Chris Dickman - Sections 9 and 10 - Spring 2010

Hi everyone! Here are my responses to the questions you submitted at the end of our library research class on Tuesday. I'll do my best to explain things, but if you still have questions, please email me and/or post a comment below. -- Jamie Schmid (Your ENGL-190 Librarian)

"How long can you check out a book?"

Undergraduate students at SLU may check out books for 3 weeks. You can then renew them an unlimited number of times, as long as no one else has requested the book. Additional information about library borrowing privileges can be found on the library's Web site.

I'm still unclear on the "find it @ SLU part of a database."
AND
I'm still unclear on "how to get articles from Academic Search Premier if they are not in full text or attached as a pdf file."

You can use the FIND IT @ SLU button to see if an article is available in another database or in print in the library. If it's available online, you can click on the "article" link that's listed under Step 1. If it's not available, you can go to Step 2 to search and see if it's available in the library in print. If the article isn't available electronically or in print, you can go to Step 3 to place an interlibrary loan request for the article. We'll get it for you from another library and email it to your SLU email account.

"Are there any other databases have more recent articles as we need them?"

Library databases like LexisNexis Academic and Academic Search Premier include really recent articles. You should be able to use them to find information on your topic, even if it's very current.

"I never took a tour so I don't really know my way around."
AND
"Sometimes it is difficult to find a book's location."
AND
"I feel pretty clear on the information, though maybe finding the book in the library will be difficult."

It can be challenging to navigate a large library. Please let library staff members know if you're having trouble finding anything. We're happy to help! You can also go to the Reference Desk on the 1st floor if you have any questions.

I'd also recommend that you take a look at this site which covers how to read call numbers in an academic library. This Library of Congress classification guide will also show you how the collection is arranged by subject and these subjects are represented by different letters.

I'm still unclear on "MOBIUS."
AND
I'm still unclear on "finding books at other libraries using the MOBIUS search."

MOBIUS is a consortium of libraries that includes almost every academic library in Missouri and 2 public libraries. You can use the MOBIUS Catalog to request books from other libraries in Missouri and have them delivered to you at one of the SLU Libraries. You may only do this if the books you're requesting aren't available for check out at one of the SLU Libraries.

To get to the MOBIUS Catalog, you can either click on the MOBIUS link on the SLU Libraries homepage (see screenshot) or the MOBIUS button found on each page in the SLU Libraries Catalog (see screenshot).

Once you've found a book you'd like to request, click on the REQUEST THIS ITEM link in the middle of the catalog record (see screenshot). You'll then need to indicate that you're affiliated with the SLU cluster of libraries and enter your name and full Banner ID number. Your book should arrive in 2-3 business days. You'll receive an email at your SLU email account when it arrives.

"I am not too sure about the new library on Locust St."

The Locust Street Library Facility is SLU's new remote storage facility. It houses lesser-used materials from Pius Library, the Medical Center Library, and the Law Library. You can request books and journal volumes from the Locust Street Library Facility via the library catalog by clicking on the REQUEST button (see screen capture example), or request individual articles via a link in the catalog record that says "SLU Patrons Request Digital Article via ILLiad Document Delivery Service" (see example).

This Locust Street Library Facility page on the library's Web site will provide you with additional information about the LSLF.

I'm still unclear on "what exactly the interloan thing is on the library's website."

Interlibrary Loan is a service offered by the SLU Libraries that lets you request books (that aren't available at SLU or other MOBIUS Libraries) and articles (that aren't available at SLU in print or online). Our Interlibrary Loan service gives you the opportunity to borrow books and obtain electronic copies of journal articles from libraries all over the country. To use this service, you just need to set up an Interlibrary Loan account (see First Time Users link) and fill out a request form for the item you're trying to borrow. For additional information, please see our Interlibrary Loan FAQ.

I hope this blog post helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I'm happy to help you!