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Alabama Virtual Library Access – WSCC Library

What is it?

The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) is a state-funded initiative that provides online access to a diverse range of databases containing scholarly articles, encyclopedias, e-books, journals, and other educational materials. It is designed to support students, educators, and lifelong learners across Alabama. AVL is accessible remotely to most Alabama residents through geolocation authentication, eliminating the need for login credentials in most cases.

AVL offers access to:

• Encyclopedias and Dictionaries.

• Literature and Current Events Databases.

• Business and Health Resources.

• E-Books and Full-Text Journal Articles.

• Specialized resources for different education levels (elementary to adult).

Automatic Access (In-State Users)

• If you’re physically in Alabama, you should have immediate access to AVL without needing a login or password.

• Look for a green check mark on the AVL website (top right corner) to confirm you’re recognized by geolocation.

Need Help?

You may need a login if:

• You’re traveling or live out of state.

• You’re near state borders.

• You use VPN, cellular data, or satellite internet.

In these cases, WSCC Library Staff can help:

• Contact Renee Marty or Kayla Aaron at:

• renee.marty@wallacestate.edu

• kayla.aaron@wallacestate.edu

• Ask the Library

• • WSCC Library Hours

• Monday-Thursday: 7:30 A.M.-9:00 P.M.

• Friday: 7:30 A.M.-2:00 P.M.

• Saturday: 8:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

Visit the front desk on the second floor of the library for assistance. Call the WSCC Library at 256-352-8260 for more information.

Niche Academy

Overview of Niche Academy

Niche Academy is an online learning platform that provides ready-made and custom video tutorials for libraries and educational institutions. Niche Academy is a tool for patrons and staff to learn how to use library e and e-books, as well as receive training on topics like information literacy and software skills. Niche Academy is designed for just management system for tracking learning progress.

Features in Niche Academy

• Interactive Database Tutorials.

• Ready-Made Tutorial Marketplace.

• Custom Tutorial Creation.

• Learner Progress Tracking.

• Integrate Tutorials in Canvas, Blackboard, etc.

• Tutorials are accessible to patrons.

Forassistance,pleasecontact theWallaceStateLibraryat256-352-8260.

Who Am I? A Name Game of Literary Stars

(Answers on page 7)

I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on July 21, 1899.

I set the world record for catching seven marlins in a single day in 1938.

I owned a white six-toed (polydactyl) cat named Snow White.

Who am I?

I was born in Pepin, Wisconsin, on February 7, 1867. I earned the nickname “Half Pint” for my height from my father.

I became a teacher at the age of 15.

Who am I?

It’s our Pleasure to provide “ACADEMIC

SUCCESS WITH ONLINE DATABASES”

IT’S OUR PLEASURE to PROVIDE WSCC Students and Patrons with “ACADEMIC SUCCESS WITH ONLINE DATABASES” to support their academic and professional achievements. The WSCC Library offers a comprehensive selection of “ONLINE DATABASES” on its website to help students and patrons meet their academic and professional goals. These “ONLINE DATABASES” support research across many disciplines and are accessible to students, faculty, and staff.

General Research & Academic Databases

• Academic Search Complete: A comprehensive scholarly database covering a wide range of subjects.

• Credo Reference: Offers encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other reference materials for quick facts and background information.

• EBSCO eBooks: An extensive collection of academic eBooks, including nursing, allied health, and general education topics. Films on Demand: Streaming educational videos across disciplines.

Specific Databases

• CINAHL: Nursing and allied health literature.

• Digital Theatre+: Resources for drama and performing arts.

• Criminal Justice Abstracts: Scholarly articles in criminal justice.

• Visible Body: Interactive 3D models of human anatomy.

Cultural & Global Resources

Literature & Humanities

• Gale Literature Resource Center: Literary criticism, author biographies, and more.

• Drama for Students: Summaries and analysis of plays and dramatic works.

Science & Technology

• Applied Science & Technology Source: Covers engineering, computer science, and applied sciences.

• Advanced Technologies & Aerospace: Specialized content for tech and aerospace fields.

Legal & Business

• Gale Legal Forms: Templates and guides for legal documents.

• A to Z World Culture / Food / Maps / USA: Countryspecific cultural, culinary, and geographic information.

• Black Life in America: Historical and contemporary coverage of African American life.

• Hispanic Life in America: Historical and contemporary coverage of Hispanic American life.

Career & Technical Education

• Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center: Career exploration and planning tools.

• Career & Technical Education Database: Resources for vocational and technical fields.

• Gale Business: Insights: Company profiles, industry reports, and market analysis.

Test Prep & Study Help

• Mometrix and Prepstep: Practice tests and study guides for standardized exams.

WSCC Library Hours

• Monday-Thursday: 7:30 A.M.-9:00 P.M.

• Friday: 7:30 A.M.-2:00 P.M.

• Saturday: 8:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

Need Help?

• Call the WSCC Library at 256-352-8260 for more information.

• Visit the front desk on the second floor of the library for assistance.

• Online Chat

• Ask the Library

Research Skills/Library Orientation Class

To ensure a successful start to the new semester, the WSCC library offers a brief class on library and research skills. The session covers topics such as using the online ILS (catalog) to locate books, e-books, and other materials, utilizing the Alabama Virtual Library and other online databases to find articles, and leveraging the library’s holdings and facilities.

The free twenty-minute class is now conveniently offered whenever the library is open. Students should come to the front desk on the library’s main floor and ask about the “Research Class.”

Additionally, new students are encouraged to stop by the front desk to ask any questions, whether they are seeking scholarly information or finding their way to a particular classroom. The library is essential to a student’s academic and career success.

Featured e-Book in Overdrive

All That Life Can Afford

Written by Emily Everett

(G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

“An American student in London falls in with a rich crowd and struggles to keep up in this twisty debut. Anna Byrne is fighting to make her dream come true. She studying for a graduate degree in literature at Queen Mary in London, a city she’s longed for since she was a child. But making ends meet is hard; Anna grew up poor, lost her mother a few years ago, and no longer speaks to her father. Without a safety net, she works as a bartender and tutor to make ends meet. But when the wealthy Wilders invite her to Saint Tropez over the December holidays to give private lessons to their teenage daughter, Pippa, Anna is introduced to a high-end way of life and a glamorous group of people her own age through Pippa’s older sister, Faye. When Anna returns to London, the Wilders’ kindness grows, and they offer her the chance to house -sit for their home in Highgate. As Anna meets more people in the Wilder orbit and assumptions about who she is spiral, so do the deceptions Anna must maintain if she’s going to stay in this dream where she’s found herself. But the precarity of her situation extends beyond convincing everyone that she belongs. Her student visa requires her to maintain good grades so that after graduation, she can obtain a two-year post-study work extension. Populated by beautiful people with good wardrobes and big hearts, the novel is fun vicarious living for the reader, but Everett keeps the stakes in sight at all times. Readers can sense the nervous edge with which Anna navigates the world, making this a gripping read from start to finish.” (Kirkus Reviews).

This book is available on Overdrive as an eBook.

Points of View Reference Source (EBSCO)

Points of View Reference Source is an online database from EBSCOhost that provides full -text essays on controversial issues, presenting multiple perspectives. Each topic includes an overview, a “point” (argument), and a “counterpoint” (opposing argument), along with a Guide to Critical Analysis to help users research, evaluate arguments, and develop their own perspectives. Points of View Reference Source gathers information from magazines, newspapers, reference books, and other sources to offer a balanced and nuanced perspective for students and researchers.

Points of View Reference Source content includes:

• Full-Text Articles.

• Point and Counterpoint Essays.

• Overview Essays.

• Guide to Critical Analysis. For assistance, please get in touch with the Wallace State Library at 256-352-8260.

Please let us know what you would like or need from the library.

If there is a book or resource that you would like us to consider purchasing, we’d love to hear about it!

Also, if you are interested in reading a book we own and providing a book review for the newsletter, we’d love to hear from you.

Our walls and display units are perfect for showcasing your artistic skills, hobbies, interests, and incredible artifacts. We love to provide students, faculty, and staff with a space for display.

renee.marty@wallacestate.edu or kayla.aaron@wallacestate.edu