Shelly Combs -- English 190 -- Section 09

Hello Everyone,

Please see below my responses to the questions and comments you wrote on the one-minute papers at the end of our recent class session at Pius Library. Don't hesitate to contact me if you need assistance with the research assignments for this course.

Dr. Joseph


1. Trying to find the full text of an article seemed confusing Yes, it is…at least until you get the hang of the process. I want you to keep three things in mind about full text: (a) The SLU Libraries offer full text from over 46,000 periodicals BUT even tho’ that sounds like a lot, it’s a drop in the bucket when compared to what’s published overall; (b) Just because an article is available online doesn’t mean it’s a good article or the best suited for your research need. Maybe the best article is in a journal sitting on a library shelf and you’ll have to come over to read or photocopy it. (c) Resist the temptation to choose full-text options in databases that provide such choices. The reason is that a database then will restrict its results only to full text in that particular database, which means you’ll miss full text provided in all the other SLU library resources. Now, as to how to find full text when it is available, follow these instructions (by the way, these were printed on the library session handout I gave you when I met your class):

WHEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH A LIBRARY DATABASE:

Important Feature Embedded in Library Databases!!
Click on this icon to open the feature known as Article Linker, embedded within most database search results. Click on it to determine the best available path to the periodical content. It will link you to (Step 1) the full text of the article in another database (if available); (Step 2) the SLU Libraries Catalog record for the publication; and (Step 3) to Interlibrary Loan’s ILLIAD system. For the Article Linker FAQ, see http://libraries.slu.edu/help/artlink/alfaq.html . If you’re not in a database but are working from an existing reference list, click on the “Search for Online Journals, Magazines, or Newspapers” link on the SLU Libraries home page to check the full-text availability of specific journals (see http://hy2ju6vj2n.search.serialssolutions.com/ ).

WHEN WORKING FROM A PRINTED REFERENCE LIST:
Perform a “Journal Title” search in the SLU Libraries Catalog to see if Pius Library subscribes in print or microform formats (sometimes—but not always—you’ll see links to online full text as well). You’ll especially need to do this if you’re working from an existing reference list instead of from within a database search.

2. I heard there was a way of renting books from another school’s library and they send it to Pius…is that possible?
Actually, no, we don’t rent books from other schools’ libraries – BUT we do borrow them and usually there is no charge (unless you return them after the due date or lose them).

Remember to always start looking for a book in the SLU Libraries Catalog (http://libcat.slu.edu/) . If the book you want is not available at Pius for some reason (we don’t own it, it’s checked out, etc.), but it is available at one of the other SLU Libraries (Law or Medical Center), you can either go get the book yourself and use your SLU ID to check it out or click on the blue Request button to have it sent to Pius for your use. If you use the Request feature, you’ll need to complete the information requested on the next screen display. Remember that we set up your library passwords in class; if you forgot yours, call (977-3087) or go to the Pius Circulation Desk and tell that to the staff there. They’ll delete your existing password and then you can create a new one.

If none of the SLU libraries has the book you need available, then click on this icon to conduct the search automatically in the MOBIUS Catalog. Remember that MOBIUS is a statewide consortium of all the academic libraries in Missouri; searching the MOBIUS Catalog allows you to search all the catalogs of all the member libraries simultaneously. If MOBIUS displays a record for the book, indicating that ownership of the book by at least one of the member libraries, click on the link “Display Holdings of MOBIUS Libraries” to see which libraries, if any, have it available to borrow. If the book is available to borrow, click on the “REQUEST THIS ITEM” link in the middle of the catalog record.

The next screen asks “With which cluster are you affiliated?” Select SLU from the drop-down box. Click on the “Submit above information” button and then provide the information requested on the next screen. (FYI, your UNIV ID is your complete Banner number, found in the bottom left corner of your SLU ID card.) The system will confirm your request. Books requested via MOBIUS take from 2-4 business days to reach Pius. The Circulation Department will send an email to your SLU email address alerting you when the book is available for pickup the library pickup location you selected (select Pius unless your major department is at the Health Sciences Center and it’s easier for you to use the Medical Center Library).

Finally, if neither SLU nor MOBIUS has the book you need available, you can use the regular Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service called ILLiad to request that the book be borrowed on your behalf from some other library in the country. There’s a link to ILL on the left side of the SLU Libraries home page (see http://libraries.slu.edu/ ). Click on that link and then, under the name of your parent library (choose Medical Center Library only if your major is Nursing or one of the Doisy College majors), click on the appropriate ILLiad link. Look for the “First-Time Users” link and read the attached information so you can set up your personalized ILL account. Then just carefully follow the directions. There are FAQs available; it’s a good idea to read through that information before you make any ILL requests. If there’s any possibility that a borrowing fee might be involved, the ILLiad form you complete to make your loan request will ask “If we cannot obtain a free loan, what is the maximum cost you would pay for the item?” It’s rare, but sometimes the only way we can borrow a certain book is if the borrower pays a loan fee that goes to the library that loans the book to us for you to use. And if there is a loan fee, make sure you pick up the book within three weeks of notification; otherwise, the charge will be put on your patron record and your library privileges will be blocked until you make the payment (even if you no longer want the book!).

The bottom line: All borrowing between SLU libraries and between SLU and MOBIUS libraries is always free. There may be fees for borrowing books from yet other libraries, but these are pretty infrequent.