1/31/2007

FAQ: Friday Interlibrary Loan

FAQ: Friday

Interlibrary Loan – fact, fiction and function

What, you ask, exactly do libraries (and librarians) mean when they talk about interlibrary loan?

Interlibrary loan -- ILL for short – is a cooperative arrangement between libraries, allowing materials to be loaned out to other libraries. Basically, it’s libraries borrowing from other libraries, on behalf of their patrons.

For example, perhaps you need a specific book or journal article that is not available in the Marian College library. You may request a copy through interlibrary loan. The ILL librarian will contact other libraries that have the item and request that they loan the book to us as an interlibrary loan. Provided another library agrees, the book is delivered to the library for your use.

How do I request an interlibrary loan?

It’s really a very simple process:

  • Check the library catalog or database to be sure the item is not in the collection
  • Fill out an Interlibrary Loan Request form (available at the Circulation Desk)
  • Turn the form in at the Circulation Desk
  • Wait patiently for a call from the library
  • Pick up your interlibrary loan materials at the Circulation Desk

When should I consider using interlibrary loan services?

Any time is a good time to use interlibrary loan, although the night before a paper is due really is too late. Like any good research project, plan ahead.

Be aware that it can take up to two weeks for materials to arrive. It all depends on the library loaning out the materials and how quickly they send ILL items out. In most cases, materials are here in a week or less. Marian College is located in an area with numerous other college/university and public libraries nearby, our requests are usually filled and shipped quickly.

Where do I pick up/return interlibrary loans?

All interlibrary loan activity centers around the Circulation Desk at the Hackelmeier Memorial Library.

This is where you:

  • Obtain Interlibrary Loan Request forms
  • Turn in ILL request forms
  • Pick up/return ILL materials

Why is interlibrary loan service useful?

Interlibrary loan is an easy way to track down something that you want or need that is not part of the library collection. You can request books, magazine or journal articles, and some libraries even loan AV materials (not many, though). Interlibrary loan isn’t all work, either – you can request leisure reading like novels, cookbooks, how-to manuals, etc – if it’s in a library, there is a good chance it’s available via interlibrary loan.

A few caveats about the interlibrary loan process:

It is important that you fill out the Interlibrary Loan Request form as completely and specifically as possible.
If you are requesting a book, include the title, author’s name and any edition information. If it’s a journal article, you must include the complete citation (title, author, journal, volume, issue, date, pages, ISSN). Don’t forget to include your phone number and email address, we may need to contact you with questions about your request or let you know when the materials are available for pick up.

The interlibrary loan period is determined by the library loaning the materials.
A tag is included on the front of the book, indicating the date to return the materials to this library. We will take care of sending the materials back to the lending institution. If you decide you need the materials a little longer, contact Sr. Pat Connor (ext. 6008) as soon as possible, she will request an extension on the loan period.

If you requested a journal article, the copy you receive is yours to keep – libraries generally do not send the entire issue of the journal, just a copy of the article requested.

Some libraries charge for interlibrary loan services.
There are libraries who charge for ILL services. In most cases we are able to find libraries that do not charge an ILL fee, but certain materials (highly requested, unique items) or organizations (major research institutions) may charge a fee.

Please note the section on the request form asking the total amount you are willing to pay for ILL services. Please fill this section out, it saves processing time. We will contact you before requesting the item if the charges exceed your limit.

Interlibrary loan can’t work miracles.
We can only request that materials be loaned to our library, we can’t demand them. So, if you want something that is part of an archive or special collection, you may have to travel to that institution to see/use the materials. Also, reference materials are not usually loaned out – ILL is generally limited to items in the library’s circulating collection only.

Be specific – we can’t read your mind.
It is very important to include precise information on the request form – request a specific item, not just “anything on subject X “. ILL isn’t a request for research services, it’s a request for a specific item.

ILL is a researcher’s best friend
Interlibrary loan is a great service for anyone doing extensive research. No individual library has everything ever published, so using ILL makes it easier to track down essential materials. ILL opens the door to other library collections across town and across the country -- without the hassle of traffic, parking, loan policies and unfamiliar copy machines.

So, keep interlibrary loan services in mind the next time you want a book or article that isn’t in the library collection. ILL is one of many extra services available @Hackelmeier Memorial Library.

1/25/2007

FAQ: Friday How to find journal articles

FAQ: How do I find journal articles on a particular subject?

Aha! Excellent question, one that we hear many times, asked in many different ways.

The answer is somewhat complex, as there are many ways to locate articles on a particular subject. Several strategies and sources are described below, with major emphasis on choosing and using electronic databases to locate journal articles.

Browsing
Browsing through journals and magazines is a perfectly legitimate way to find articles of interest. If you aren’t familiar with the publications that best serve your interests, ask a professor to recommend a few titles. A list of journal titles arranged by subject is available in the Current Periodicals section. Or if you are feeling adventurous, spend a little time paging through anything that catches your eye. This is a good way to start brainstorming if you don’t have a topic in mind, but it’s not the most efficient way to find multiple articles on one particular subject

Indexes

An index is an organized collection of information about journal articles, creating a reference guide to published material. One of the most well-know is Psychological Abstracts. These volumes include citation information and brief abstracts of articles, arranged by subject, title or author.

Citations – title, author, journal publication information -- are used to locate the exact volume, issue and page number of particular articles.

Example: In the Art Pottery Tradition. Eberhardt, Tim. Ceramics Monthly, Dec2001, Vol. 49 Issue 10, p70, 3p.

With this information, you now know that the article entitled In the Art Pottery Tradition was authored by Tim Eberhardt and can be found in the December 2001 issue of Ceramic Monthly, beginning on page 70.

Using an index is very much like browsing, because once you locate the citation, you still have to go to the actual journal (print or electronic version) to access the full article. It’s great if you have a particular topic in mind, or a partial citation to track down, but in many cases the information found in indexes are available as part of an electronic database, so it’s more efficient to search the abstracts within the database interface.

Electronic databases

Online databases, such as Academic Search Premier, BioOne, or JSTOR, provide an easy way to search for journal articles on a particular subject. In many cases, you get access to the full text of the article in addition to the citation/abstract. It’s practically one-stop shopping!

A research database is a collection of citations, abstracts and full-text journal articles, organized and indexed to be easily searchable by keyword, subject, title, author, etc. Most databases offer basic and advanced searching modes, along with help pages that will guide you through some basic search strategies and explain any special features. Every database is unique, so it’s a good idea to check those help pages for specific tips.

It’s best to begin with simple keyword searches, review the results and either expand or narrow your searches as needed. Adding search terms narrows the search, taking terms away broadens the results.

Example: a keyword search for the word nursing will yield over 120,000 hits

Add the word pediatric and the results shrink to roughly 3,900 hits

It’s all just Boolean Logic, which is a topic for another FAQ:Friday, if anyone actually asks about it frequently enough, that is.

Back to effective database searching…

If you are having trouble getting the results you expect, please ask one of the librarians for assistance – we won’t do your research for you, but we’re happy to help you get started or provide some guidance along the way. If you prefer to dive in on your own, tip sheets for using several of the most popular electronic databases are available in the library and on the library website.

Choosing the best database for your research:

Selecting the best database for the job is tricky – some subjects are very straightforward, such as nursing. Others are multidisciplinary, like sociology or communications studies. A good starting point for basic research is Academic Search Premier – this database covers all academic disciplines and contains information and articles from more than 4,700 journals.

Sometimes you can determine the general content of a database from the name – like SocIndex (sociology) or BioOne (biological science). If you aren’t certain what subject a particular database covers, check the database list on the library website. Subject coverage is listed to the right of the title, or you can click on the More Info option which is in the far right column – a box pops up with a brief description of the database. If you still aren’t sure, you can consult a research guide at the library or ask one of the librarians for a little guidance.

No matter what strategy you decide to use when looking for journal articles, be aware that it isn’t always quick and easy. You may need to try many different combinations of terms and keywords before you find articles that fit your needs, you may end up trying several different databases, or browse many issues before you find what you need. It’s a good idea to give yourself some lead time when doing research, the articles you need might not be available online, or you might need to request a copy via interlibrary loan.

Speaking of interlibrary loan, be sure to check back next week. FAQ will de-mystify the ILL process and explain why it’s a researcher’s best friend.


1/23/2007

New @Hackelmeier Memorial Library: Expanded JSTOR and Project Muse


Just in time for spring semester research projects, the library is pleased to announce added content to our electronic database collections.

Arts & Sciences II has been added to our JSTOR subscription. Along with Arts & Sciences I and the General Science collection, Marian College users now have full text access to back issue runs of over 100 scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences and scientific literature.

Project Muse is new to the database collection this spring. It is a selection of prestigious journals in the humanities, arts, and social sciences, intended to support a core academic liberal arts curriculum. The library has added the Standard Collection, which provides full text access to nearly 300 current journals.

JSTOR and Project Muse compliment each other. JSTOR provides archival access to journals from the first issue published, in some cases pre-1900. Content is complete within 2-4 years of publication. Project Muse provides access that is current through the most recent published issue, but does not always have the complete runs of the journals.

In some cases, Project Muse will link you directly to the JSTOR archives for full run access, if the title is common to both databases. Both databases provide full text access in PDF format, which means all illustrations, charts and graphs are reproduced along with the text, in the exact format published in the print journal.

Tip sheets for using both JSTOR and Project Muse are available in the library and will soon be available in PDF format on our website (http://library.marian.edu/). If you have questions or would like a librarian to visit your class to discuss using these or other library resources, please contact the liaison librarian for your department.

Join us for the Up All Knight - Winter Carnival on Jan. 26

Every year the library co-hosts an event in the library with the Student Activities Office.
This year is NO exception! Here's what's on the agenda:

*A FREE concert by Decatur Indiana band the Popples. Check them out on their MySpace page.

*Tons of Games hosted by the Marian College Gaming Club - Featuring Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and Halo. Expect lots of poker, Texas hold'em, euchre, board games, video games, rpg games and more!

*The Performing Knights will be kickin it old school

Karaoke - Need we say more?

*Egg Drop - You gotta see it to understand...

*Drinks & Snacks

So, make sure you plan on showing up from 9 PM - 2 AM for some food, fun, and games.

1/19/2007

FAQ:Friday Off-Campus access to resources

Welcome to a new weekly feature on the library’s blog – FAQ:Friday. Each Friday, a different FAQ (frequently asked question) and answer will be posted here, along with any useful or pertinent links to other sites and sources.

Too impatient to wait for Friday? Feel free to ask questions in person at the Circulation Desk, or call 955-6090 during library hours.

FAQ: How do use the library databases from off-campus computers?

You might not think this is something you will ever need, but trust FAQ, this is a fabulous feature. Night owl or early riser, local hero or master of the road trip, once you master off-campus access, the library is at your fingertips 24/7.

Begin at the beginning: http://library.marian.edu

If you found us here at FAQ, then you already know how to find the library website. Whew! The good news is that many of the features available on the library website are readily accessible from off-campus computers with internet access -- library catalog, e-reserves, My Library Account, the blog and pod casts.

Accessing the library databases is a different story. The library contracts with publishers and content providers to access these databases, and in turn we are obligated to abide by the terms of the subscription contract, which generally stipulates limited users. This is why access is limited to Marian College users, and why you must authenticate yourself before access is granted to off-campus users.

The single most important thing to remember about accessing library resources from an off-campus computer is to use the correct link. Computers located in the library and on campus (in classrooms and labs) automatically register the appropriate IP range when logging into our services. However, when you want to log in from off-campus, you must first authenticate yourself as a Marian College user to access the databases.

Step one: click on this link

It’s located on the library website, left-hand side.

Step two: use your Marian College user name / password to authenticate.

Note: this is your email user name and password

Example: student235 (everything in front of @marian.edu)

mindless (or whatever your secret password might be)

Step three: Select the database you wish to use from the list.

It’s a bit confusing at first – do I need to log in or don’t I? What’s my password again? Once you get the hang of it, it will be second nature. Just remember, if you want to use a database from off-campus, is it imperative that you use this link:



If you don’t use this link, you will be prompted for a user name/password, but it’s not the correct prompt and Marian information will not log you in to the databases.

Please remember to check in with FAQ:Friday next week, when we feature a quick and dirty guide to using (and abusing) library databases.

1/11/2007

Spring 2007 eReserves are now current

As of this week, all reserves readings submitted to the library by instructors have been tested, posted, and are accessible.

Your instructors will have a login and password which you will need to access the readings. Almost without exception the login will be the course number and the password is the instructor's last name.

Example: soc101 & doe

Visit the eReserves page for more info and support documents.