Archives for September 2011

or

Interlibrary loan: why so blue?

 

As the semester begins in earnest, your research needs will become more sophisticated, your projects may well require resources that Fintel Library does not own (shocking we know, but even we can’t own everything). But, never fear, ILL is here. We pronounce it eye-el-el for what that’s worth.

So, how does ILL work?

1. The researcher, that’s you, finds a book, article, or other resource that is pertinent to his or her research project.
2. Fintel Library does not own it. You will know we don’t own it when the “request through interlibrary loan” button appears on the citation.

3. The request button will take you to the ILLiad login-screen. If you already have an ILLiad account, this is where you will enter your credentials. If you don’t have credentials, you’re going to have to get some. Here’s how:

4. The next screen is a little confusing, because the button you need to click is way down at the bottom of the screen, and you have to scroll down to find it.

5. Next we’re going to ask you to fill out a form and select a user name and password. This is YOUR account. It is up to you to keep up with your log-in credentials. Neither the library nor Information Technology have a record of this information.

6. Once you have created your account, the citation information from the item you requested will appear both to you and to our Interlibrary Loan department. You don’t have to fill in the form yourself.

7. Click the “Submit Request button at the bottom of the screen, and a few days later, our ILL department will send you an e-mail letting you know your article has arrived in the library and you can come and pick it up.

Hi. Have we met? It’s just that I’ve seen you on campus, probably in the library, and I’m fairly certain that we’ve met before… oh! we’ve met in a library instruction session, haven’t we? Yes, that was me! You came to the library and I talked and talked about different databases you could use for your research and I even gave you a handout… oh, you’ve lost the handout? And it might be helpful for a class you have this semester? Well, you’re in luck, as the library now has LibGuides, which is a better way to use research guides than the old paper handout.

LibGuides can be created by librarians or your professors to assist you with research information. They are web-based, and are located on the Library’s website under the link Resources by Subject. Some LibGuides are on subjects, such as a Business Research Guide, while other LibGuides are very specific, such as an INQ110 Research Guide for Professor Brogan’s class. Other LibGuides are not on classes at all, such as the Citation Guide and a New Books list. But all LibGuides, regardless of class specific or library specific, can be found on our web page. Be sure to let us know what you think of our LibGuides by contacting the specific librarian associated with the LibGuide you are using, or just send an email here.