– Photo by Ellie Seaton
by Halie Kerns, Special to Ka ‘Ohana
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the university’s transition to online courses, the Windward Community College Library has mobilized its services and resources online to best meet student and faculty learning and teaching needs.
For students who need access to a computer, the library is offering semester-loan laptops for check out. There are a variety of laptops available, and library staff will help students determine which device is best for their computing and class needs.
To check out a laptop, students can set up an appointment by calling (808) 235-7436 or emailing wcclib@hawaii.edu. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. During the appointments, the laptops are distributed using touchless procedures to maintain social distancing protocols.
Online research and reference help is also available for students. Librarians who usually meet face-to-face with students at the Help Desk can now meet with students online via Google Meet. Students can also call, text or chat online with a librarian. All of these services are available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Library also provides 24/7 access to an extensive number of research databases, streaming videos and ebooks that are easily accessible from home via the library’s website (http://library.wcc.hawaii.edu/home). To access these resources, students must use their UH login.
In addition to helping students locate and retrieve online resources, librarians can also assist students in accessing physical books. Librarians will work with students online or via telephone to determine if sections of a book are needed or the entire book itself.
If just sections of a book are needed, the chapter(s) can be scanned and sent to the student via email. If the whole book is needed, it can be picked up within one to two days using the lockers installed outside the Library’s main entrance doors.
Books from other UH libraries are not available for interlibrary loan at this time; however, a WCC librarian can assist in identifying other options to fill a students’ information and resource needs.
Library books and other items originally due on or after March 1 have been extended until May 15. The WCC library’s outside book drop is closed until at least May 1, so any materials should be kept until then.
Outstanding library fines can still be paid over the phone with a debit or credit card by calling UH Mānoa Hamilton Library at (808) 956-7203. Payments over the phone can be done Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
These are uncharted times. To assist students in navigating through these times, WCC library staff is working hard to make sure students succeed in their online studies.
More information and updates can be found on the WCC Library’s COVID-19 page at https://library.wcc.hawaii.edu/COVID-19.
Contact information:
- To request a laptop: Email wcclib@hawaii.edu or call (808) 235-7436.
- To talk to a librarian: Email wccref@hawaii.edu, call (808) 235-7338 or text (808) 731-2275. Text and video chat are available on the library homepage.
