Dr. Greg Travis - English 190 - Section 18

Hi folks -- Here is information in response to the questions you wrote in the one-minute papers completed at the end of your class session at Pius Library. This information will be useful to you as you continue your studies here at SLU.

Does it cost anything to use Interlibrary Loan's ILLiad service? How long does it take for materials to be received and where do we pick them up?

Most interlibrary loans are free to undergraduates. Remember, if you need a book that the SLU Libraries don't have available, first check the MOBIUS Catalog to see if another Missouri academic library owns it and will loan it. If that's not the case, then you can request the book via ILLiad. All periodical articles need to be requested via ILLiad.

MOBIUS book loans take 2-4 business days, depending on where the book is coming from. ILLiad book loans may take as long as 14 business days because they are sent via the US mail. Periodical articles usually are sent to Pius electronically now so the turnaround time on those requests could be as little as 1-2 business days--but you should figure on 5-7. Articles sent via US mail could take longer.

Books and articles loaned/sent to Pius from other libraries for your use will be held for you at the Circulation Desk, just across from the cafe at the entrance. You will receive an email notification that they have arrived and are available.

For more details about Interlibrary Loan's ILLiad service, follow this link: http://illiad.slu.edu/illiad/xii/logon.html .

Can you explain the difference between keyword and subject searching in databases?

Sure. A keyword search is what you usually do in Google -- you just type in a string of characters that, to you, means something. Actually, keyword searches just match those characters without giving them meaning. So while you probably will find info on your topic by doing a keyword search, you'll also turn up a lot of irrelevant stuff (think of your Google search results!). On the other hand, a subject search uses a database's official vocabulary wherein the database has been programmed to recognize the group of characters you type as an actual subject term. Subject searches usually are more efficient and yield more focused and useful results.

Exactly how this all works may depend on the database platform (the company that provides the database you're searching, such as EBSCOhost, Ovid, ProQuest). They all do the same thing conceptually, but the mechanics differ. That's why it's important to spend a little time getting familiar with different databases you'll use a lot. Also, you may find it necessary to use a combination of subject and keyword searches to find info on a topic. Database search looks easy--and it can be pretty straightforward sometimes--but it can be quite complex. The more you use a database, the better you'll come to understand all these functions and features. It's important to try using them on your own so you develop a sense of what you really do and don't know. And you can always ask a reference librarian for help.

How do I find a book shelved in Pius Library?

Make sure you have the complete call number for the book, and then consult a Library Location Guide (see http://libraries.slu.edu/about/locatgde.html ) to find out where it is shelved. Pius uses the Library of Congress (LC) Classification system, so call numbers start with letters (which represent subject areas). Looking at the Guide, just plug the first letter(s) of the call number into the ranges on the Guide to figure out what floor the book is on. The complete call number will be needed to help you find the book once you're on the right area of the floor where it is shelved.

The journal article I need isn't available online. How can I tell if the library has it in print or on microfilm?

The SLU Libraries Catalog will tell you. Do a "Journal Title" search and type in the title of the journal (not the title of the article!) to see if Pius Library subscribes in print or microform formats. You’ll especially need to do this if you’re working from an existing reference list (and not from within a database search).

On the other hand, if you are working in a database, the same button that you use to see if the article is available online also will help you figure out if Pius has it in print or microfilm format. When you click on it, you'll open up the Article Linker page which will show you the best available path to the journal content. If there's no online text (Step 1). clicking on Step 2 will automatically search the SLU Libraries Catalog record for the publication. And Article Linker also includes Step 3 for Interlibrary Loan’s ILLIAD system in case the library doesn't have the article you need in any format.

I'll bring this posting to a close now. There's a lot to learn about using a library and its resources, and it takes time -- you're off to a good start. Get in touch if you have any other questions! Good luck on finals and Happy Holidays! -- Dr. Joseph