Clinton Community College
Frequently Asked Questions
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Library and Information Technology Student Orientation - Summary of information regarding library and information technology services for students.
BIBLIOGRAPHY HELP / CITATION HELP / WORKS CITED HELP
? I have to write a bibliography for my term paper. Do you have any information?
A. The library has one-page handouts on MLA and APA citation styles located at the reference
desk. These handouts are also available online. They can be accessed from the library’s homepage by clicking the “APA/MLA Guides” link on the sidebar. The library also has the MPA and APA style books.
COLOR PHOTOCOPIER
? Is there a photocopier on campus where I can make color copies?
A. No, the college does not have a color photocopier. What you can do is scan your document and send the file to the color printer located in Media Services.
COMPUTER / EMAIL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
? How can I find information about computers and student email on this campus?
A. You can find answers to your technology questions on the Student Portal website (www.clinton.edu/NIS/studentportal.cxml) created by the Networking and Information Services staff. There is a link on the Clinton Community College homepage. Just follow the instructions to enter the portal or click on the links on the left to find information on many topics including: usernames and passwords, e-mail accounts, wireless hotspots, student network space (50 MB), printing quotas, a knowledge base for MicroSoft Office and Outlook, password reset, etc. Another useful link is the Student Technology Orientation. It summarizes a lot of the basic technology and online access information found throughout the college’s website.
FILE: CAN'T ACCESS A FILE
? I can’t access my files I saved to my floppy. What can I do?
A. The library computer lab has a Norton Disc Doctor program that will diagnose and may be able to repair floppy discs. Try saving your work to a USB drive, also known as a thumb or flash drive.
? I saved my term paper at home in a file format that doesn’t work on campus. What can I do?
A. If you have saved your term paper in a format that is not supported on this campus, such as Microsoft Works (.wps), you can convert your file by going to the Zamzar website: www.zamzar.com/. Follow the four easy steps and you’re done. Alternatively, you can open Word, select Open, and change Files of Type to Works 6.0 – 9.0 (*.wps). If this procedure doesn't work, try Recover Text from Any File (*.*). It is likely that your document will need some editing, but most of it should be recovered. It is best to save your word processing file as a .doc or .rtf.
? I saved my work on a computer in the lab. When I came back after my class, I couldn’t find my saved document on the computer.
A. You cannot save a document to the campus computers because all changes are lost when you logoff. You can save your work to your campus network folder or save to an external drive, such as a thumb or flash drive.
GRAPH / IMAGE FROM PDF TO RESEARCH PAPER
? How can I include a graph or image from a PDF document in my research paper?
A. Follow these steps:
1. Find the graphic in the PDF document that you want to copy. On the Adobe Reader toolbar, click on the camera icon.
2. Click on the mouse and hold while dragging the mouse over the graphic in the PDF document until it forms a box outlining the graphic. When you let go of the left mouse button, a "snapshot" will be taken of whatever was outlined. You will receive a message saying "The selected area has been copied to the clipboard."
3. Open the document to which you want to add the graphic and click where you want to insert the graphic in the document. Then RIGHT click on the mouse and choose "Paste." The selected "snapshot" will appear exactly as it looked in the PDF document. Any graphic or image
used in a research paper needs to be cited - instructions for citing sources can be found on the library's website, under "APA/MLA Guides."
LOST AND FOUND
? I left my disk/flash drive/memory stick in one of the library computers but it’s not there now. What can I do?
A. The library has two “Lost and Found” locations: one at the circulation desk and one in Media Services. The college switchboard office (next to the lobby on the ground floor of the main building) also has a lost-and-found.
PRINTING HELP
? I can’t print my paper from MS Word and it’s due in five minutes. Help!
A. Try this: save your document, then close MS Word. Reopen MS Word, and then open your document. In the taskbar, click “File” > “Print Preview” > “File” > “Print.” If your document still won’t print, save your document to your H: drive or flash drive, close MS Word, log off your computer, move to another computer, and open it there.
RESERVE MATERIALS
? I need to look at something my professor put on reserve in the library. Where can I find it?
Books and articles from magazines, journals and newspapers are available at the circulation (lending services) desk. Media materials such as DVDs can be found in Media Services. Also, some reserve materials are available online.
RESTROOMS
? Where are the library's restrooms?
A. The library doesn't have any restrooms. To get to the closest restrooms for men and women, go out to the lobby, and the restrooms are near the piano.
SAVING DOCUMENTS
? I worked on my research paper for hours, then my computer froze. I had to retype my entire paper. How do I prevent this from happening again?
A. Get in the habit of saving your work every twenty minutes or so. If your computer freezes, you'll only lose about twenty minutes of work.
? Now that my paper is finished, I want to be able to retrieve it later. What should I do?
A. Save your paper in two formats. For example, save your paper to a USB drive, also known as a thumb or flash drive, then email your paper to yourself.
? How do I email my paper to myself?
A. Follow these steps:
1. Go to http://www.clinton.edu/NIS/webmail.cxml, and open your CCC email account.
2. Click New.
3. In the box next to the word, "To," type your email address.
4. If you like, in the box next to the word, "subject," type a subject, as the title of your paper.
5. Click Insert.
6. Click File.
7. Click the title of your paper.
8. Click Insert (not the one you clicked before. Click the one above the word, "Cancel.")
9. Click Send.
STUDENT PORTAL
? What’s this about a student portal?
A. The student portal is a campus gateway to your schedule, advising, unofficial transcript, and instructor contact information. From the CCC homepage, under Popular Links, click Student Portal.
WEBSITES: FINDING RELIABLE WEBSITES
? My professor says the web page I cited is unreliable. How can I find better web sites?
A. The library has information on evaluating online resources. From the library's homepage, click on the Evaluating Internet Resources link.
WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
? I have my own wireless laptop. Where are the campus hotspots?
A. The library, both lobbies in the main building, and the atrium area in the Stafford Building have wireless internet access. The third floor lounge area of Champlain Hall dormitory also has access. For more information on wireless access on campus, go to the college’s homepage (www.clinton.edu), select “Network and Information Services” from the dropdown menu, then click on the “Wireless” link.