News Release

ESCC Campus

Eastern Sierra College Center's Bishop Campus Announces Opening of the Learning Assistance and Resource Center

February 15, 2007

(Bishop, CA)—The Bishop campus of the Eastern Sierra College Center, Cerro Coso Community College is, for the first time, opening the Learning Assistance and Resource Center (LAC/LRC). "Thanks to Cerro Coso's library information technology adjunct faculty member, Julie Cornett, full-time faculty, department chair and Director of Learning Resources, Dr. Dennis VanderWerff, and the tremendous efforts of our other faculty and adjunct faculty who are providing office hours, the LAC/LRC is offering vast resources to students and the community at large," stated Deanna Campbell Director Eastern Sierra College Center, Cerro Coso Community College.

What used to be utilized solely as a computer lab is quickly emerging as a campus resource hub that offers many remarkable services. The Center's computing lab offers high speed Internet, databases, printing services and software used for classes. The LAC/LRC is staffed by faculty members and student-tutors who offer free tutoring and specialized research assistance on Library and Internet databases. The new, improved LAC/LRC also boasts private group meeting rooms and a spacious, comfortable place to study while viewing student, faculty, and community artwork.

The LAC/LRC has an expanding reference library, which includes rare, local references and textbooks. In 2004, Altrusa International of the Eastern Sierra, gave the library a "jump start" with their "Get Hooked, Donate Books" drive. Over 15,000 books were donated by the community. Books which did not meet the Library's criteria were either donated to other local libraries or sold to raise money for the college library. Also, the Eastern Sierra Foundation through their scholarship program and the Learning Assistance and Resource Center is offering various text books on reserve for students, as well.

"Considerable progress has been made in the development, organization, and launching of a Learning Resource/Learning Assistance Center. Funds were made available and a core collection of reference books were purchased out of State new facilities monies. Additional assistance was augmented by book donations from the Bishop Community. Students are able to take advantage of the library's resources including assistance with accessing the many online reference data bases as well as course-specific tutoring and other basic skills services. Deanna Campbell and Julie Cornet have worked to create a hospitable setting made all the more inviting by displays of student art work. We are quite pleased with the result of efforts put into the development of the LRC/LAC and look forward to its continued growth and success in serving student needs," stated Dennis VanderWerff.

This state-of-the-art Learning Assistance and Resource Center is available to all enrolled students at either the Bishop or Mammoth campuses. Community members are encouraged to enroll in classes to take advantage of this wonderful resource. Cerro Coso's new 0.5 unit "Special Research Topics" classes this fall semester are only $10. These classes will introduce students to specialized library and Internet research tools and databases for a variety of disciplines. Topics will include medical and legal research strategies, government information on the Internet, business information topics, Google.com as a research tool, and more.

The Eastern Sierra College Center invites you to visit the Bishop campus to find out about our most recent hours of operation and to learn more about our tutoring and other services. For more information, contact the Bishop campus at (760) 872-1565.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230