Thigpen Library

The mission of the Library is to furnish informational resources in support of our instructional programs; to provide research resources in support of student, faculty, administration and staff needs; to supply recreational and non-classroom resources for the college and the community at large; and to offer a pleasant learning environment in which these materials may be used.

Library Hours of Operation

FALL & SPRING HOURS	SUMMER HOURS
Monday – Thursday - 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.	Monday – Thursday - 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday - 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Friday - 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday - 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Saturday - 8:00 a.m. – noon

College@Home Hours of Operation

College @ Home Fall & Spring Hours	College @ Home Summer Hours
Monday – Thursday - 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.	Monday – Thursday - 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday - 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Friday - 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday - 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Saturday - 8:00 a.m. – noon

Contact Information

Library

Phone: (615) 230 - 3400

Fax: (615) 230 - 3410

Email: librarian@volstate.edu

Reference Desk

Phone: (615) 230 - 3405

College @ Home

Phone: (615) 230 - 3409

Fax: (615) 230 - 3546

Resources & Services

ATHENA

ATHENA is a co-op of Nashville area libraries including Nashville Public, Vanderbilt University, and 12 others. When you cannot find materials in the Vol State Library, search the ATHENA catalog. To borrow a book found in the ATHENA catalog, use the interlibrary loan request button, and we will request the book for you. The book will take at least 7 to 14 business days to arrive. Please contact the Reference Desk to learn more about ATHENA.

Audiovisual Materials

The Library has videocassettes, DVDs, and multimedia packages to support the educational programs at Vol State. These may be viewed by students in the Individual Viewing Room and checked out by faculty for classroom use.

Browsing Collection

Current fiction and non-fiction books and audiobooks on CD and cassette for leisure reading and listening circulate for a two-week period.

College @ Home

College @ Home telecourse tapes/DVDs may be checked out on the second floor. During Library hours, facilities for viewing the telecourse tapes are provided. Test proctoring services are available as well.

Copy Costs

Microfilm and microfiche copies are 15¢ each. Copies from copying machines are 10¢ per page.

Online Databases

The Tennessee Electronic Library and Literature Resource Center are two of the many databases available online. Contact the Reference Desk for information on home access to online databases.

eBooks

A consortial collection of approximately 60,000 electronic books (eBooks) is now available to Vol State Library users through the Library catalog. A representative sampling of all subject areas is included. Other eBooks include the Safari Tech Books Online, the Oxford English Dictionary Online, numerous Oxford Press dictionaries and encyclopedias, and the Gale Virtual Reference Library.

FAX

A facsimile machine is available to students for a fee.

General Collection

The Library has a book collection of over 53,000 volumes. Books may be checked out for two weeks with a fine of 10¢ charged for each weekday the book is overdue.

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is the exchanging of materials between libraries to support the educational process of students, faculty and staff at Vol State. Books and magazine articles, not owned by our Library, may be borrowed from another library; however, resources at our Library need to be used first. Ask a Reference Librarian for help in locating resources at our Library before submitting an ILL request.

Internet

Access for educational and research purposes is available from library research computers. Library staff members are available for research computer assistance. Any internet user under 15 must be accompanied by a parent.

Library Catalog

The catalog provides access to the collections by keyword, author, title and subject searches and indicates availability of materials.

Library Instruction

The Library Instruction program uses various combinations of teaching and learning techniques to continuously promote information literacy, the basis for lifelong learning in all disciplines and in all learning environments. SearchPath, a Student Tutorial, is provided online for patrons to learn the basics for locating books, journal articles, and dependable websites. When classes are assigned a research assignment, the Library faculty uses the cooperative classroom / library faculty team-teaching method to demonstrate the use of the Library resources available to them. Library instruction can be scheduled by emailing Livy Simpson or calling x3414.

Microfilm, Microfiche, Archives, and Rare Books

Materials available on microfilm and microfiche include previous years of periodicals, Sumner County census records, colonial newspapers, representative newspapers and magazines from the 1860's and the 1880's and miscellaneous items.

Off-Campus Library Services

A variety of Library resources and services are provided for students and faculty off-campus. Resources are on-site in the Vol State at Livingston Library and at the McGavock Center. Services are also available by telephone, fax, email, and online. Contact the Reference Desk for further information.

Periodicals

The Library currently subscribes to over 275 magazines and newspapers. Current issues are located alphabetically on the periodical shelves, and back issues are available under the periodical shelves and on microfilm and microfiche. Periodical articles also are available online through Gale (TEL), ProQuest, and Wilson databases. We offer a listing of electronic journals with full-text available online.

Personal Computers

PC's and printers are located on the first floor for student and faculty use. A student computer lab is provided, and three PCs for community patron use are located near the stairs. Laptops are available at the Circulation Desk for use in the Library.

Reference Collection

The reference books are non-circulating. Exceptions may be made for one-hour use in class by faculty and students. Reference materials are available in an online format via the Library's eResources web page, e.g., CQ Researcher, Oxford Reference Online.

Reserve Materials

Books and other materials placed on reserve for various classes are available near or behind the Circulation Desk. Reserve materials are listed on the Library catalog by the instructor's name and course number. Reserve materials may be checked out only by Vol State students.

Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL)

All citizens of Tennessee have access to electronic databases containing information on a variety of topics. Vol State students, faculty, staff members and community patrons can easily access the databases from home and Vol State computers through a link on the Library's eResource web page. Remote access to the Gale (TEL) databases may require the password “elvis” (lower case). Descriptions of databases may be found at each web site.