Learning Commons Manual & Resources

Scenario:

A student is at the LC Service Desk asking if a physical book is available….

1. Ask the student if they ordered a book through the LSC Online Bookstore.

2. If  the student says yes, send them to the Bookstore in CLA so the staff can look in the Akademos portal to see the status of their book. (shipped, delivered, back ordered etc.)

3. If the student says no, then ask if the book is one that their instructor put on Reserves and check the Course Material Guide. (If we don’t have the book, ask the student to ask their instructor to put one on Library Reserves.)

4. If the student says no it is not a Reserve book, but just a book they wanted to “check out.” Direct the student to a PT Reference Librarian to check the Library catalog.

*Library eBook vs Bookstore eBook Library*

Student's may call or visit the Service Desk saying that they are having trouble accessing their eBook.  First find out if they are trying to check out an eBook through our library catalog: electronic resources, or if they are having trouble with an access code they purchased from the Virtual Bookstore. 

If a student is having trouble checking out an eBook through our library catalog, refer the patron to a PT Librarian.  The patron may need a library barcode or they may need help with getting to eBook Central (ProQuest) or eBook Collection (EBSCO.) The student may simply be missing where to click in the Library catalog:  

However, if a student is having trouble accessing their eBook that they purchased from the Bookstore, please refer the student to the Virtual Bookstore. You can also ask the student to try this:

1. Go to the LSC Virtual Bookstore.
2. Log in with student email and password
3. At the top right-hand side will be the student's name. Click on it to show the dropdown menu.
4. Click on eLibrary.

5. All access codes that were bought through the LSC Virtual Bookstore will be there. Some will just give the code for students to copy, and some will walk the students through multiple steps to get the access code. It all depends on the third-party vendor. Students may also need to have either the professor's course/class/access code or the professor's link to the website normally found in D2L but could be sent by the professor in an email. 

6. Access code still not working? The student already tried contacting LSC Bookstore online? NEW! From Amy Payne, Course Materials Manager for Lone Star Colleges. For student questions and issues: 

• Email: help@vitalsource.com

• Phone: 855-463-5531

• Campus Store (Bookstore): 281-312-1699

• Chat:  go to www.lonestar.textbookx.com/help and click on chat. 

When a student signs into the Virtual Bookstore (Akademos,) and if they qualify/ are eligible for financial aid, they will be given the opportunity to purchase the necessary textbooks with the financial aid amount awarded to their account.  Once the textbooks are purchased, the amount will then be taken from their financial aid award. See book advance link: https://www.lonestar.edu/book-advances.htm

The Locker Process (for the students)

1. Student orders physical textbook via the virtual bookstore: https://www.lonestar.edu/bookstore.htm (The Learning Commons can help the student order their book although it is preferable to send the student to the Bookstore in CLA for help.
2. After ordering, the student will receive two emails from the bookstore, one saying it's been shipped, and one saying it's been delivered.
3. Darien Grant in the Mailroom in CLA delivers the shipped textbook to the Bookstore in CLA.
4. The Bookstore staff process the order via the Bookstore admin portal to get the Name and ID number of the student who ordered the book. 
5. The Bookstore staff clicks the Akademos button for pickup which sends an automatic email to the student.
6. In August 2025, the Parcel Pending Lockers are in front of the library building and the LC Service Desk is not responsible for its upkeep.
7. Once the book is in the locker, an automated email with a barcode to scan is sent by the Parcel Pending locker company.
8. The student takes the email with the barcode and scans it at the locker.
9. The locker will open.
10. The student takes their textbook and closes the door.

The Learning Commons will no longer be the pickup spot for the Bookstore as of August 15, 2025.  Please refer student to CLA  (across from OTS.) Abandoned books will become the property of Lone Star when the semester is over.