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Off-Campus Library Services: Off-Campus Library Services Home

Off-Campus Library Services

What: access to collections, delivery services, and information literacy instruction is available.  The opportunity to have a librarian teach specific skills in your class - at your location - is offered every semester.

Who: available to GRCC students and faculty

Where: for courses based at sites outside of the Grand Rapids Main Campus including: online courses, the Lakeshore Campus, at Regional site locations, as well as in Early College and Middle College programs held at GRCC-affiliated high schools.

When: 24/7

How: access to:

Reference Assistance

phone imageWhen you need help finding college-appropriate resources, selecting the best databases to search, citing, and a whole lot more, GRCC librarians can help during Reference Service Hours.  

  1. Speak with a librarian at the Reference Desk. 
  2. Phone:  a Reference Librarian at (616) 234-3868 
  3. Chat with a librarian using OneSearch Chat - we can share search results.
  4. Email via Ask-a-Librarian.
  5. Make an in-person, Zoom or Google Meet appointment with your academic department's Liaison Librarian  (Email links are also found on Library Subject Guides.)
  6. Text (616) 201-4841 - great for short questions like "do we subscribe to***, what's the call number for ***?, etc.

Ask a Good Question

WHO CAN USE?  This email reference service is for GRCC students, faculty and staff. If you're a Middle College student, please tell us where you are taking your classes. Ask-A-Librarian Reference Request Form

WHO ANSWERS?  Questions are answered by GRCC's masters-degreed librarians.

WHEN?  Whenever reference librarians are on duty - see Reference Service Hours.  If we're closed, we will answer your question first thing on our next business day.

FOR BEST RESULTS:  The more you tell us, the better we can answer. What class is this for? Who is your professor? Any assignment specs, like peer-reviewed journals? MLA or APA citing?  Tell us where you've already looked. Typical questions include:

  • The book XXX is already checked out. How can I get a copy?
  • Where do I find scholarly and professional journals in *** field?
  • How do I find the complete full-text for an article <insert the article citation>? 
  • How do I cite this *** document in APA? <insert the URL for the librarian to view>
  • I at the Lakeshore, and my instructor assigned a research paper.  There's no library here... what am I supposed to do?

Librarians will promptly contact you via your GRCC email or phone with an answer.

Logging into Library Resources from Off-Campus

Raider Logon

When you select licensed resources from the Library website, a logon screen appears. 

  • Type your last name and 7-digit Raider number - and you're "good to go."  (Hint - no "W" in front of #.)
  • You will  be locked out of our server for 15 minutes if you enter the incorrect credentials too many times. 
  • If your name & Raider # combination does not work, contact the Library Circulation Desk at 616-234-3872.

Sign up for New York Times Online

Many classes use New York Times Online - and it's also a great way to keep up-to-date with well-researched and well-written news. Create your FREE Group Pass logon today.