Finding a book for an assignment is just a mouse click away, now that the Eli Luria Library on West Campus has teamed up with netLibrary to offer books online.
“It definitely helps students who need information on books with essays and computer reference,” said Library Director Kenley Neufeld.
The electronic books from netLibrary can be accessed through the Library’s main web page, http://library.sbcc.edu.
Anyone with a pipeline account or student ID can access the site for free.
However, students must first create a free account on netLibrary in order to use the electronic books web site.
The web site contains all the materials a print version has, the only difference being the information is online. Once the account is created, the student can access the electronic books outside of the library.
To find a book, go to the catalog link on the library’s web site, then type in an item to search bar.
The site will give a list of books with the topic searched. Students can search for a whole book or find materials on a specific subject. There is even the option to search within the contents of the electronic book.
Neufeld said having electronic books available saves the school numerous amounts of money that can be used for other services the school needs.
Neufeld said at the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday that the library purchased about 6,000 books for a $1 per book.
The books can also help students who cannot check out books during the library’s hours and can save students time searching by allowing students a more specific find needed for research papers.
“It would be beneficial because I wouldn’t have to spend so much time searching for so many books I don’t need,” said psychology major Heidi Chagollan.
The electronic books have been around campus for several years now, but each year the number of books added to the library grows.
Last year 2,708 books were added. This January, an additional 3,153 were added to the web site.
The site has approximately 15,000 titles to date available for students. Resources from the fiction, nonfiction and reference sections can be found on the site.
Although online books may have their its perks, there may be some fall backs to using the site.
Only one book can be used at a time, so a student might want to search the same book another student is currently using.
The site, netLibrary does not contain information from magazines and periodicals. However, the library offers Proquest, a periodical database.
Although the web site is handy, some still feel hardcover books are a useful source. Librarian Elizabeth Bowman said: “I believe that some students want a book in hand. But late at night; quick answers, the student should try the web site.”
