As a KYVC student, you have access to all the information resources of the KCTCS college in which you are enrolled, to the many resources of the Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL), and to the most of the materials at academic libraries across the state.

Some of the KYVL databases are full-text, meaning that you can retrieve the articles themselves online. You can access the full-text resources at http://www.kyvl.org without an ID and password from PC's in any KCTCS institution, public library, or public university. You can also access them from home or anywhere else that you have Internet access but you do have to have an ID/password for that. You should receive the current ID/password with your registration letter but there are other ways to obtain that as well as many other library services described below.

Home Libraries, Reference Contacts, and "Pick-up" Libraries

What is my home library?

Your home library is the one at the KCTCS institution where you are enrolled. You can contact this library for help with planning your research, identifying resources for it, and obtaining the materials that you need. Each KCTCS college has a designated home library reference contact to assist you with obtaining library services and materials.

Who is my home library reference contact?

Check out the list at this link http://www.kyvl.org/html/kyvustudents/homelibrefcontacts.pdf to identify your contact ( NOTE: Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view this file. You may obtain it at http://www.adobe.com). In addition to providing any ID's and passwords that you need for remote access, your contact can help you with other things such as searching for and identifying the best sources and obtaining articles that are not available online in full-text as well as books and other materials.

Do I have to go to my home library to pick up what I need that isn't online?

Not necessarily. If there is another library that participates in KYVL services closer to your home or work, your reference contact can make arrangements for you to pick up what you need there.

Your Home Library Is More than a Virtual Reality

Where can I search my home libraries holdings?

In addition to the KCTCS Libraries online catalog being available through the KYVL gateway, you can search it directly at http://kctcs.kyvl.org . One advantage to searching the KCTCS catalog directly is that you can limit your results to the library that is most convenient to you. You can also link to that library's own homepage from the online catalog: http://kctcs.kyvl.org/libinfo.htm .

Are there any other databases that I can search?

Your home institution has other online resources that are available for your use. Your reference contact can tell you about them and how to access them. Usually there will also be links to them from your home library's homepage.

How do I know what the best resources are for my project?

Ask a reference librarian and get some professional advice. Your home library reference contact is an information specialist. You can call, e-mail or go in for a visit.

What if I need a book that isn't at the library closest to me?

In that case, you'll want to use interlibrary loan (ILL). Any book that you find in the KCTCS library catalog or any of the library catalogs searchable through KYVL can be borrowed through interlibrary loan! Your home library reference contact can arrange to borrow it for you and have it sent to the pick-up library most convenient for you.

Library Contacts