General Information

The mission of the Cerro Coso Community College library is to facilitate your research. The staff will help you not only to find specific information, but will assist you in learning how to use the library effectively. For hours of operation, addresses, and staff contact information at each site, please see the Contact the Library page.

The Library main page is a resource portal to a wide variety of online sources, including an automated library catalog with over 27,000 eBooks, 30 research databases with over 6 million full-text articles, and web resources in dozens of subject areas, all of which can be accessed from any college campus or from home with a student ID #.

A librarian is available to assist students with research and information competency skills at every campus, with the exception of East Kern. Students are also encouraged to use the "24/7 Chat" link for research assistance. This resource instantly connects users to a skilled research specialist any time of the day or night. Faculty members are encouraged to contact the librarian to schedule a Library Orientation/Research Instruction presentation for a class or group of students.

Students interested in borrowing books not found at their campuses should refer to the Interlibrary Loan procedures.

Ridgecrest / IWV

The IWV campus library takes up the first floor of Cerro Coso's Learning Resource Center building. The book collection is arranged by the Library of Congress Classification (LC) order and presently includes over 30,000 volumes on a wide variety of topics, most of which can be checked out. Additionally, over 1,200 audiovisual materials and several periodical subscriptions are available for use in the library.

Other services at IWV include:

• 10 Research Pod computer stations
• Laptops available for student use in the library
• Internet and Wi-Fi access
• Videotape viewing station with closed caption capabilities
• Music CD listening station
• High-speed audiocassette tape duplication for class tapes
• Individual conference/study rooms and general study areas
• Textbooks on Reserve, available for use in the library
• Kern County Law Library computer station for general public use

Other local libraries include the Ridgecrest Branch of the Kern County Library.

ESCC Bishop

The Bishop library is part of the Learning Resource Center, located on the Bishop campus across from the Admissions and Records office, adjacent to the newly developed Community Room. The library includes general and subject encyclopedias that support the college's academic programs, as well as a comprehensive art book collection and a special collection of books about Eastern Sierra history and interests, , with titles by local authors. It is also building a new Reserve collection of textbooks and other course materials. Materials at the Bishop campus cannot be checked out without special permission.

Other local libraries include the Inyo County Free Library.

ESCC Mammoth Lakes

Students, staff and faculty at the Mammoth Lakes campus have access to a joint use library operated by the Mammoth County of Education. The main book collection is located at the public library and is arranged according to the Dewey Decimal System. The LRC is also building a new Reserve collection of textbooks and other course materials. Materials at the Mammoth Lakes campus cannot be checked out without special permission.

Mammoth students also have full access to resources at the Mammoth Lakes branch of the Mono County Free Library.

KRV Lake Isabella

The Kern River Valley (KRV) campus has a designated room for the Learning Resource Center where a variety of services are available. The LRC is also building a new Reserve collection of textbooks and other course materials. Materials at the KRV campus cannot be checked out without special permission.

Other local libraries include the Kern River Valley Branch of the Kern County Library.