Library
Estelle M. Black Library
With over 90,000 book volumes, subscriptions to 232 periodical titles, access to the materials of an additional 88 Illinois academic libraries, and services of dedicated information specialists – these resources strengthen the mission of Estelle M. Black Library at Rock Valley College which is to empower students and community through lifelong learning. The Library Bill of Rights guides our service.
RVC Library Catalog A-Z Databases RVC Research Guides
For Our Students
The Estelle M. Black Library supports the distance learning students and instructors of RVC. There are many resources available to assist students and instructors in finding, retrieving and evaluating information to support their online coursework.
The Library has six group study rooms set aside primarily for student use. Current RVC students will receive reservation priority, though faculty, staff, and community patrons may utilize the rooms (with the understanding that they may potentially be asked to vacate if an RVC student group needs the room). Failure to comply with the following rules may result in being asked to vacate the room: Study rooms may be reserved for up to three hours at a time; Study room reservations will be cancelled after a 15-minute grace period; No food or uncovered drinks are allowed in the study rooms or library; and Keep noise levels at a respectful volume.
The Library offers a graphing calculator loaner program that is catered to students who cannot afford to purchase one themselves, but need one to be successful in RVC courses. The process is similar to how you would check out a book in the library and it comes at no cost to the student.
Students must provide photo documentation that includes their full name such as a driver’s license, state ID, RVC Student ID, passport, etc. in order to check out a calculator for identification purposes. Graphing calculators are provided as a first come, first serve basis with no waitlist maintained and are offered throughout the academic year while supplies last.
For Our Community
Did you know that residents of the Community College District #511 may get a library card at Rock Valley College Library free of charge? Community patrons can check out materials from the RVC Library but cannot access our online resources from off-campus and cannot request items through I-Share. Community patrons can use our interlibrary loan service to request items from other libraries.
Contact Us
- RVC Library
- (815) 921-4615
- (815) 921-4629
- RVC-LibRef@RockValleyCollege.edu
- RVC Main Campus
Educational Resource Center -
Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Reference Desk: (815) 921-4619
- Circulation Desk: (815) 921-4615
- Interlibrary Loan: (815) 921-4607
Chat with Library Support
Other Libraries
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Explore Media Collections & More
The RVC Library provides online access to a variety of media collections, major newspapers, and government resources. In addition, the RVC Library maintains a college archive collection that reflects over 50 years of RVC history.
Still Looking?
If the RVC Library does not have the materials you need, you may submit an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Request, which allows us to obtain materials from over 12,000 participating libraries. Or recommend a new item for purchase.
Gifts to the RVC Library
The RVC Library gladly accepts in-kind donations of books and other materials from faculty, staff, students, and community members. Such donations are accepted only with the understanding that there will be “no strings attached.” Donors will not receive any special treatment or benefits due to their donation(s). The Library also welcomes monetary donations but it cannot accept funds for the purpose of buying specific titles requested by the donor.
The RVC Library reserves the right to utilize or dispose of any gift materials in whatever way, or at any time, deemed most appropriate. The Director of the Library has ultimate authority over the disposition of any gift materials. The Technical Services Coordinator makes the practical decisions about which gift items to retain for library use. These decisions are guided by the Library’s collection development policy.
Gifts not retained by the Library will be disposed of in the most appropriate manner. Possibilities include giving items to other area libraries, to “friends of the library” organizations, to other area nonprofit organizations, or making them available to RVC faculty, staff, and students.
The Library will provide, on a limited basis, book plates for appropriate books donated in honor of or memory of an individual, or for other special circumstances. However, in general, there will be no designation of the donor placed on donated materials.
An appropriate thank you letter will be sent promptly to the person(s) who donated the material. The letter will indicate the total number and kind of material(s) donated and can serve as a receipt for the donation.
The Library cannot provide any estimated value of any gift materials. It is up to the donor to assign a value to gift material, if a value is needed for any purpose. If a precise value is desired the donor should contact a professional appraiser. Many used and rare book dealers will do appraisals. Websites of used book dealers can also be utilized to determine an approximate current selling price for specific used titles. If a valuation is desired for tax purposes it is strongly recommended that the donor consult IRS Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property. This publication states the following about determining the fair market value (FMV) of books:
- Books. The value of books is usually determined by selecting comparable sales and adjusting the prices according to the differences between the comparable sales and the item being evaluated. This is difficult to do and, except for a collection of little value, should be done by a specialized appraiser. Within the general category of literary property, there are dealers who specialize in certain areas, such as Americana, foreign imports, Bibles, and scientific books.
- Modest value of collection. If the collection you are donating is of modest value, not requiring a written appraisal, the following information may help you in determining the FMV. A book that is very old, or very rare, is not necessarily valuable. There are many books that are very old or rare, but that have little or no market value.
- Condition of book. The condition of a book may have a great influence on its value. Collectors are interested in items that are in fine, or at least good, condition. When a book has a missing page, a loose binding, tears, stains, or is otherwise in poor condition, its value is greatly lowered.
- Other factors. Some other factors in the valuation of a book are the kind of binding (leather, cloth, paper), page edges, and illustrations (drawings and photographs). Collectors usually want first editions of books. However, because of changes or additions, other editions are sometimes worth as much as, or more than, the first edition.
Support RVC Library
Monetary gifts are always welcome and can be accomplished through the Rock Valley College Foundation.