Unlocking Resources: A Guide to the Clackamas Community College Library

Clackamas Community College (CCC) offers a wealth of resources to support its students' academic journeys. Among these, the CCC Library stands out as a central hub for research, learning, and exploration. Located in the Dye Learning Center on the Oregon City campus, the library provides access to a wide array of collections, research assistance, and a welcoming space for study and collaboration. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the resources available through the CCC Library, empowering students to make the most of these valuable assets.

Navigating the Library's Collections

The CCC Library boasts an extensive collection of materials catering to diverse academic needs and interests. Students can explore hundreds of thousands of print books, eBooks, graphic novels, electronic journals and magazines, online newspapers, and streaming videos.

Starting Your Research: A Strategic Approach

When embarking on a research project, it's often beneficial to begin with a broad search to gain an overview of the available information. As you delve deeper into your topic, you can refine your search using more specific keywords.

Broad to Specific: Start with general terms and gradually narrow your focus. If you get lots of search results, add in a keyword for the second most important idea.
Iterative Searching: Good research is iterative, meaning it is a circular process where you repeat steps more than once and improve upon what you have done before.
AI-Powered Search: Most databases utilize AI in their search algorithms, which automatically identify related keywords. This can be helpful when you're unsure how to best describe an idea or which keywords to use. Built-in AI is effective if you are not sure how to best describe an idea, or of what keywords to use.
Precision Searching: As you become more familiar with your topic, use quotation marks around specific keywords or phrases to conduct targeted and precise searches. For precision searching. As you do more research, you'll notice that people use different language and offer up different perspectives on the same topic. Researchers largely do not use the term "Gen A" in their research papers and reports (yet). For precision searching. AND overrides* default search algorithms that look for only one (or more) keywords.
Keywords: Titles and abstracts contain concise keywords that describe the most important topic ideas within the article. Subjects are keywords added by authors or information specialists to describe what the article is about.

Advanced Search Techniques

Most databases offer an "Advanced Search" interface that allows for more strategic use of search terms, search tools, filters, and existing citations. This feature enables you to:

Combine keywords using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to broaden or narrow your search.
Filter results by date, publication type, subject, and other criteria.
Search within specific fields, such as title, author, or abstract.

Overcoming Search Challenges

Misspellings: Double-check your spelling to ensure accurate search results.
Too Many Search Terms: Simplify your search by focusing on the most essential keywords.
Full Sentences: Avoid using full sentences or questions, as some databases may not be able to interpret them correctly. Some databases are unable to interpret questions and full sentences.
New Topics: Keep in mind that brand-new topics and current events may not have much scholarly research available due to the time required for research and publication. Brand new topics and current events do not have much scholarly research available, because research takes time.

Expert Assistance: Getting Help from Librarians

The CCC Library's librarians are valuable resources for students seeking research support. They can assist with a wide range of needs, including:

Read also: Navigating CCC Job Postings

Using the library's resources and databases.
Developing research topics.
Finding and evaluating sources.
Citing sources correctly.

Whether you're just starting your research or need help with a specific aspect of your project, don't hesitate to reach out to the librarians for guidance.

Utilizing the Library's Physical Space

The CCC Library provides a welcoming and conducive environment for studying, collaborating, and accessing technology.

Workspace and Study Rooms

The library offers quiet workspace for individual study, as well as group study rooms for collaborative projects.

Technology Access

Students have access to computers, printers, copiers, and scanners within the library. The college also has computers available for student use. Many academic departments manage their own computer labs. Specialized software for these programs is usually available in these labs only. Streeter Hall Open Computing Lab is a general access lab open to all students. The lab offers Windows-based computers, general-purpose software such as Microsoft Office and a printer.

Student ID Cards

Photo student ID cards are available at each of our campuses. You’ll need this card for transactions on campus, including library checkout, access to computer and tutorial labs, the Assessment Center, enrollment verification, and admission to college events. Picture identification will be required to obtain your photo ID card.

Beyond the Library: Additional Resources at CCC

While the library is a central hub for academic support, CCC offers a wide range of other resources to enhance the student experience.

Academic Support

The Learning Center: The Learning Center provides free individual and small group tutoring in many subjects, such as science. Tutors are available by request, with some drop-in tutoring and some by appointment.
Harmony Tutoring Lab: The Harmony Tutoring Lab offers drop-in science and math tutoring and appointment-based writing tutoring. The space is a welcoming environment for students to get academic support and access to computers and a printer.
Math Labs: Drop-in math tutoring is available in the Dye Learning Center on the Oregon City campus and at the Harmony campus on the third floor in the new Harmony West building. In the Math Labs, students can obtain one-on-one help for their math homework and preparation for exams.
Writing Center: The Writing Center offers students one-to-one feedback on any writing assignment, for any class or project. Students can get help with any aspect of writing: understanding the assignment, strategies for getting started, grammar and editing, organization, strategies for revising and polishing, considering the audience, and citing sources.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid Office: The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships provides students with information, resources, applications, and other required forms necessary to apply for various types of aid offered through the federal government, state, and Clackamas Community College (CCC).
CCC Foundation Scholarships: The CCC Foundation funds more than $1,000,000 in scholarships each year for new and returning students.

Student Life and Engagement

Associated Student Government (ASG): The Associated Student Government (ASG) of Clackamas Community College is the governing body of CCC students.
Campus Clubs: Campus clubs are approved and overseen by the Associated Student Government (ASG) and new interest groups are encouraged to organize following ASG procedures.
Service Learning: The Service Learning program provides volunteer/community service opportunities for CCC students.
Clackamas Print: The Clackamas Print is an award-winning student-run media operation that publishes news online, in print and through social media.
Clackamas Literary Review: Clackamas Literary Review is a nationally distributed literary magazine designed and edited by students that publish poetry, fiction, and essays, and offers a student writing contest.
Theatre Department: The Theatre Department produces one full-length play and several student-directed theatre projects each term.

Support Services

Counseling Services: Counselors are available to provide support services for students at Clackamas Community College.
Disability Resource Center (DRC): The first step to seeking services with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) is to submit documentation of diagnosis.
Accounts Receivable: Accounts Receivable provides services to both students and departments on student accounts receivable-related issues including, but not limited to, billing charges, student third-party billing, tuition, and financial aid refunds, short-term book loans, 1098Ts, collections, and registration holds.
Veterans Services: Clackamas Community College welcomes service members, prior service members, and military-connected families.

Additional Resources

Bookstore: The Oregon City Campus Bookstore is located at the north end of McLoughlin Hall on the ground floor.
Child Care: Clackamas Community College and the Clackamas County Children's Commission (ClackCoKids) offer child care on campus in the Family Resource Center (FRC) at no cost to families for children between the ages of birth to 5 years.
Community Gardens: The Community Gardens at Clackamas Community College provide an economical, convenient spot for the public to grow their own vegetables and flowers.
Fitness Center: The CCC Fitness Center is open to students and staff when classes are not scheduled in the center.
John Inskeep Environmental Learning Center: The John Inskeep Environmental Learning Center is a great place for people of all ages to explore the outdoors and learn about watersheds in a natural environment.
Music Department: The Music Department sponsors a number of vocal and instrumental performing groups that are open to students and to the community.
Cougar Café: The Cougar Café in the Wacheno Welcome on the Oregon City campus offers a full grill, with options like breakfast burritos, burgers, fries, tater tots, chicken strips, and pizza by the slice. during fall, winter, and spring terms.
Transportation: Operated by Clackamas County, this free shuttle runs between the Oregon City and Harmony campuses and the Clackamas Town Center Transit Center.

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