Reblogged from: ptully.blogs.wesleyan.edu. (Go to the original post…)
Welcome to Wesleyan University! I’m Pat Tully, University Librarian. Here are a few basic facts about library resources and services. If you have other questions you’d like to see answered on this blog or answered privately, please email me at ptully@wesleyan.edu, or call me at 860-685-3887.
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Q: What libraries make up Wesleyan University Library?
Olin Library is the main campus library, located at 252 Church Street between Clark Hall and the Public Affairs Center (commonly known as the PAC). It houses collections in the arts, humanities and social sciences, the Art Space, Music & the World Music Archives, and Special Collections & Archives. The Reserve Desk/Office and Interlibrary Loan are also in Olin, as is the Office of the University Librarian.
The Science Library (also known as SciLi) is in the Exley Science Center at 265 Church Street. It houses collections in mathematics and the sciences, and materials on reserve for many science courses. It also contains the library’s DVD/video collections and compact storage of print science journals and older materials in all subject areas. Melissa Behney is the Science Librarian.
Q: How do I get to the library’s website?
Go to http://www.wesleyan.edu/library/ The library’s website has links to information on our resources, services, facilities and systems.
Library OneSearch allows you to do a single search to find information in the library’s online catalog, most of our electronic resources, and many scholarly resources on the Web. Want to know more about Library OneSearch? Check out the Library FAQ page.
To search the library catalog using your tablet or smartphone, use this QR code to access our mobile site.
Q: Where can I go for a detailed list of library services?
Go to the Information For Students page for more information.
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Q: How do I find books in the library?
To do a broad search for a variety of sources on a subject, use Library OneSearch.
If you are looking for a particular title search in Caleb, the library’s catalog. In Caleb, you can do a search by title, author, subject, or keyword. Once you’ve found the book you want, write down the location and call number. Once you have a location and call number, you can find the book using the Finding Materials By Call Number page.
To do a Caleb search from your smartphone, go to our mobile catalog.
Q: The library doesn’t have the article or book I need. How do I get it?
First check the CTW Consortium catalog:
The CTW Consortium consists of Connecticut College, Trinity College, and Wesleyan University. The libraries share our collections, and students and faculty can request materials from CTW and usually get them in 1-2 business days. To do a search in the CTW catalog for all three libraries, go to: http://ctwsearch.wesleyan.edu/vufind/ If Connecticut or Trinity has an item and Wesleyan does not, you can request it by clicking on the Make a Request link in the catalog record for the item.
If the item is not available through CTW, request it through Interlibrary Loan (ILL):
To sign up for an ILL account, go to: https://wesleyan.hosts.atlas-sys.com/illiad/FirstTime.html After filling out a brief form you will have an Illiad account and be able to submit online requests for materials that the library does not provide access to locally. You will be notified when the item is available.
Q: How can I request that a book or other resource be added to the library’s collection?
To request that the library acquire an item, fill out the Suggest a Purchase form that is linked to the library web page.
Q: Where can I find information about Wesleyan’s collections of images, video and audio recordings, and statistics/data sets?
For the broadest search across many types of resources, use Library OneSearch. The Find Research Materials page has tips and links to find images, video, audio, archives, and WesScholar, the online archive of the work of Wesleyan faculty and students. Many academic departments have departmental collections some of which are searchable using the Departmental Collections catalog.
For information on finding international statistics and data sets: http://libguides.wesleyan.edu/Worldstats
For information on finding U.S. statistics and data sets: http://libguides.wesleyan.edu/USstats
Q: What kinds of primary sources are available at Wesleyan?
Wesleyan’s Special Collections & Archives includes significant collections of rare books, manuscript collections, university archives, and local history materials. These collections are frequently used by students for assignments and research in a variety of subjects. SC&A’s website describes these holdings in more detail. Director of Special Collections & Archives Suzy Taraba, University Archivist Leith Johnson, and the SC&A staff are happy to answer your questions and work with you. Contact them at sca@wesleyan.edu or call (860) 685-3864.
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Q: How do I find material on reserve for my class?
The library provides both physical and electronic reserves, available shortly before classes start. To find print or other physical materials on reserve for your class, go to the Course Reserve search page. You can search by instructor, course number, or course name. Most reserve items are available at the Reserve Desk on the first floor of Olin; some reserves for science and mathematics courses are on reserve in the Science Library.
To find materials on electronic reserve, go to the E-Res page. Again, you can search by instructor, course number, or course name. Once you have entered the password your instructor gives you, you will come to a list of links to materials on electronic reserve for the course.
Q: How can I find the best sources for my assignments and research?
A great first step is to sign up for a Personal Research Session (PRS for short) with a librarian, who will work with you to find appropriate resources for a specific assignment or project. Online subject and research guides are also available with links to online resources specific to each discipline.
For quick answers to your questions about library resources and services, come to the Olin Library Reference Desk on the first floor for in-person help, call the reference desk at x3873, chat online using Reference Live Help, email or text us: (860) 415-4205.
Q: I can’t get to the library–How can I get access to the library’s electronic resources?
Current students, faculty and staff can get to most of the library’s electronic resources through the Wesleyan proxy server, by entering their Wesleyan email user name and password.
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Q: How can I keep up with library news—changes in hours, improved services, new resources, and library events and exhibits?
WesLibNews is the library’s Twitter feed; we also have a Facebook page and a Library News blog. Check out new library resources on our New Books site. Or you can contact us by calling 860-685-2660 or by sending an email: reference@wesleyan.edu.
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We look forward to working with you. Best wishes for the coming year!