Library Services to Faculty

New faculty are often surprised to find GCC's library the equivalent of many four-year institutions. This is one of the premier community college libraries in the state. All the facilities and resources of the Glendale College Library are available to faculty. The physical library is located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the library building. The library web site provides remote access to most materials and services.

Accessing Library Materials

Reference service & Internet assistance: Reference librarians offer help in using library resources effectively, in locating materials, and in connecting users with information outside the library. Assistance is available at the reference desk, by telephone (ext. 5577), email (bjones@glendale.edu) or by completing the online reference request form.

Electronic resources: Our library online catalog provides quick access to our entire collection: over 81,000 books, 500 CDs and 330 periodical subscriptions. In addition, there is online access to approximately 20 full-text databases and a collection of electronic books. Access to most article databases and the e-book collection is available from off campus. Faculty may log in using their Glendale Community College email ID and password.

New materials: The New Books list is published on the library web page every Monday. It includes all newly available library materials including periodicals, cassettes, and CDs.

Borrowing privileges: Faculty may fill out an application for a library card at the Circulation Desk. General circulating items are due at the end of each spring semester, but are subject to recall by other users. Faculty may check out reference books overnight and should make such requests at the reference desk.

Interlibrary loans:

Faculty may request that items unavailable in the GCC Library be ordered through interlibrary loan (ILL). Depending on the responsiveness of the other library, materials arrive anywhere from one to six weeks later. ILL requests may be made by completing a form at the reference desk or online at:

You may also borrow materials directly from Pasadena City College (PCC) and Cal State Los Angeles (CSULA) using your GCC photo I.D. To get your GCC photo I.D., you can go to room AA1 at the beginning of the semester, or to room AD138 during the semester. You don't need a barcode on your card in order to check out books from PCC or CSULA, but you do need proof that you are a current employee of GCC (e.g., a current pay stub).

Faculty Holds

Faculty may call the circulation desk to have a specific item held for them. If the item is available, the faculty member will be notified and it may picked up at the circulation desk.

Collection Development - Purchase Requests

Library collection and purchasing suggestions: We encourage faculty members to make recommendations for library acquisitions. These requests can be made at the reference desk, by contacting your liaison librarian, by contacting Shelley Aronoff, Collection Development Librarian at ext. 5763 or by e-mailing Shelley, or by filling out a Library Materials Purchase Request form online.

New tenure-track faculty may request a $500 New Faculty Fund from their liaison librarian. This “grant” is intended to help remedy any collection inadequacies related to your field or to courses you will be teaching.

Course Support

Creating Effective Research Assignments: Your library liaison is always eager to receive an advance copy of any assignment that involves library research. We can put lirary materials on reserve for your class so that all students have equal access to them. The reference librarians can be briefed so they can better help your students understand the assignment and find the information they need. When appropriate, a research guide can be prepared which will address your students' research needs for a specific assignment.

Here are some tips to help you create research assignments that are effective and meaningful:

  • Design your assignment so that the information students are seeking has context and meaning for them.
  • Work through the assignment yourself to make sure the necessary resources are available to your students. For example, do the search you are asking your students to do. What frustrations do you encounter? Will students be able to find resources that meet your expectations?
  • Hand out written copies of assignments (or post them electronically for your students). If you can, list some of the resources students will need to use.
  • Students take your assignments VERY literally. Encourage them to think creatively about the terminology they use when doing research (i.e. the terms used to describe the assignment may not be the only--or best--ones for their search strategy).
  • If you provide students with a citation they need to look up, make sure the citation is complete and accurate. This helps students find the right material and it sets a good example.
  • Research can be a lengthy process. Encourage students to begin their research as early as possible and give them adequate time to do a good job.
  • Avoid giving assignments that require the use of the same resource by everyone in the class. If students must use the same resource, facilitate their equal access to that material by placing required items on reserve in the library.
  • If you limit the use of the Web for research, make sure students understand the difference between materials freely available on the Web and those available through the library's subscription databases. These databases provide full-text access to academic as well as popular materials that have been published in reputable periodicals, most of which are not available in print in the GCC Library.
  • Encourage students to consult with a reference librarian for effective research strategies.
  • Ask students to attend library workshops, or arrange for other library instructional services that might benefit your students in completing their research project for your class.

New courses: When you are planning a new course or class assignment, let us know! Your library liaison can work with you to develop bibliographies and order the library materials necessary to support your new course.

Library Instructional Services: The library offers a wide variety of instructional services to support classroom teaching and student success. These services include credit-bearing courses like Library 191 and the following Workshops:

  • Research Strategies

  • Searching Online Catalogs

  • Locating Journal and Newspaper Articles

  • Internet Essentials

  • Academic Research on the Web

  • Critical Evaluation of Web Resources

  • Improving Library Research

  • Government Resources

  • Citing Sources

Besides the workshop program, there may be other library instruction components that could benefit your students. Please contact your division's library liaison to discuss options such as:

  • Brief presentations to your students in your classroom
    This is a good method for introducing students to the library and familiarizing them with library resources.

  • Sessions integrated into your course
    Repetition of topics like research skills, critical thinking and evaluation, and documentation of sources help to reinforce these newly acquired skills.

  • Customized handouts on resources and research techniques
    Handouts can be created in print or online.

Reserves: Faculty may place library or personal materials on reserve for students. For maximum access, all such items are for use in the library only. You can make reserve arrangements online by filling out the Reserve Materials Request Form, or you can contact Circulation Desk at ext. 5586.

Please submit requests at least one week (5 working days) before needed for class.

Library liaisons: Each division has a liaison librarian who serves as a contact for information about library programs, resources, and services:

Division Liaison Extension
818-240-1000		 E-mail
Biology Susie Chin 5759 schin
Business Shelley Aronoff 5763 saronoff
English Shelley Aronoff 5759 saronoff
ESL, Credit Shelley Aronoff (for Zohara Kaye, Fall 2009) 5763 saronoff
ESL, Non-Credit Shelley Aronoff (for Zohara Kaye, Fall 2009) 5763 saronoff
Health & Physical Education Shelley Aronoff 5759 saronoff
Health Sciences (Allied Health) Nancy Getty 5795 ngetty
Language Arts Nancy Getty 5795 ngetty
Mathematics Nancy Getty 5795 ngetty
Non-Credit Business & Life Skills Shelley Aronoff (for Zohara Kaye, Fall 2009) 5763 saronoff
Physical Science Susie Chin 5759 schin
Social Science Susie Chin 5759 schin
Student Services Nancy Getty 5795 ngetty
Technology & Aviation Susie Chin 5759 schin
Visual & Performing Arts Nancy Getty 5795 ngetty

Last Updated 9/22/09 blj

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