Skip to main content

Not your ordinary library: Check out the benefits

February 23, 2018

Be successful; use the library

It’s for you – Billington Library is available to all

That means you! Students, faculty and staff have access to all of the resources and services provided in Billington Library. Oftentimes staff do not realize they can get a library card and check out materials, access online databases from home and pick a great flick from our extensive DVD collection.

If it’s not on the shelf – Interlibrary Loan scans the continent

If it’s available anywhere in the United States or Canada, JCCC’s library can request it for you. Books, articles, DVDs and many other kinds of resources from more than 6,700 libraries throughout the U.S. and Canada are available for free through Interlibrary Loan.  Arrival times vary, but a majority of articles are received within two working days of request. Books generally take 6 to 10 days.

We’ve got you covered – textbooks/course reserves ready for checkout

If your books aren’t readily at hand, check out a textbook for a couple of hours at the library. With almost 400 course reserve items and textbooks available, chances are good you’ll find what you need. The current list of textbooks is available by using the course reserve function of the library’s search and looking by course number. Students can check out materials with a Student ID card and use them for two hours in the library.

The best of the best-sellers

Are you No. 100 on the waitlist for a book at another library? Have you checked to see if we have it?  JCCC’s library has more than 700 New York Times Best Sellers on the shelves. Come over and check out our McNaughton collection on the first floor, and take one (or more!) home with you.

Many, many movies, DVDs, streaming films

Looking for an educational film to enhance your classes? Want to learn about the thousands of award-winning feature films we have in our collection? Billington Library's video collection, with over 9,000 DVDs and 90,000 streaming videos, is sure to have something to meet your needs! To learn more, check out our film guide or visit with any of the librarians.

Need an answer? Research support

Librarians are here to support you every step of the way.  Whether you have a quick question or need help finding articles for a 10-page research paper, they want to help! You can reach librarians in person on the first floor of Billington Library, by phone at 913-469-3871, text at 913-674-5631 or multiple ways online through our Ask A Librarian page.

Late-night study hours

Starbucks stays open until 10 p.m. and so does Billington Library – in fact, it’s open 79.5 hours a week.

Quiet, but not too quiet

Some staff have nicknamed the area that overlooks the courtyard on the second floor “Sleepy Hollow.”

If you need quiet study space, use the second floor. Want to work with a group on a project? The first floor is the place to be!  

Make a date with a database

The library provides more than 180 research databases connecting you to the reliable information you need.

  • Want to see the front page of the New York Times from April 15, 1865 – the day after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated? You can see it in the Historical New York Times.
  • Need to learn about the psychological benefits of early childhood education? Check out PsycARTICLES.
  • Thinking of starting your own business but want to know more about the industry first? Learn the trends at IBISWorld, a collection of industry market research and industry risk ratings.

History in the making – College Archives

The College Archives is a closed collection of images, documents and memorabilia chronicling Johnson County Community College’s history. We have no ready reference, and the collection is not browsable. If you are planning an exhibit, a retirement party or an anniversary, we may be able to find photos or footage. Specifically, if you are researching a person, event or program associated with JCCC, the College Archives is a good source. Speak with Archives staff or fill out a form describing your project. Staff will collect related materials, then contact you and arrange an appointment for viewing and taking notes or copying relevant materials. Call ext. 4369 to set up an appointment.

View vintage Dior / Read all about it!

Want to see all of the issues of the JCCC student newspaper, The Campus Ledger, read through JCCC Board of Trustees packets, see published research by faculty or have an online look into the Kansas City Regional Fashion Group International collection (physically housed in the Carlsen Center)?  Check out the Digital Collections available to you.

Summon – Your source for sources

Not sure how to start your research?  Check out the Summon search box on the front page of the Billington Library website. Summon works like Google for the library – searching through almost everything the library can access through one search box. It connects you to almost 600 million items (books, ebooks, articles from magazines, newspapers and journals, streaming videos, DVDs and more).

Library access 24/7

You don’t have to be in the library to use its resources or get help from a librarian. Much of JCCC’s collection is available online 24/7. Use your MyJCCC username and Student/Employee ID number to log in from off-campus.