Ask a Librarian

Absolutely!  Go to the Library Tutorials guide for modules about how to find books, use databases, and more.

We can help you with:

• Choosing a research topic
• Narrowing or broadening a topic
• Selecting the best online or physical sources to support your research 
• Figuring out the best keywords and phrases for your topic
• Evaluating the sources you find for reliability
• Citing those sources in a bibliography

Academic OneFile makes discovery fast and easy. It contains millions of articles from over 17,000 scholarly journals and other authoritative sources—including thousands of podcasts and transcripts from NPR and CNN as well as videos from BBC Worldwide Learning.  Watch a video for more information about how to successfully use Academic OneFile.

Yes!  Community members are welcome to use our collections, digital resources, and other services.

No, the library The library does not provide technical support for BlackBoard. Find support on the KCTCS BlackBoard site.

If you have trouble logging into BlackBoard, you can reset your SKCTC password through the Student Support Center and try again. If that does not work, delete your cookies and cache from your internet browser or try logging in through a different browser. Exit out of any SKCTC application (MyPath, Blackboard, etc.) before deleting cookies and cache.

When you find a book or an article in the library catalog or in a database, look for an option for the citation.  It may be called cite, citation, citation tools, or something similar.  It comes in multiple formats as well -- MLA, APA, Chicago, and others.  Citations for print books are also available in the library catalog.  Find more help on our citation guide.

If you are trying to access a library database and encounter an error, try clearing your cache or even using a different browser. Learn how to clear your cache on any device. Alternatively, if you are using Chrome or Firefox, here is a PowerPoint with detailed directions on how to clear your cache.

You can also use a private browsing window to access databases:

• Chrome > Incognito window

• Firefox > Private window

• Edge/IE > InPrivate window

If the problem persists, please reach out to us through chat or our Ask a Librarian form. Also, it helps if you say "No" to staying logged on when prompted.

No.  Please save the document you want to print to USB jump drive or email it to yourself as an attachment.  Login to a library desktop computer, then retrieve the item and print it on the library main printer.

CQ Researcher is the acclaimed, award-winning weekly publication that reports on current, newsworthy social issues. Researchers turn to CQ Researcher for trusted, accessible content and analysis on newsworthy social and political issues.  Watch a video to learn how to successfully search CQ Researcher.

Tutoring is not a service provided by the library.  However, there are tutoring services available in the Academic Support Centers.

Yes and no.  Thanks to a grant funded by the R.E. Frazier Foundation, the Cumberland campus library has a limited number of laptops that can be loaned to students.  There are rules that we must follow that are prescribed by the grant.  Students must complete the online application. At this time, only students who are taking classes at the Cumberland campus are eligible.  

You can set up and update your User Profile, reset your password, and view your KCTCS username and KCTCS ID through the Student Services Center.

You will need a cell phone or non-KCTCS email account to receive a security number and will need to know the answers to your security questions. 

We do not mind bottled drinks or small snacks. Please dispose of all trash. Food attracts pests that can damage our materials. 

The library has created research guides from accounting to welding.  Are you a biology student?  A criminal justice student?  There is a research guide for you!

Academic Search Complete covers many subjects with thousands of journals and magazines and other sources such as books, reports, government documents and more.  It is a comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database, with more than 5,300 full-text periodicals, including 4,400 peer-reviewed journals.  Watch a video to learn how to successfully search Academic Search Complete. 

These helpful videos from Niche Academy will help, or check out our research guide.

Find books and ebooks by using the library search box.  Find articles by using our databases.

In Middlesboro, you must contact your instructor to set up the exam and schedule it with the library staff.

In Cumberland and Whitesburg, the Testing Centers are adjacent to the libraries.  Tests are not proctored by library staff but by Testing Center staff. 

Exams must be taken during regular library hours, 8:00am to 4:30pm.  Please ensure you have enough time to complete the exam.  The library closes at 4:30pm. You must complete your exam by 4:30pm. 

No.  The library will not provide interlibrary loan services for textbooks.  The library will not add textbooks to the collection.  One exception is if your instructor places a copy on reserve at the circulation desk.  Please ask your instructor.

Yes!  We provide a free service called interlibrary loan (ILL).  The good news: Give us a few business days, and we can get almost anything for you!  The bad news: You can't wait until the last minute to request items.  It takes some time.  Also, please do not request textbooks.  Please check out our ILL policies and procedures.