An updated look and more robust search features when searching for items located at PCC Library.

You may not even notice a difference, but just in case you do, the images below provide some guidance. You will find Library Catalog search boxes in all of the usual places and they function very similarly to what you are already used to. Enter a keyword or phrase, then click the Search button. If you find something you are interested in viewing, click the title. 

The title page will show you more details about the book along with the call number, shelving location, and status. If the status is "available" then the book should be on the shelf. As always, a library staff member will be happy to help you locate items in the Library.

Learn how to . . .

• Place holds within the new catalog
• Renew your checked-out items
• To log in to the Library Catalog, you will need your PCC ID number and the last four digits of the phone number you used when setting up your library account. If you don't know this, or need to update your information, contact the Circulation Desk at (252) 493-7350 or pittlrc@email.pittcc.edu. If you don't have a library account, you complete the form online to start the process. 

New Login System for Library Databases

What does this mean for you?

• A newly designed login screen when attempting to access Library databases.
• You will be prompted to login with your myPittCC credentials whether you are on campus or not. If you are already logged into the campus portal, you will not have to re-enter your credentials.

• A slight change in how you log in to databases from off campus. You will use your entire myPittCC e-mail address as your username and your same myPittCC password. 
• If you experience any interruption in service, please Ask a Librarian for assistance.
• Instructors! Please take a look at how to update database links in your online courses so that student access is not delayed. We can help you with this! Contact Angela Davis at asdavis688@my.pittcc.edu

Read and Listen to Popular Books

Dogwood Digital Library, which is powered by OverDrive, is available for PCC faculty, staff, and students. It allows you to borrow a mix of popular fiction and non-fiction e-books and audiobooks. This is a shared collection of items from many North Carolina community college libraries and may be downloaded to most computers and mobile devices.

A myPittCC email account is required for access!

Get started. . . 

• Learn how to use Dogwood Digital (and other ebook/audiobook databases) by visiting the Library's Leisure Reading Guide.
• Dogwood Digital uses the Libby App: For reading and listening on the go, get the Libby app. 
• Guess what?!? If you already use the Libby app to access content from another library, all you have to do is add Dogwood Digital. You'll find step-by-step instructions on the Leisure Reading Guide.

Have questions? Ask a Librarian!
Want more? Go to our Find Books page to learn all about your options for accessing books in print and online through PCC. Don't forget, if PCC doesn't own a book that you need, you can get books (and articles) from other libraries through our interlibrary loan service - which is free!

Post Updated: 6/28/2023 by ASD

Did you know that the Library houses the campus archives?

There are also a significant number of PCC general catalogs and yearbooks that have been digitized and made available online. Take a look at the Library's PCC Archives page to see what is available. 

What types of materials are found in the archives?

The Pitt Community College Archives collects materials of permanent historical and/or cultural value generated by and for the administration, academic departments, faculty, staff, special programs, and student organizations. This includes artifacts, official records, correspondence, papers, and publications.  Through its collections, the archives promote an awareness of the diverse history and culture of PCC and our role in the community.

What about photographs?

Although not part of the archives held by the Library, you can view photographs taken by campus photographer Rob Goldberg by visiting Pitt CC on Flickr.

Need more info?

If you have questions, want to view print items in the archives, or have materials to donate, please contact Evan Schmoll, at eschmoll241@my.pittcc.edu or by calling 252-493-7359.

Open Access (OA) makes research accessible immediately upon publication with no restrictions. Anyone with internet access can find, read, mine, cite and share OA articles at no cost to them. OA scholarly literature is free of charge and often carries less restrictive copyright and licensing barriers than traditionally published works, for both the users and the authors. 

While OA is a newer form of scholarly publishing, many OA journals comply with well-established peer-review processes and maintain high publishing standards. 

Traditional vs OA Journals

The traditional way to access scholarly research is by purchasing a copy of an individual article, which can be quite expensive. Academic libraries purchase institutional subscriptions to many journals and provide access to their students and staff through online library databases and/or print copies. This restricts access to those who can afford to purchase articles and to those who have access to an academic library. 

In contrast, journals and/or articles published via Open Access, allow anyone, anywhere to access the information without having to pay or be affiliated with an academic library. 

Search for OA Resources:

• DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) - extensive index of diverse Open Access journals from around the world
• DOAB (Directory of Open Access Books) - indexes and provides access to scholarly, peer-reviewed Open Access books
• PLOS (Public Library of Science) Journals - suite of influential Open Access journals across all areas of science and medicine

OA in Summon

PCC Library's Summon Search includes Open Access materials. When you search Summon, there will be an indication of peer-review, open access, etc. for each item in the results list. You can choose to view only Open Access resources by checking beside Open Access under Refine Your Search.

Learn more:

• What is Open Access? [Cornell University]
• Open Access [PLOS Open Science]
• Open Access [SPARC]

Have more questions about Open Access? Ask a librarian!

Hello Faculty and Adjuncts!

PCC Library offers several streaming video options for adding films and documentaries to online (or in-person) courses. Click the links below to get instructions on how to access and use the content from these databases.

SWANK Digital Campus: https://libguides.pittcc.edu/streaming/swank

• Includes only the videos/films requested by PCC faculty
• View the SWANK catalog to see what films are available, then let us know what you'd like to order

Kanopy: https://libguides.pittcc.edu/streaming/kanopy

• Includes documentaries and films on a variety of topics
• You may request films not included in the base package

JoVE: https://libguides.pittcc.edu/streaming/jove

• Includes video demonstrations that illustrate key concepts for a wide range of STEM subjects including biology, chemistry, environmental science, psychology, clinical medicine, and engineering
• Includes quiz questions and other faculty resources such as curriculum mapping, etc.

Films on Demand: https://libguides.pittcc.edu/streaming/fod

• Includes a variety of educational programming and documentaries

Remember: 

• To access library databases, you will be prompted to enter your myPittCC username and password (do not include @my.pittcc.edu in the username). 
• Pay close attention to the instructions on the pages listed above for how to properly include video links in your courses so that students will be able to access the videos from home.

If you have any questions, please let us know! Our web services librarian, Angela Davis (asdavis688@my.pittcc.edu), will be glad to help you incorporate content from these databases into your Moodle courses. 

Hey Readers! 

You have lots of options for getting in a few good reads this summer. Check out what's new on our shelves and in our databases. New print bestsellers, e-books, and audiobooks are being added all the time. The best part is that if you can't find what you are looking for, we can most likely borrow it from another library . . . for free! 

Need ideas for what to read next? Give these a try.

Need a laptop?

You do not have to complete an online form for library laptops. 

Equipment is checked out at the circulation desk on a first-come, first-served basis. A valid PCC/NC Wesleyan ID card is required to check out equipment. Library equipment is not to be used for commercial or non-academic purposes nor shared with others. 

This service is available to . . .

• PCC Curriculum Students
• Pitt County Early College High School (ECHS) Students
• Career & College Promise (CCP) Students
• PCC Continuing Ed Students
• NC Wesleyan Program Students

Contact the PCC Library Circulation Desk at 493-7350 or email pittlrc@email.pittcc.edu if you need any additional information.

Have you ever challenged yourself to read (or listen to) a certain number of books within a year? How about committing to reading a book from a genre that you wouldn't normally read? I really admire Ann Morgan, who blogged about her 2012 reading challenge called "A Year of Reading the World." Yes, her goal was to read (and review) at least one book from each country. She even provides a list with all the books that were recommended to her and which ones of those she actually read. 

I didn't use to keep track of what I read, nor did I make lists of things I wanted to read, but since having discovered Goodreads.com a few years ago, I track it all - and I love it. I love seeing the number of books "read" go up and up and up. Now that the Library has access to Dogwood Digital, I've come to appreciate the convenience of listening to audiobooks while driving, cooking, walking, etc. And as far as reading something outside of my comfort zone this year, I'm going to look to our ComicsPlus database for inspiration. I have never really gotten into graphic novels or comics, but I've also never really given them a fair chance either. Are you ready to read yet? If you need some ideas, check out our What's New page for January. If you're feeling really adventurous, let us know what you are currently reading by posting on our What Are You Reading? padlet. Better yet, come and find me on Goodreads!

Here's to a new year and new adventures in reading! 

PCC students, faculty, and staff now have unlimited access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga from more than one hundred publishers. Every title is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on your computer, tablet, or phone. There are no limits as to how many people can access a single comic at any one time.

There are two ComicsPlus collections. One with access to everything for all age groups (including comics for adults), and another for children.

Access

• You can find the ComicsPlus links on the Library's Databases page.
• Only those with an active myPittCC account can access ComicsPlus. The community patron login will not work for this database.
• Open ComicsPlus in a new tab or window.
• You will be prompted to sign in to myPittCC before you can access the database.

Download the ComicsPlus App

You can access and download ComicsPlus app on Google Play and at the App Store.

Learn more . . .

• About ComicsPlus
• List of Publishers
• Library Pass & ComicsPlus Videos, Webinars, and Tutorials

Teaching and Learning with Comics

• Teaching and Reading Guides [ComicsPlus / Library Pass]
• Understanding Manga [ComicsPlus / Library Pass]
• Raising a Reader: How Comics and Graphic Novels Can Help Your Kids Love to Read [Comic Book Legal Defense Fund]
  Includes benefits for adult language learners, struggling readers, and more.

• Use the Ask a Librarian page to ask questions and get help.
• Schedule an online meeting with a librarian.
• Use the Contacts page to find a particular library staff member.
• Access Library databases and research guides 24 hours a day.
• Use social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Library Blog) to keep up with PCC Library news.

NC LIVE has replaced RBdigital with a service called Hoopla. The same collection of e-books and audiobooks are available, but the way in which you access them is a bit different. On the Library's Databases page, you will need to go to Hoopla instead of RBdigital. Hoopla apps are available for use on your mobile device(s).

Access Hoopla

You will have to create a personal Hoopla account in order to access available resources. 

PCC Faculty, Staff, and Students

If you have a myPittCC email account...

1. Visit hoopladigital.com or download the app.
2. Register with your myPittCC email address. Example: abstudent123@my.pittcc.edu
3. Choose NC LIVE as your library.
4. Enter any number you like in the library card and/or PIN space.
5. Browse and borrow from Hoopla’s Flex collection.

Community Library Patrons

If you DO NOT have a myPittCC email account...

1. Visit hoopladigital.com or download the app.
2. Choose NC LIVE as your library.
3. Add “NC” after your library barcode number when you register.
4. Browse and borrow from Hoopla’s Flex collection.

Need Help?

• Hoopla Help Pages
• Ask a Librarian

OverDrive is coming to PCC in the spring!

Through a brand new consortium called Dogwood Digital Library, community college libraries around the state have teamed up to provide you with access to OverDrive.

What is OverDrive?

OverDrive is a free service offered by libraries or schools that lets you borrow digital content (like e-books and audiobooks) anytime, anywhere. Every OverDrive collection is slightly different because each library or school picks the digital content they want for their users. NC community college libraries will be able to purchase titles and add to the base collection. We will give you more information as things progress, but this is very exciting news!
 

What titles will be included?

60,000 e-book classics will be available for checkout via the OverDrive platform and apps. Once libraries in the consortium are ready, they can start purchasing new e-books and audiobooks that are then shared among member libraries. We will advertise here on the Library blog, our What's New page, and on Facebook when new titles are added to the collection. 

Hey you!

If you're looking for something to read and you're not sure where to go, check out our E-books page.

You can also find these resources by going to the Library homepage > selecting Databases > choose All Database Types > then click E-books. 

Don't forget, when you're off campus, you'll need to use your myPittCC login to access library databases.  

Books on the Internet

Manybooks [website] - A web resource that provides an extensive library of books in digital format for free. Most of the titles originate from the Project Gutenberg archives, which means you'll find many classics. The platform also includes many titles that are self-published by new authors. 

OpenLibrary [website] - This library is like no other. It's a library with an editable catalog. The goal is to create a web page for every book published. This library provides published works for humankind all over the world.

Do you know of other e-book websites for us to check out? Send us a suggestion!

Happy Reading :)

We have several new online resources coming your way. The first one we'd like to introduce is Kanopy. 

Kanopy

• 

New

Streaming video service that includes documentaries and films on a variety of topics.

 

 

Where can I find a link to Kanopy?

• From the Library homepage, click the Databases link.
• In some cases, your instructor may provide a link to Kanopy or to the exact video they would like for you to view in your Moodle course.
   

Can anyone watch Kanopy videos?

• Anyone with a myPittCC account or who has a current PCC Library account can watch Kanopy videos.
   

Which login button should you use?

• LOG IN TO PITTCC (orange button)
  Use LOG IN TO PITTCC if you want to have off-campus access and start watching videos right away.
   
• LOG IN (top right corner)
  Use LOG IN if you want to create your own personal Kanopy account where you can save watchlists, get recommendations, etc.

 

What credentials do I use to log in?

• When you click LOG IN TO PITTCC (orange button), you will be prompted to enter your myPittCC credentials. 

• If you decide to create a personal Kanopy account, you can use the LOG IN button (top right). During the process of creating the account, you will choose your "university" and in the text box provided, start typing Pitt Community College. You will then be prompted to enter your myPittCC credentials. Once you set up your account, click LOG IN (top corner) to log in directly to your Kanopy account.

 

Have more questions about Kanopy? ​

• Go to the Kanopy support page.

• Ask a Librarian.

The Library building is closed, but your librarians are still at work - just at home! Send us an email, use the chat box, and ask us lots of questions! 

Having database access issues?

When clicking a library database link, you will be prompted to login to myPittCC (the campus portal). If your login is not successful, we suggest the following:

• Review the myPittCC login instructions provided by the campus.

• Read the information on the Library's Online Access page. This page has screenshots, instructions, lists possible browser issues, and provides links to service update sites for various database vendors.

• If the database link you are using is in your Moodle course, you may want to get our of Moodle, and try accessing the database from the Library’s A-Z database page instead. It may be that the link in Moodle was typed incorrectly or is out-of-date. 

When the Library is open . . .

• Contact the Library by phone or email and let us know what is happening in case there is an issue with the database. 

• Use our Report a Problem form if you don't need immediate assistance, but want to let us know there is an issue that needs attention. 

When the Library is closed . . .

• Use the online reference chat box found on either the Library homepage, or the Ask a Librarian page. Actual human librarians with master's degrees in library or information science are available 24/7 to help you! They may be able to help you figure out a way to get to the information you need.
   

• If you are still not successful, please send an email to both your instructor and the Library (pittref@email.pittcc.edu) explaining what is happening. This way, there is documentation of the problem, and the Library can start working to figure out what’s going on as soon as possible. 

Updated 11/22/2024 by A. Davis

When going through a list of articles found in a library database, you may notice that the PDF preview does not always load. Instead of a preview of the article you get a blank screen. Listed below are 3 options for viewing the article PDF.

Option 1: Download the PDF file.

Download or save the PDF file to your computer and then open the file using a PDF reader (such as Adobe).

Option 2: Try a different browser.

This issue seems to happen more often with when using Mozilla Firefox. Switching to another browser, such as Google Chrome, may allow you to preview PDF files within the library databases.

Option 3: Adjust your browser settings.

If you want to keep using Mozilla Firefox, you may need to adjust the browser settings.

Click the sandwich menu in the top right corner of the active window.

From the drop-down menu, choose Options.

In the Applications section, look for Portable Document Format (PDF).

You may see one of several different options listed out beside Portable Document Format.

Click the drop-down arrow and choose Preview in Firefox.

Return to your article page and click to Refresh the browser window. Hopefully, you will now be able to see the article preview.

Depending on which version of the Mozilla Firefox browser you are using, these steps may not work for you. If you continue to have problems, please ask a librarian for help.

The Library will be moving upstairs very soon, so stay tuned for more news over the next couple of weeks.

Here's a sneak peak of how things look on the 2nd floor.

ProQuest is doing product maintenance during the evening hours of Saturday, August 18, 2018.

Just in case there are assignments requiring students to use ProQuest databases over the weekend, we wanted there to be a record of when that downtime is scheduled to occur.

During the maintenance window, the following products will be temporarily unavailable:

• Ebook Central​: Saturday, August 18 at 12 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Maintenance will conclude within 5 hours.
• All other ProQuest Research Databases: Saturday, August 18 at 10 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Maintenance will conclude within 8 hours.
• There are many ProQuest products on the Library's database list, but just a few of the most frequently used include:
  • ProQuest Central ​
  • Nursing & Allied Health
  • ProQuest Research Companion
  • SIRS (all editions)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Angela Davis at x7366 or at adavis@email.pittcc.edu

The Library’s online databases and research guides will still be accessible even though some embedded features on a few library pages may not load properly during this time. Examples include library request forms, some video tutorials, embedded Google docs, etc. The online library chat service will still be available except for the July 4th holiday. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Library’s Reference Desk at (252) 493-7360.

Two new films have been added to SWANK Digital Campus (opens a new tab):

1. Rabbit Proof Fence (2002): Three Aborigine girls escape from an Australian internment camp. Everlyn Sampi stars in the heartwrenching, fact-based drama. Rated PG.
2. Invictus (2009): Nelson Mandela inspires the South African rugby team to strive for the World Cup in hopes of soothing the country's racial tensions. Rated PG-13.

The Library's homepage address (URL) has changed to the following:

https://pittcc.edu/campus-life/library

You will need to update any Library links you have included in your course content (Moodle, handouts, etc.). Any step-by-step instructions that involve navigating to the Library homepage will need to be updated. The Library homepage itself has also been changed, so if your instructions go even further and mention what links to click once there, you will need to update those as well. If you need help or have any questions, please let us know. 

To find the Library's page from the campus homepage:

1. Click Campus Life.
2. From the drop-down menu, choose Library.

If you can't find something on the new Library homepage, please let us know right away. 

Thank you for your patience as we work through this transition. 

There is an issue with linking and embedding Films on Demand videos and video segments in Microsoft products. It has to do with how Microsoft handles the links. When the link is clicked, you get a login screen instead of the video automatically playing. The workaround suggested by Films on Demand is to create a playlist and then link to the playlist instead of the individual segment or video.

Here's the process step-by-step:

From the Library's Online Database list, click the Films on Demand link. If off campus, you will be prompted to enter your myPittCC credentials.

Create a personal account in Films on Demand and then log in.

Navigate to (or search for) the video you want to use in your document, then click "Add to."

Click "Playlist."

Beside "New Playlist" type the name of your new playlist, then click the "New Playlist" button.

Click "Go to Playlists."

Click "Embed/Link."

Copy the entire link provided beside Record URL. 
This is the URL you will use to link out to the video. You will not be able to embed the video, but you can create a screen shot or insert a still image from the video and use that as your linked object. 

NOTE: If you have more than one video in the playlist, then you will be linking to the entire playlist, which may be OK if you have several videos that you want to access during your presentation. However, if you want to keep the videos separate, then create a different playlist for each video. 

If you need help, please contact us!