Library Services
Getting a Library Card
A-B Tech issues college ID cards to students, faculty, and staff that also serve as your library card. If you do not have a college ID yet, your first step, after you've registered for classes, is to go to the Bailey Student Services building to get one. Next, bring your new A-B Tech ID card to the Don C. Locke Library so we can activate your card in the library's database.
With your library-activated photo ID card, you can check out materials and access reserve items. Please note, that you must present your card each time you wish to check out any library materials. During semester breaks, we will need to see proof of paid registration before granting the full library borrowing privileges listed above.
The barcode number printed on the back of the A-B Tech ID card will be your library card number. You will need to know your college ID number when accessing library databases off-campus.
Continuing education students, as well as Buncombe and Madison County residents, can also get library cards by filling out an application at the Don C. Locke Library circulation desk. Borrowing privileges for those two groups are different from curriculum student privileges. Contact the circulation desk at (828) 398-7301 for more details or see our Don C. Locke Library Lending Policy document.
Services From Other Libraries
A-B Tech offers Interlibrary Loan (ILL) which allows borrowers to request materials from participating libraries. Book loans are generally free. Sometimes a fee, determined by the lending library, is charged for periodical articles. To find the necessary forms and full guidelines, visit Interlibrary Loan Guidelines and Forms.
A-B Tech Digital Archives
DigitalNC, a joint project of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the UNC-Chapel Hill University Library, and the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center has digitized some of A-B Tech's archival yearbooks and many of its college catalogs.
Checking Out Books And Media
Curriculum students, Faculty, and Staff
- General Collection books: no limit, two weeks, one renewal
- Feature Films: two DVDs, one week, no renewals
- Audio Books: two audiobooks, one week, one renewal
- Magazines: three magazines (except current issues) one week, no renewals
- Reserve Items: check out period set by the instructor, no renewal
Overdue fines are (per day and per item): .25¢ per day for books; .50¢ per day for magazines, and $1.00 per day for media. Fines vary for reserve materials depending on the loan period. The library accepts (Master, VISA, and American Express) credit/debit cards, checks, and cash payments.
Renewing items
Books can be renewed at the Circulation Desk, by phone, or online through the library catalog. You do not have to bring your books with you to renew in person. For online renewal, please select the "Books and DVD" link or the "Renew Items" on the left side of the library home page and enter your library card bar code number to access your account. If an item is already overdue, you may not renew it online. You cannot renew feature film DVDs, magazines, reserve materials, or items that have been requested by another patron.
Continuing Education Students and Community Patrons
Limit of five general collection books for two weeks. Overdue fines (per item) are .25¢ per day/per item.
Important: You must have your A-B Tech photo ID with you to check out library materials. There are no exceptions.
Electronic Devices: (Laptop, Mobile Hotspot, & TI-84 Calculator) Checkout
Electronic devices, laptops, hotspots, and calculators are available to currently enrolled curriculum students for home use. They are unavailable for checkout until classes have begun. The loan period for laptops is per semester. The loan period for mobile hotspots and calculators is four weeks. An A-B Tech Photo ID is required for all three electronic resources. Students must have records in good standing in order to check them out. Overdue fines are $5 per day for laptops and hotspots and $2.50 per day for calculators. For any technical issues with the laptops or hotspots contact I.T. Help Desk at (828) 398-7550.
Printing is available when using a laptop just log in to your PaperCut Account, you should save your work to a flash drive or email it to yourself in case you have any computer or printing issues. For more information about printing, visit "Online Services", click on "A-B Tech InfoBase", go to "Library", go to "Computer Labs" and go to "Student Printing" for instructions on how to print and more.
Microsoft Office, printing, email, and using Moodle
Curriculum students can do all those things in the open computer labs located in various buildings. The Don C. Locke Computer Lab is managed and staffed by the IT department. An IT staff member is generally available to assist students there during regular operating hours. For more information check the Technology Support Overview website.
The Research Central computers on the library's upper level are used primarily for individual and class research. Research help is available at the Circulation Desk from one of our librarians. Students who do not need computer lab assistance may also use these computers for MS Office, email, and Moodle. Printing is available, the printer is located in the Academic Success Center, lower level of the library.
Quiet places to study
We have four group study rooms with whiteboards and four individual study rooms. The group study rooms each seat 6-8 people. They are all available on a first-come, first-served basis. Whiteboard markers for the group study rooms may be checked out at the Circulation Desk with your A-B Tech photo ID card. We have designated several areas of the upper level as "quiet study zones". If you encounter a problem with noise in the library, please ask for assistance at the Circulation Desk.
Off-campus access to NC LIVE & other databases
All current students and faculty or staff members have their own personal logins which give access to all available NC Live resources and other subscription databases. Your College assigned SSO (Single Sign-On) Authentication, will now be your login to the library databases. Visit the Off-campus access to NCLIVE and other subscription databases page for more information.
Wireless access
Wireless access is available throughout the library. No access code is required to use the wireless network on your own laptop computer.
Class Reserves/Textbooks
Reserve items are held behind the Circulation Desk and may be checked out with your A-B Tech student ID card. Check-out periods for reserve items may vary and some items must remain in the library at all times. Keep in mind, that we do not have all of the course-related textbooks.
Some instructors do place a copy of a course textbook on reserve at the library for limited checkout, however, not all do, so check with your instructor.
You can also search the library catalog for reserve items using the Browse Search option and then search by your instructor's last name or by the course name/number such as ENG-111 or PSY-150. (Note: Reserve Items are subject to change or not available).
Food and Drink guidelines
You may bring library-friendly drinks and snacks to Don C. Locke Library. Covered drinks--travel mugs, bottled drinks with caps, and lidded cups--are library-friendly. Snack items such as packaged crackers, cookies, pretzels, granola bars, nuts, raisins, M&Ms, etc. are allowed when consumed responsibly. Fast food items or meals from an outside vendor, including the Bridge & Tunnel Cafe at A-B Tech, must be eaten outside of the library. Just like the Sierra Club and Smokey Bear--we respectfully request that you leave no trace. When you leave, throw away or pack out your snack and drink trash. You can also recycle your plastic drink bottles in containers located near the central elevators.
Suggestion for Purchase
Don C. Locke Library welcomes suggestions for purchase for our collection from college faculty, staff, and students. Please use this online Suggestion for Purchase form to submit your request.