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FAQs

General Information

  • What are the library hours?

  • Where can I get directions to the college?

  • Is there a place to return my items when the library is closed?

    • Yes, the book drop is located in the Faculty/Staff/Visitor parking lot directly across from the Library/Commons Building.

  • Do you have group study rooms available?

    • Yes, there are two group study rooms available in the library.  To use the large seminar/study room upstairs you must present your library card at the Circulation Desk in order to borrow a key to the room for two hours. The smaller study room downstairs is open and available on a first come, first served basis.

Using Technology in the Library

  • Do I need change for the copy machine?

    • Students are given 75 free prints per semester.  Once the 75 free prints are used, they are charged ten cents per page. Alumni and community patrons are charged ten cents per page. Pay cash at the circulation desk.

  • Does it cost to print in the library?

    • Students are given 75 free prints per semester.  Once the 75 free prints are used, they are charged ten cents per page. The copier also allows you to scan documents or photos to a flash drive or send to an RBC email address. Alumni and community patrons are charged ten cents per page. Pay cash at the circulation desk.

  • Do I need to sign up to use a computer?

    • Students, faculty, and staff will login using their RBC email address and email password.  Visitors will need to have a library card to use a computer.  Just ask for one at the circulation desk.  You will then be a given a card with a username and password to login.  There is no time limit to use our computers.

  • Is wifi available in the Library?

    • Yes. Wireless access is available in all campus buildings, and the network is called “RBCPublic.” Faculty and students can login using their RBC email username and password. Guest access is available by registering with the network. Ask a librarian if you have trouble!

  • May I use the library computers to watch movies, use social media, or play games?

    • Gaming is not allowed on any of the library computers. This is a state regulation for all state computers. However, you are welcome to use the computers in the main part of the library to watch movies, Facebook, check email, or browse the Internet for recreational reasons.

Finding Items

  • How do I look up a book in the RBC Library?

    • Use the RBC online catalog. You can type in a title, author, subject, keyword, or periodical title. Then click on the appropriate search button. Use “All Fields” to search by keyword.

  • Where can I find books on reserve in the library?

    • Ask for these books at the Circulation Desk. Most items can only be used in the library for a period of 4 hours, but some instructors allow items to go out overnight or for a period of three days. The overdue fine for late reserve items is $1 per day.

  • The computer says the book is on the shelf, but I can’t find it! What should I do?

    • Verify the location of the book within the Library to see if you should be looking in the STACKS or in another area of the library. Also, make sure that you are not searching the STACKS for an e-book. (The record would be tagged with the word “e-book”). If you are still having trouble, ask a librarian for assistance!

  • What does the location “Internet Accessible” mean when I look up a book?

    • It means the book you have located is an e-book, and it’s available online. Click the title of the e-book, scroll to the bottom, and click the link that says “Available to RBC users.” It will launch a new window to the e-book.

  • Can you obtain articles or books for me from another Library?

    • Yes. All students and faculty may request items through Interlibrary Loan. You can complete an Interlibrary Loan request form. Please allow time for delivery.

  • My professor keeps talking about VIVA. What is VIVA?

    • VIVA is a consortium of nonprofit academic libraries in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Through this consortium, students at RBC have access to thousands of electronic journals and newspapers.

  • How do I access the VIVA Databases from home? My professor said I had to have an article from a professional or scholarly journal. Where do I find that?

    • First, you will need to make sure that you have an RBC email account. The RBC Library website contains a list of databases available to RBC faculty and students through the library’s VIVA subscription. Off-campus access is available for all of these databases. When you click on these database links from off-campus, you will be prompted for your email username and password.

  • My professor said I had to have an article from a professional or scholarly journal. Where do I find that?

    • Scholarly journals are periodicals that are often published by a society such as the American Medical Association which publishes the Journal of the American Medical Association. An easy way to find full-text professional journals online is to use Academic Search Complete. When setting up your search, check the box that says limit to “Scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals.” This will limit your search results to publications where the articles have gone before a peer-review board before being published. Be aware that professional journals do not have to start with the phrase “Journal of.”

  • My professor wants us to find a newspaper article. How can I do this?

    • The Library subscribes to local and national newspapers. However, you can use our online databases to search for articles related to certain topics.

Borrowing Items

  • How many items may I check out?

    • It depends on who you are – faculty, student, community patron, or high school student. Please review our circulation policies for a breakdown of what you can check out. Students may check out up to five books as well as two videos and/or DVDs.

  • Do I have to pay fines if my books are late?

    • Yes. There is a late fee of 10¢ per day for overdue books, a fee of $1 per day for videos and DVDs, and a fee of $1 per day for late reserves and Interlibrary Loans. Transcripts and grades will be withheld if a student has outstanding library obligations.

  • Who can check out videos and DVDs?

    • Videos and DVDs may only be borrowed by RBC students, faculty, and staff.

  • Can I renew my items that I’ve checked out?

    • Yes and no. You can renew your books by stopping by the library or giving us a call at (804) 862-6226. However, please note that we do not renew videos or DVDs or reserve items for students. You login to the catalog to renew your items yourself.

  • Can I view my library account online?

    • Yes. You can login to the catalog by the clicking the link in the top right corner.

Getting Help

  • I need to talk to a librarian. How do I contact someone?

    • You may call or email any of the librarians for information or assistance with research. Send an email to library@rbc.edu or telephone a librarian at 804-862-6226.

  • Can you help me research and write my term paper?

    • Consult a librarian for research assistance. We can help you locate books, articles, reference material and websites on your topic. Visit our Research Guides page for information on selecting a topic and finding sources for your paper. Use our APAMLA or Chicago online style guides for help with parenthetical documentation and works cited pages. For extensive help formulating, writing and editing your term paper, you should consult the Writing Center.

Library

Contact Info

11301 Johnson Rd
South Prince George, VA 23805
(804) 862-6226

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