several of you had comments/questions after the session which I'll try to answer here.
1. a couple of you were unsure about defining what is scholarly and qualifies as peer-reviewed. If in doubt about whether a journal is a scholarly one or not, there are several things you can look for. Are there lots of footnotes, graphs, or diagrams, etc. accompanying the article? Are the author's academic qualifications (faculty position, degrees, etc.) indicated anywhere? If the answer is yes, it's probably a scholarly journal. If you're still unsure, ask a reference librarian for help.
2. Lewis Annex--Lewis Annex is indeed challenging; we keep a printed map of the annex with directions on how to get there at the reference desk. Feel free to pick one up or ask for directions there. You might also enjoy this semi-serious video "Trapped in the Lewis Annex!"
3. If you are still unsure about using the library's online catalog; please review the online tutorial "Finding Books in the St. Louis University Libraries" or ask for help at the reference desk.
4. Someone asked about checking out board games. I think you may be referring to materials from the curriculum collection (just outside the library classroom we were in) which is used primarily by education majors. Students can check these materials for 2 weeks but the loans are not renewable.
5. Another comment had to do either with renewing books or finding book reviews; since I'm not sure which; I'll give an answer for both! You can renew books by logging in to your library account from the library catalog (click on the "My Library Account" tab); if you have not yet created your account, you will see instructions for doing that. Further information about loan periods and renewals is available here.
Book reviews are available in a number of sources. This guide lists many of them. The best place to look for reviews depends on what kind of book it is (popular or scholarly) and what subject it's about. Ask a reference librarian for guidance about the best place to look.
7. Another question was "where are each of the categories located?" I assume this means where are the different subjects shelved in the library. Books are shelved by call number which, of course, designate the subject of the book. One thing I forgot to mention during the session is the location guide which indicates what call numbers are found on what floors of the library. There are printed copies of this guide available at the reference desk and the circulation desk for you to take with you. Find the range within which a call number falls; that's where the item will be. If you are uncertain about a book's (or a journal's) location, ask a librarian.
8. Someone also asked about study rooms in the library. There are a limited number of rooms for group study available in the library which can be reserved at the circulation desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Check at the circulation desk for details.
Finally, someone lamented (understandably enough after the information overload from the session) "I just feel like the library is big and intimidating and that I wouldn't know how to get around." I sympathize, this library takes some getting used to. But never hesitate to ask for help. That's what we're here for!
If you have further questions, please contact me at crownrw@slu.edu or 977-3083.
Best,
Ron Crown
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