Learning Commons

The Learning Commons is located on the entire 2^nd floor of the E-Wing.

E. J. Shaheen Library

Access your library account or the catalog

If you are off-campus, you will be required to have a User ID and password to use the following online resources.

Stay in bed and borrow ebooks and audio books from your phone. Read on Libby. The one-tap reading app from our college library.

Articles & Databases

Featured DatabasesDatabases by SubjectA-Z List of DatabasesNewspapers

Choose one of our featured databases below, or select one of the other Article & Database tabs for more specific searching.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context Directory icon

CQPRESS Researcher - In-depth reports on today's issues

General

Agriculture

Allied Health

Art

Automotive

Business

Children's Resources (K-8)

Computers

Education

History

Humanities

Literature

Nursing

Psychology

Science

Social Science

Spanish Language Resources

A-B | C-D | E-H | I-L | M-N | O-P | Q-S |T-V | W-Z

DemographicsNow: Business & People

Jewish Studies Source

Opposing Viewpoint in Context

Turfgrass Information Center

Vocational Studies Premier

Jump to Top

Digital Newspapers

Newspaper Source Plus provides a full-text digital collection of the world’s major news content.

Full-text available from The New York Times from 1851 to present.

Print Newspapers

The following print newspapers are available on-campus:

Three Rivers Commercial

Sturgis Journal

Inter Library Loan Resources

Need a book we don’t have? Find & order materials yourself from other Michigan libraries with MeLCat and we’ll call you when it arrives.

Can’t find the book through MeLCat? Submit an Interlibrary Loan Form and we will request it for you through WorldCat. WorldCat is the world’s largest online catalog.

Library Services

Borrow, Renew, Return

GOCC or State Issued ID required
2 week loan period for most items
Renew items by phone or in person with GOCC ID two times
Return the items in the library, outside under the concourse in the dropbox, or in the library door

Instructional Services

Request help with research at the front desk
Set up an appointment time to meet with a librarian
Professors can request a library orientation for a class

Interlibrary Loan

Need a book we don’t have? Order the item yourself through MeLCat and we’ll call you when it arrives.
Can’t find the book through MeLCat? Submit an Interlibrary Loan Form and we will request it for you.
May take up to 2 weeks to receive item
GOCC Library fines are $1 a day for late items
The lending library determines the replacement costs, additional fines, and processing fees for lost, damaged, or late items

Print, Copy, Scan

Printing is FREE
Scan to email or flash drive
Color copies and prints are ¢50 a page
Printing only available through Glen Oaks computers, not via WiFi

Studying & Computing

Find the perfect spot to study. Many areas have access to electric to plug in your devices. Please ask at the front desk if you are having trouble locating these areas.
Computers are available

Tutoring Services

Peer Tutors Needed:

The Learning Commons is always on the lookout for new and qualified tutors.

All tutors must have received a 3.5 or higher GPA in the class for which they tutor, or must be recommended by an instructor.

If you meet the above requirement, please fill out and submit our Tutor Application Form and contact The Learning Commons at (269) 294-4295.

If you are interested in receiving tutoring, fill out a Tutor Request Form.

A tutor will be assigned to you (either in- person or virtual), and you will be contacted with the time and date of the session.

Tutoring sessions can take place in the Learning Commons, in a mutually approved public meeting area (a restaurant, the GO Concourse, or similar open public space), or virtually.

Tutors are available by appointment or walk-in for some disciplines.

One on one virtual tutoring is available through Canvas via NetTutor.

If you choose to utilize this service, you do not need to fill out the Tutor Request Form.
Sign into your Canvas account.
Select any of your available course shells.
A NetTutor option will be available in the left hand navigation menu.
Once you are in the NetTutor website, you may choose any course from the list of available disciplines.

Testing Services

Placement Testing:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to offer our typical Accuplacer testing. The following are various ways for you to complete this step:

Submit ACT/SAT scores
- Taken within the last 5 years
- Sending a PDF to Admissions.
- Your name must be visible on the document (cannot be handwritten).
Submit your official high school transcript
- An unofficial transcript may be used if an official is not available
- Transcripts can be no more than five years old
- Transcripts can be sent via Parchment, emailed to Admissions from the high school or mailed.
- A determination will be made regarding course placement.
If you do not meet the above requirements or are a Homeschool or GED student, you will need to complete the following:
- Take the online self-assessment for English
- Math assessment occurs via ALEKS.
  - If you require an ALEKS assessment, an account will be created and information on accessing your account will be sent via your Glen Oaks email.
  - The test may be repeated up to five times with computer guided study sessions in between as detailed in the invitation email.
- Advisors will let you know how to access these.

On-Campus Testing:

Glen Oaks Courses:
We provide proctoring services for both online and paper tests.

Certification Courses:

Testing is available for the following by appointment through the certifying body:

Pearson VUE
Nursing Certifications
Allied Health Certifications

Faculty Resources

OverDrive (eBooks)

OverDrive

Easy to use service on computer, phone, tablet and ereader
Currently we have 154 titles, including 8 audiobooks
- This will continue to grow!
Make recommendations for the collection by connecting to Overdrive from a computer
Clicking on the icon above will take you to the Overdrive site on a computer or direct you to download the app on any other device.
- Signing in is easy.
- User ID: First initial and last name
- Password: GOCC ID # with preceding zeros.
If you have any issues, use this help page that will guide you through any device that you may choose to use or please contact us.

Swank (Movies)

Swank Digital Campus is a fabulous service that provides streaming access to movies for use in classroom and virtually
This keeps us in compliance with copyright laws
We have limited licenses, so please put in request as soon as possible
First time accessing the website off-campus:
- Sign with User ID: first initial and last name
- Password: GOCC ID # with preceding zeros.
- Then go through short registration for your instructor identity
From there you can request movies
- If you are having trouble finding the movie you want send a request to us directly and we will get it going for you
Once your movie is available on the site, it provides you with links to either embed the movie in Canvas(LMS) or share the link with students
Student Access Off-Campus is the same as for instructors
- User ID: first initial and last name
- Password: GOCC ID # with preceding zeros
Having trouble? Access this help page or contact us

AV Room

We have a fully stocked AV room for all your movie or presentation needs:

1 – Canon XA11 Professional Camcorder with attached light
1 – Canon DSLR EOS Rebel T7 Camera
1 – Audio-Technica AT2035 Streaming and Podcasting Microphone
1 – Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lapel microphone
2 – Floor Stand Lights
6 – backdrops (Gray, White, Black, Green, Colorful Brick, Vintage Brown) wall
1 – Powerful Video and Sound Editing Computer

InterLibrary Loan

Need a book we don’t have? Find & order materials yourself from other Michigan libraries with MeLCat and we’ll call you when it arrives.

Can’t find the book through MeLCat? Submit an Interlibrary Loan Form and we will request it for you through WorldCat. WorldCat is the world’s largest online catalog.

Library Orientations

We can provide in class orientations as well as orientations via Zoom.

Orientations generally take an hour of class time.

Please contact us well in advance to reserve your time.

Databases

We have a variety of databases available for your own research as well as your student’s research
Navigate to the main page of the Learning Commons
- At the top, you can enter keywords into the search box that will search all our databases at once
- Otherwise, you can scroll down the page to the section titled Articles & Databases to find an A to Z list or by subject
Please encourage your students to utilize these databases as they often are required in their future studies. We can offer one-on-one help to students to find the best possible resources for their projects.
If you are off-campus, you will need to sign-in:
- User ID: first initial and last name
- Password: GOCC ID # with preceding zeros
- The sign-in procedure is the same for students

As employees, you have free access to the New York Times from any device with a short registration process while you are on-campus. Once registered, you can access it anywhere.

Equipment

We have a variety of equipment that can be lent out to faculty. If you do not see what you are looking for, please contact us.

Vizio Smart TV
DVD Player
VHS Player
Movie Screens

Small PA system
Microphone
Document Cameras
35mm Film projector

16mm Film projector
Record player
CD & Cassette Player
Photo Slide Carousel Projector

Testing

TESTS THAT WILL BE PROCTORED FOR ALL STUDENTS OF A CLASS:

Please submit a Test Proctoring Form online.
The form allows for 5 total tests per class. If you have more than 5 tests per class in one semester, you will need to fill out additional forms.
We did make things a little easier, by allowing you to select to have a test proctored for all the sections of that particular course. For instance, if you teach several COM-121 and you are giving each section the same test, you can select “All Sections”.
Since this will be for an entire class, be sure to select “Course Wide Test”.
If you select “Online” test:
- Please provide the password if one is needed.
- Make sure that you have created deadlines and time limits through the online provider of the test.
If you select “Paper” test:
- Please attach a copy of the test. You will see the ‘paperclip’ at the bottom next to “Submit” to attach the document.
- Be sure to add deadline and time limit.
Please be sure to select any materials that are permitted for each test. Anything not selected will not be allowed.
If you have students who will need accommodations:
- Select the dropdown for the number of students
- Provide their name and student ID#
- List ONLY the accommodations that are required for test taking
- Please note: In order for us to provide testing accommodations, faculty are required to notify us that they are working with a student who will need our services and have been notified by the Disability Support Services office (DSS) that the student has been approved for accommodations in the current semester. If we are not notified by faculty, or the student has not been approved for accommodations by (DSS), we cannot provide accommodations.

MAKE-UP TESTS OR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION TESTS:

These are tests that are normally given in your class, but either due to a specific situation or an accommodation, other arrangements need to be made for individual students.

Please submit a Test Proctoring Form online.
Under ‘Request Type’ select ‘Individual Test’
Provide the Student Name and GOCC ID#
If you have students who will need accommodations:
- List ONLY the accommodations that are required for test taking
- Please note: In order for us to provide testing accommodations, faculty are required to notify us that they are working with a student who will need our services and have been notified by the Disability Support Services office (DSS) that the student has been approved for accommodations in the current semester. If we are not notified by faculty, or the student has not been approved for accommodations by (DSS), we cannot provide accommodations.
From here, proceed as above selecting the type of test and other testing details.

KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT PROCTORING:

Fill out the Test Request Form as far in advance as possible
This is a new process and we understand it can be confusing, so if you need help filling out the form please contact us.
Due to COVID-19, we are testing by appointment only. Please remind students to set up an appointment via email or call (269)294-4295. We may have to turn students away if we are at capacity.
Please make students aware of the LC hours and encourage them to allow adequate time for testing.
Please set deadlines and time limits for tests either through the online provider for online tests or on the Test Request Form for paper tests. We will strictly adhere to these unless we are told otherwise by you directly.
Please communicate all special circumstances to the Learning Commons. The LC staff will not make any exceptions from what you have specified on your form unless they hear from you directly. If you send an email to a student telling them that an exception has been made, please copy the Learning Commons.

Tutoring

IN-PERSON TUTORING

Due to COVID-19, face to face is currently on hold with an exception for Math via Zoom. However, if someone is interested in this option, please contact us.

One-on-one and group tutoring sessions are available by appointment in the LC
Walk-in tutoring is available for limited subjects
Be advised that tutoring for some courses are filled on an as add needed basis, and we may not find a suitable tutor in a short period of time.
Please encourage students to fill out the Tutor Request Form to take advantage of these free services
If you know of any students in your classes who would make excellent tutors, please contact us.

DEDICATED ON-LINE TUTORING

NetTutor is an online tutoring service for all subjects 24/7, 365 days a year
Tutoring is done with a live person either asynchronously or through a live chat interface
Students will need to:
- Log on to Canvas
- Open ANY shell (even prior year)
- NetTutor will be available on the left-hand navigation column
- From there they will be able to choose the subject for which they need tutoring

Hours