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4 ways college students can make the most of their college library�

Libraries can save you money on course readings

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Save $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

According to the College Board, colleges estimate that students spend approximately $1,200 per year on books and supplies. Students can cut down on that cost by borrowing books from the library, use e-books and Open Access books
Many libraries also offer electronic reserves, with e-books and digital copies of book chapters and journal articles. You’ll usually find a link to electronic resources on the library homepage.
Visit the Stone Robinson library home page to check out our resources!

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Go to the library website and look for a link to the Alabama Virtual Library, where you’ll find the titles and locations of all the e-books, encyclopedias, databases, journals, newspapers, reference sources, textbooks, and so much more.

For articles, look instead for links to journal indexes and databases. Unfortunately, these may be labeled with a variety of different names. You can always ask a librarian to help you navigate the sites.

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Reliable online resources accessible from anywhere, anytime�

Access and convenience are top priorities for college libraries these days so they subscribe to databases, which provide access to thousands of newspaper, magazine and scholarly journal articles your instructors will require for research assignments. Ebooks and streaming videos are other online tools many college libraries offer. As a student, you’ll be able to login to these resources virtually 24/7 from most university libraries.

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Reference services available 24/7

It used to be you had to go into a library to ask for help from a librarian, but not anymore. College libraries provide reference support in a variety of electronic formats. Tech-savvy libraries will allow you to ask your research questions by e-mail, text or through a live chat. Finding answers to your questions this way is convenient. But remember, you can also go into the library to speak to a librarian in person. Many college libraries have librarian subject specialists who have particular knowledge in a field and can help you locate in-depth information on a topic.

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Using the library can help you earn better grades�

Research has shown that students who use the library tend to have higher GPAs than those who don’t. For this reason, it’s helpful to overcome any library anxiety – a term that describes the discomfort some people experience when they imagine walking into a library that is larger or more complex than any to which they are accustomed.

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Get to know your Library!

One of the best ways to overcome library anxiety is to get to know the library staff. Librarians regularly teach students how to find and use library resources. Educators who analyze student outcomes have found that making connections with staff and faculty bolsters students’ social capital, and social capital helps students succeed. Social capital is an asset that you earn by having a connection with another person.
Most librarians are accessible via email, chat or in person. Visit the Stone Robinson Librarian - library@selmau.edu

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Libraries offer ideas for study breaks�

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libraries now provide resources and services to promote student well-being

Meet and Greet
Workshops
One on one tutorials
Technology (computers, printers, WiFi)
Study Spaces

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