The E. W. and Mary Adair Phifer Learning Resources Center is a focal point of Western Piedmont Community College and provides a broad range of library and media services. In addition, Learning Resources provides instructional development, videoconferencing, media production, and multimedia services to classrooms.
Library
Located on the upper level of the Phifer Learning Resources Center, the Library is a place for students to do research and study. Rooms are provided for individual and group study. The Library of Congress Classification System is used for the arrangement of books, and an online catalog provides access to library collection materials for on-campus and distance learning students. An information commons consisting of 16 computer stations is available, in addition to library-wide wireless network access.
Library resources include about 40,000 printed books, 119,000 electronic E-Books, 140 printed periodical titles, and over 2,000 videotapes and DVDs. Publications not owned by the library may be secured through interlibrary loan. In addition, the library provides access to a wide variety of electronic databases which contain indexing, abstracting, and full-text retrieval of articles from an extensive library of professional, trade, and popular journals. The acquisition of passwords from library staff allows for remote access to this vast library of online data by currently enrolled on-campus and distance learning students.
Library information tours are available upon request. Reference staff offers a library instruction program, which includes customized presentations, resource guides for class assignments, and guidance sheets on locating and using library resources.
The Library’s normal operating hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30am - 8:00pm and Friday, 7:30am - 5:00pm. Summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30am - 7:00 pm and Friday, 7:30am - 5:00pm.
The Raymond B. Goodfellow Art Gallery
The Goodfellow Gallery is named after the late Vice President for Academic Affairs, Raymond B. Goodfellow, and is housed within the Library. The Goodfellow Gallery provides a forum for exhibiting the work of faculty, students and regional artists. Rotating exhibits provide for a variety of visual media and artistic styles throughout the year. Periodic receptions are held to introduce the work of various artists.
Media Services
Media Services, administered by the Technology Division, provides a qualified staff and excellent facilities to support instructional programs with material production and audiovisual equipment. Located in Moore Hall Room 017, Media Services personnel provide a wide range of traditional audiovisual services, as well as support for emerging instructional technologies. Media Services is also responsible for supervising, scheduling, and operating the College’s television, videoconferencing, media production, North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH) room, and multimedia classroom facilities.
Media Services normal operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Off-hours scheduling can be arranged, well in advance, to provide Media Services personnel for College-sponsored special events. Limited in-classroom AV support is available for evening classes through the Technology Division Help Desk (6030) which operates Monday through Thursday, 8:00am - 7:00pm and Fridays, 8:00am - 5:00pm.
Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. Library
Housed in the Phifer Learning Resources Center Library, the Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr. Library and Museum includes books, correspondence, photos, documents, professional and family memorabilia, original political cartoons from the Watergate era, awards, and other materials collected by Senator Ervin during his many years of public service. The goal of the Library/Museum is to provide scholars and students with a wide range of resource information concerning the life of Senator Ervin, the United States Constitution, Constitutional and political history with emphasis on the Watergate era, and US and North Carolina legal and general history.
The Dr. Jean C. Ervin Mark Twain Collection
Also housed in the Phifer Learning Resources Center Library, this collection, donated by the noted Twain scholar and sister of Senator Ervin, consists of over 400 books and many collectibles. The collection of books written by and about Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was collected over a fifty-year period with the oldest dating from the 1870’s. The collectibles are comprised of figurines, plates, comics, etc. depicting famous scenes from Twain’s beloved books. Many of the limited edition figurines are based on illustrations by Norman Rockwell, the famous American illustrator.
The Grace DiSanto Poetry Collection
Housed with the Dr. Jean C. Ervin Collection, this comprehensive collection of the award winning Morganton poet’s work, along with biographical material on her life, is available for in-house review by the public, upon request.
Although materials in the Senator Sam J. Ervin Library and Museum, the Dr. Jean C. Ervin Mark Twain Collection, and the Grace DiSanto Poetry Collection are non-circulating, a comfortable, private reading and study room is provided for students, scholars, and the general public who wish to explore these unique collections.