Off The Shelf

Welcome to the Spring Quarter! It is that time of the quarter when we get lots of calls on course readings and textbooks. Here are a few of our Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: I am a new learner, how do I get to the course readings in the Library?

A: Required course readings should be linked both in each Unit and in the Syllabus> Course Materials page. For more information, see our Finding Your Course Readings Guide.

Q: “I ordered my textbooks but they haven’t arrived yet. Are the textbooks somewhere in the Library?”

A: The textbooks are not available from the Library (we check to make sure so you don’t have to buy something that is available). Instead search Worldcat.org to see if a local library has the book you need. After checking the Library’s usage policies you can travel to the library and read or photocopy the reading.

Q: “One of links to a reading in the Library is broken. How can I get the article?”

A: Call or email the Library to let us know which course you are in and which reading is broken. We will work from our end to get it updated. In the meantime, to get your reading you can use the Journal Locator:

1. Search by the journal title (i.e. Harvard Business Review, Journal of Psychology, etc.).
2. Click on the database name (i.e. Business Source Complete, etc.) which has the year of the citation (check the Syllabus>Course Reading to get full citation).
3. Use the year, volume, issue and pages to find the reading. You can also “search within that publication” for the first couple words of the title.

Q:”How can I get the Optional Books and Optional Articles?”

A: If it is a book:

1. Search our ebook databases (ebrary, NetLibrary and PsycBOOKs) on Databases A-Z to see if we have the full text.
2. If we do not have the full text, search Worldcat.org to see if a local library has it (check that library’s usage policies) and travel to it. Another option is to use our Interlibrary Loan service (Note: Limit of 25 items per quarter).

If it is an article:

1. Search Journal Locator by the journal title to see if we have the full text. Double check the range of years available. Click the databases name. Browse to find the full text using the year, volume, issue and pages.
2. If the full text is not available, you may use our Interlibrary Loan service (Note: Limit of 25 items per quarter).

Got Questions? Ask a Librarian.

-KateP