The primary purpose of computer access at the Columbia Basin College Library is to support the educational mission of the college; more specifically to meet the academic needs of CBC students, faculty, and staff. The Library reserves the right to limit or deny access for any other purpose.
All users will be required to abide by CBC's Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources policy; CBC computer access will be denied to users who do not abide by these policies.
Open Computing Resources
Current CBC students, faculty, and staff have priority use of the open access college library computers in the main branch in Pasco and the medical library in Richland. CBC identification cards should be posted in the holder on top of the monitor; during busy times students with ID cards will have priority over those who do not.
Other researchers, including recent CBC students and those affiliated with other institutions of higher learning, may apply for a courtesy research pass; proof of affiliation will be required. Those who are not affiliated with an institution of higher learning but wish to use the computers for research will be granted a courtesy research pass at the discretion of library staff. The library will also make every effort to accommodate those seeking higher educational opportunities, particularly prospective students who need to use computers to fill out financial aid forms, college applications, and other materials needed to apply to CBC. During peak usage times any guest user may be asked to relinquish their computer for CBC users.
Members of the community may apply for a guest pass at the Circulation desk. In order to preserve college computing resources, the library can only offer each guest one pass per day and must limit both the number of guest users and their length of computer time. The library staff has the discretion to refuse to issue guest passes or ask community users to relinquish their computers should they be needed by CBC users or if they believe the user is not complying with College policies. Guests will only be issued one pass per day even if they are not able to use their full hour. Should they leave their computer for more than ten minutes, it and their pass may be offered to other users. Other area libraries offer free computer access; consult their websites for more information.
Minors who are not enrolled in CBC classes or college-sponsored programs may use the library computers subject to the guest provisions above and the Library's Policy on Children. The child must be at least six years old and be registered as a guest prior to using a computer, and the parent must sign their registration form. By their signature, parents acknowledge that they are responsible for their children's compliance with the CBC Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources policy. Parents should be aware that this is a college library and not subject to the Children's Internet Protection Act; it is the parents' responsibility to insure that their children are not exposed to risk or inappropriate materials when using the Internet on the CBC Library's computers. Parents must accompany their child at all times and closely monitor their computer use.
Main Pasco Branch Open Computer Area - 32 computers near the entrance of the Library. Guest user limits are as follows:
- No guest passes will be issued before 2 p.m.
- After 2 p.m. the library may offer as many as four one-hour guest passes.
- Passes are non-renewable and offered on a first come, first served basis.
Richland Library - Six computers in the main Library. Guest user limits are as follows:
- When classes are in the computer lab (HSC 308), the library will not issue guest passes.
- When the computer lab is available to students, the library may offer as many as two one-hour guest passes.
- Passes are non-renewable and offered on a first come, first served basis.
Collaborative Study Rooms – Two connected rooms off the rear of the main computer area to the right/east side; open to current CBC students, faculty, and staff only.
- 18 computers total, 15 in the front room and 3 in the back;
- 4 computers have dual monitors, 3 have scanners;
- All computers have MS Office installed;
- Additional software for math, programming, and graphics; visit our news blog for more information.
Catalog Computers
- There are three computers reserved for searching the Library Online Catalog.
- They are next to the New Books Shelf and the library's netprint station.
- Printing lists of books from the Catalog is free.
- May be used to locate books and ebooks and establish catalog user accounts. To read or print from ebooks, please use the main computer area.
Reference Computers - Located in the alcove opposite the Reference Desk, between Computer Assistance and the Senior Secretary.
- One computer for accessing single user Reference databases.
- One computer attached to a USB turntable and a scanner with OCR and basic imaging software.
- There are also three computers reserved for searching legal databases.
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Epicenter
The primary purpose for the Epicenter computer lab is direct instruction in support of the College's Student Learning Outcome "apply information tools and resources," with particular priority given to instruction on the effective use of the Library's physical information resources.
- There are 26 computers in the Epicenter computer lab (L-106).
- All 26 computers have Microsoft Office installed.
- Librarians reserve the Epicenter for Library instruction.
- Instructors can reserve the Epicenter for classes.
- It is always open for student use unless there is a class in session.
- Only current CBC students, faculty, and staff may use the Epicenter computers.
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Laptops for Checkout
- Currently enrolled CBC students with valid CBC ID cards may sign up to checkout laptops at the Circulation Desk
- We have 99 laptop computers in total at the Pasco Main Library and the Health Sciences Library.
- Check availability in the catalog; first-come, first-served (no holds allowed).
- One week loan period, not renewable.
- All laptops have wireless web access and Microsoft Office. The laptops also have DVD/CD-R drives, netbooks don't.
- Any additional software that is installed will be deleted automatically when the laptop is rebooted. Should you need software for CBC classwork please contact us.
- Save all files to a CD/DVD or flash drive. Any documents saved to the laptop will be deleted when the laptop is turned off. Saved files may be printed using our desktop or netprint services.
- Do not leave the laptop unattended. Borrowers are liable for any loss or damage.
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Using a Laptop in the library
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Printing
- This section covers default library desktop printing. For instructions on CBC Netprint Wireless Printing visit columbiabasin.edu/netprint.
- Pick up your printing at the Circulation Desk. Let us know the number of the computer (e.g. Index 8, epicenter 16) you were using to print.
- To discourage waste and to recover some of the cost of paper, toner, and printer maintenance, a charge of $.05 per page for black & white copies, and $.25 per page for color copies will be assessed for printing of full-text articles, email, assignments, web pages, etc. Also, our black & white printers default to double-sided printing; ask library staff if you need to print single sided.
- Students will not be charged for citation, abstract, library catalog, or KIOSK printing.
- Only CBC supplied paper may be used in library printers and copy machines.