LRC welcomes students
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
By Thomas Byrom
EP Staff Reporter
Need help with a research paper? Want to check out the newest issue of Rolling Stone? Or want to kill time between classes watching a DVD? Midland College's Murray Fasken Learning Resource Center(LRC) can probably help.
Housed in a two-story building in the center of campus, the LRC serves a variety of purposes. It contains not only the library, but offices, classrooms and a computer lab.
Walking into the LRC, one notices the smell of books and the sound of students typing. They are searching the electronic database that holds the records of books and other media for use at the LRC.
Leading the six-person staff is John Deats, director of the LRC.
" We are trying to empower students," Deats said.
Deats said that the way for students to become empowered is to learn how to use resources such as the LRC.
"We help students learn how to look for the information that they need, " Deats said.
By learning how to search for information, Deats said that students will be able to make informed choices in all area of their lives. This is a skill that, he said, students will use as employees, voters, parents and consumers.
Part of the knowledge that students can receive at the LRC is how to properly search through the library's database of resources. An expert on this database is Cecilia Miranda, technical services librarian.
Miranda worked with Deats and other staff members to move to a computerized system from card catalogs in the early 1990s.
Aside from cataloging, Miranda is also in charge of acquisitions for the LRC's collection. According to Miranda and Deats, the LRC currently has more than 64,000 physical volumes and more than 40,000 E-Books in its possession.
Miranda said that because of the constantly evolving subject matter of areas like science and technology, it is important to stay informed.
In order to make room for the ever-growing collection of books, periodicals, and audio/visual resources, the LRC underwent an expansion as the result of a 2005 bond measure -- 2,600 square feet were added to create room for additional shelves.
"We are always trying to keep current," Miranda said.
Miranda added that students can walk into the LRC and ask the staff for help or complete an online tutorial that will help them become familiar with the workings of the LRC.
"I wish that students knew that we are here to help them and that there are a lot of great resources here," Miranda said "We have a great collection."
Miranda also said that the LRC is a great place for students to find fiction and other reading for their spare time.
Both Miranda and Deats encouraged students to come by the LRC and take a look at what it has to offer.
The LRC's hours are: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., Monday - Thursday; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday.
Online tutorials are available at the MC Web site, www.midland.edu.
EP Staff Reporter
Need help with a research paper? Want to check out the newest issue of Rolling Stone? Or want to kill time between classes watching a DVD? Midland College's Murray Fasken Learning Resource Center(LRC) can probably help.
Housed in a two-story building in the center of campus, the LRC serves a variety of purposes. It contains not only the library, but offices, classrooms and a computer lab.
Walking into the LRC, one notices the smell of books and the sound of students typing. They are searching the electronic database that holds the records of books and other media for use at the LRC.
Leading the six-person staff is John Deats, director of the LRC.
" We are trying to empower students," Deats said.
Deats said that the way for students to become empowered is to learn how to use resources such as the LRC.
"We help students learn how to look for the information that they need, " Deats said.
By learning how to search for information, Deats said that students will be able to make informed choices in all area of their lives. This is a skill that, he said, students will use as employees, voters, parents and consumers.
Part of the knowledge that students can receive at the LRC is how to properly search through the library's database of resources. An expert on this database is Cecilia Miranda, technical services librarian.
Miranda worked with Deats and other staff members to move to a computerized system from card catalogs in the early 1990s.
Aside from cataloging, Miranda is also in charge of acquisitions for the LRC's collection. According to Miranda and Deats, the LRC currently has more than 64,000 physical volumes and more than 40,000 E-Books in its possession.
Miranda said that because of the constantly evolving subject matter of areas like science and technology, it is important to stay informed.
In order to make room for the ever-growing collection of books, periodicals, and audio/visual resources, the LRC underwent an expansion as the result of a 2005 bond measure -- 2,600 square feet were added to create room for additional shelves.
"We are always trying to keep current," Miranda said.
Miranda added that students can walk into the LRC and ask the staff for help or complete an online tutorial that will help them become familiar with the workings of the LRC.
"I wish that students knew that we are here to help them and that there are a lot of great resources here," Miranda said "We have a great collection."
Miranda also said that the LRC is a great place for students to find fiction and other reading for their spare time.
Both Miranda and Deats encouraged students to come by the LRC and take a look at what it has to offer.
The LRC's hours are: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., Monday - Thursday; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday.
Online tutorials are available at the MC Web site, www.midland.edu.
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