Unveiling the Resources of Ocean County College Library

The Ocean County College (OCC) Library stands as a central hub for academic exploration, personal enrichment, and community engagement. With a commitment to student success, the library provides a wide array of resources and services tailored to meet the diverse needs of its patrons. Whether you are a student, faculty member, staff, or a member of the Ocean County community, the library offers a wealth of opportunities for learning and discovery.

Access and Privileges

The Library is accessible to the public, fostering a welcoming environment for all. However, for the safety and well-being of younger visitors, unattended children will be referred to Security.

The OCC Library extends borrowing privileges to currently enrolled OCC, Kean Ocean, and Ocean County Performing Arts Academy students, faculty, and staff. Residents of Ocean County can obtain a free library card, granting them access to a vast collection of resources.

Navigating the Library's Collection

The Library maintains a robust collection, encompassing both physical and electronic resources. This includes:

Print Books: Over 60,000 titles covering a wide range of subjects.
eBooks: Access to more than 240,000 electronic books, offering convenient online reading.
Print Periodicals: A selection of current magazines and journals in print format.
Electronic Journals, Periodicals, and Databases: Extensive online resources for research and academic inquiry.
Streaming Video and Audio: Educational and entertainment content available for online viewing and listening.
DVDs and Music CDs: A collection of physical media for leisure and academic use.
Government Documents: As a designated selective Federal Depository Library, the OCC Library provides access to thousands of government documents in print and electronic form.

Digital Resources

The Library provides free access to over 100 reliable Digital Resources with a library card. Stream resources in real-time anywhere with internet access, and enjoy eBooks, audiobooks, movies, magazines, and more!

Read also: Your Guide to Ocean County College

Specialized Services

Reserve Items

Library reserves are items set aside by a faculty member for a particular class or assignment. While some of these items can be checked out for brief periods, the majority of reserve items cannot be checked out. They are intended for “in house” use to ensure access for the greatest number of patrons. Reserve items are located behind the circulation desk.

Interlibrary Loan

Requesting an interlibrary loan item is easy! You can request a book or article from another library if the OCC library does not own a copy.

Renewals and Fines

You may renew most items one time, unless it is overdue, another patron has requested it, or there are other restrictions placed on it. Yes, there are fines for late returns. Items returned late must be brought to the Circulation Desk where fines must be paid. Fines are assessed daily. The fine will vary depending on the type of item borrowed.

Technology and Learning Spaces

The newly modernized library space offers a variety of technology-rich learning environments:

Individual Study Pods: Quiet spaces for focused study.
Group Study Rooms: Collaborative areas for group projects and discussions.
Video Connected Rooms: Equipped for hosting or attending virtual meetings and events.
Podcast Studio: A dedicated space for creating audio and video content.
Learning Commons/Collaborative Workspace Area: A flexible area for collaborative learning and project development.

All Library computers are connected to networked printers. One standard, black & white printer is located on the first floor of the library. Printing fees: Black and white printing jobs are $.10 per page. Color printing is available on the second floor and costs $.25 per page. Library patrons may access the “OCCWifi” wireless network. Accessing this network may require initial registration.

Read also: OCC Canvas Login Instructions

Online Resources and Support

For e-learning students, Canvas is their digital classroom. It is a Learning Management System, or LMS, for short. Whether all of your courses are online or some are in-person, you will use Canvas.

To access library resources and the Library Chat Service from off campus, log in to your Ocean Connect account and select the plus sign on the Student Services tab and then select the Library Services tab.

Online Tutoring

We offer free, live, one-on-one, online tutoring through Brainfuse - HelpNow. This HelpNow offers tutoring in math, science, writing, language learning, and other subjects for elementary, middle school, high school, and college students.

Brainfuse provides support live on-demand 24/7 in math and English. Brainfuse’s Online Writing Lab offers students a range of services to improve their writing skills. Through the 24-Hour Writing Lab, students can submit their writing assignments securely. They receive feedback within a day from specialists who evaluate it based on criteria such as task response, organization, focus, word usage, and grammar/mechanics. For those seeking immediate assistance, live feedback is available where students can connect with tutors in real time for one-to-one writing assistance using the file sharing feature.

Databases and Research Tools

The Library provides access to a wide range of databases and research tools, including:

Read also: Your Guide to the OCC Bookstore

African American History: Features thousands of cross-referenced entries, covering the entire spectrum of African-American history over the past 500 years.
American History: Spans more than 500 years of political, military, social, and cultural history to cover the American experience.
American Indian History: Offers fast access to more than 600 Native American groups and over 15,000 years of American Indian culture and history.
American Women’s History: Covers the important people, events, legislation, and issues relevant to the study of women’s history in the United States.
Ancient and Medieval History: Focuses on Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Islamic Empire from prehistory through the 1500s.
eHRAF World Cultures: An online cross-cultural and ethnographic database that contains descriptive information on all aspects of cultural and social life. The annually-growing eHRAF database is organized by cultures and ethnic groups, and every document is subject-indexed at the paragraph level, facilitating precise retrieval within documents.
Facts on File: Search for historical facts in a wide range of subject areas: American History, Women’s History, African-American History, Ancient and Medieval History, and more.
History Reference Source: The world’s most comprehensive full text history reference database designed for secondary schools, public libraries, junior/community colleges, and undergraduate research.
History in Context: Contextual content on significant people, events and topics in US History.
World Geography and Culture Online: The definitive resource for the study of countries, cultures, and geography concepts and skills. Every country of the world is profiled in depth, covering all aspects of its geography, history, society, and culture. At-a-glance information, maps and flags, videos, images, gazetteer entries, biographies of famous people, a timeline, and current news supplement each country profile.
NoveList K-8 Plus: Teens, Middle, and Elementary School recommendations. Fall in love with a book and want a similar read? What should you read after finishing the latest John Green book? We can help!

Student Success and Support Services

Your success is our top priority. Our dedicated staff is ready to assist you with academic challenges, career exploration, and personal well-being. Ready to plan your career path? Our career services team is here to guide you every step of the way. From resume building and interview prep to finding your dream job, we’ve got you covered. We understand that each student is unique. That’s why we offer personalized support services tailored to your specific needs. We honor your service and support your success.

As a student at Ocean County College, it’s important to follow the degree requirements outlined in the catalog for the year you started your program. This is called your “Catalog Year,” which determines which courses you need to complete. While you can switch to the current year’s requirements, it’s not mandatory. Our online courses are offered in 15, 10, and 7.5-week terms. Our library allows you to explore syllabi using the term dropdown menu. These syllabi can be used for transfer evaluation if you are a visiting student. If you have graduated or are a current student looking for an online course syllabus that is not available in the syllabus library, please submit this online syllabus request form. Allow 2-3 business days for your request to be processed.

Ocean County College is committed to providing resources to students to increase overall well-being and support those experiencing stress and mental health challenges. We are excited to offer students FREE immediate access to teletherapy through our partnership with Uwill. All OCC registered students, no matter where they are located, now have access to this online platform and a direct crisis connection and wellness programming until the spring. Uwill is available right away.

Additional Resources and Information

Ocean County College App: The Ocean County College app (iOS & Android) puts your campus in one convenient location. It can be very helpful to plan your events ahead of time.
Clubs and Groups: You can join many clubs and groups to enrich your experience as an Ocean County College student.

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