UNDERGRADUATE LIBRARY

The Information Services Desk provides you with one stop where you can get answers to all of your library questions. Provided here are Reference, Circulation, and Reserve functions. The kinds of assistance you can receive here include:

• Check out books, movies, DVDs, and video games from the Undergraduate Library’s collection using your I-card.
• There is no limit to the number of books you may check out, and most items circulate for four weeks for undergraduate students, 16 weeks for faculty and graduate students. You may renew books yourself using the MyAccount feature in the Online Catalog to keep from getting overdue fines. You can also return books from any library in the campus system to this location.
• Movie and game collections circulate for one week.
• Receive reference assistance from the Undergrad's librarians and graduate assistants. They are the experts in helping you find information. They can teach you how to find sports statistics, show you how to most effectively use the library's online resources and, get you started with your research papers or other projects.
• Check out Reserves from the library. Be sure to check the library's online catalog to get the correct call number for any reserve item you would like to use. Most of the reserve items in the Undergrad Library are available for in-library use only, for a two hour time period. Please note: many reserve materials are in an electronic format and can be read or printed from anywhere on campus.

Near the windows and scattered throughout the library are computers to help you begin your research. The computers connect to the Undergraduate Library’s homepage, which has links to the library’s online catalog, article databases, full texts of many reference services, and Web pages with information about the many libraries on campus. These computers are intended for research and also include the Microsoft Suite of products.

For those who prefer MacIntosh, there are also ten I-Macs scattered on tables throughout the upper level of the library. (They are the white computers in this front area.) These include both the Adobe and I-Life Suites to accommodate high-end graphic design work .

Please note that the entire library is wireless. In addition there are many walk-up jacks along the walls to accommodate your laptop computer.

At times you may need to print copies of the article or information you find during your searching. Printers are located on the left side of the windows at the front of the library. There are two laser printers for black and white printing and one laser color printer on the opposite side of the pillar. You have several printing options at the Undergraduate Library. You can choose either black and white printing or the slightly more expensive color printing. You can also decide to charge your print jobs to your student account or to pay for them when you pick them up. Please ask at the Information Services Desk if you have printing questions.

The Reference Collection contains approximately 10,000 reference books selected to fit the research needs of undergraduate students, including subject encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, directories, and handbooks. This is a great place to get background information on research topics. The Reference librarians and Graduate Assistants at the Information Services Desk are available during most hours to help you make the best use of these resources.

The Career Cluster contains print materials that can help you prepare for a variety of admissions and placement tests for college and graduate school programs, put together a résumé, or even get ready for a job interview. The campus Career Center and the Undergraduate Library operate this area jointly. Resume workshops are held several times throughout the semester at the Career Cluster desk . This collection is funded in part by the Mothers and Dads Associations.

If you look around the library you will note there are many tables available for group study. Many of them also have a computer on them, often helpful when completing group projects. The Undergraduate Library has many large tables set to accommodate group study activities on the Upper Level. Talking at a normal volume is allowed and even encouraged on this level.

As you walk back toward the Writer's Workshop, you will note the wall space on your right. Look for Group Study Rooms to be added to this space during the course of the semester. These four rooms will accommodate up to six students and include a white board.

The English Department operates the Writers’ Workshop, where experienced tutors are available to help you. You may make an appointment or just walk in to discuss any aspect of the writing process. The hours of operation are posted on the door.

Room 295, the Media Viewing Room, is used for groups of students or classes viewing movies and films.

Room 291 is the Undergrad Teaching Lab. This lab is used for library instruction classes and library workshops.

To the left of the Library Instruction classroom is a CITES computer lab, Room 289, which is open most of the same hours as the Undergraduate Library. This site, operated by Campus Information Technology Educational Services, contains PCs and laser printers. Use of these computers requires a login and password, so only students, faculty, or staff of the university may use them. You may pay for your printing in this area by charging print jobs to your university account. A site consultant is on duty in the lab at all times to assist you if you have questions or problems.

Along the north wall of the library are shelves that will soon contain the most recent issues of the library's periodicals. (Many students enjoy taking a break between classes to read their favorite magazine or journal.) This area will also include more comfortable furniture and some game carts for students to use as they take breaks from their research or between classes.

As you exit through the glass doors you will note the gated area in the foyer. In order to leave the Undergraduate Library, everyone must pass through these security devices. They prevent patrons from exiting the library with library materials that have not been properly checked out. Attempting to carry out such items sets off an alarm that alerts library staff. If you have materials checked out from other libraries, tapes from a rental store, or even some textbooks, these items may set off the alarm. Don’t be upset if this happens. Simply return to the Information Services Desk, and the staff there will assist you.

The Question Board is an anonymous question and answer service provided by the Undergraduate Library. Students submit questions, mostly about trivia and general information on paper located at the Question Board or online. New answers are posted weekly on the Question Board and online. The online version is available from a link on the Undergraduate Library’s home page.

Just ahead of the Q-B you are several copy machines. You can either deposit money on your I-Card to pay for photocopying, or you may use change to pay for copies.

To your right you will note shelves that contain older issues of magazines and journals the Undergrad subscribes to. The Undergraduate Library subscribes to hundreds of magazines and journals, ranging from Rolling Stone and Gentleman’s Quarterly to Philosophical Review and New England Journal of Medicine. All periodicals are arranged alphabetically title. This arrangement is used by many other libraries on campus. You may not check out periodicals from the Undergraduate Library, but, as you have just seen, many photocopy machines are located in this area for you to copy any articles or pictures you want to take with you.

Beyond the bound periodicals you will find the beginning of the Undergraduate Library’s circulating book collection. The call numbers start with Q, which means oversized books. The collection goes on to 001 and then continues around the back of the building in the shape of a large horseshoe to 999. (Continue around the library window area and turn and head toward the library entrance.)

The carrels on the north wall are equipped for viewing the library's Media Collection. These stations are available to users on a first-come, first-serve basis.

On the shelves across from the Question Board is the library's circulating Media Collection. Included are a wide variety of materials on videocassette, audiocassette, CD and DVD, including feature films in more than a dozen languages, the complete Shakespeare plays, as well as documentary films about current issues, literature, history, psychology, chemistry, and other subjects.