5 Free Things at the Tech Library

The new fall semester has begun, and for many of you, this will be the most expensive four years of your life. To alleviate the wallet stress, the Library is here to help stretch your dollar and expand your mind with five free things you can borrow from the Ross Pendergraft Library.

1. Gen. Ed. Textbooks

Through a pilot program launched last year, the Library been obtaining copies of textbooks required for the General Education classes offered at Tech.  Currently, any student can borrow a general education textbook for up to two hours of in-library use.  To see if we your required book, search our online database under Course Reserves:

Screenshot of browsing the word Textbooks in our online database to find all course reserve textbooks

To see ALL the textbooks in the program, search for the word “Textbooks.”  You can also ask the friendly faces at the Circulation Desk for help.

2. Calculators

Need a TI-30X for an upcoming test?  Borrow one for 24 hours at the Library.  Not only do we have the TI-30X, we also have TI-83’s, TI-84’s, and other graphing calculators which have inexplicably not gotten cheaper in twenty years.

Images of three calculators including a TI-30XS, a TI-84 Plus, and a TI-84 Plus CE all available to check out at the library

Stop by the Circulation Desk for help with all your calculating needs.

3. Games (NEW!)

A new collection has been added to the Ross Pendergraft Library over the summer: Games!  Table-top, board, role-playing, strategy, and old-fashioned family fun games.  The Games section is located around the corner from the Young Adult Fiction collection, on the north side of the library’s first floor.

Shelf of games

You can check them out as you would a book at the Circulation Desk.  To browse them all, search our online catalog for “Games” in Location “Games”.

4. Space

You can reserve some space.  Not outer space, but meeting space within Tech Library.  To reserve a room, go to our homepage, and find the giant button at the bottom of our website called “Reserve a Study Room.”

Reserve a Study Room

Select up to two green boxes for a 2 hour stay, per day, per person.  You can reserve a small study space, a larger room for up to 4 for group meetings, or the Tegrity Room for audio recordings or exams.

Schedule indicating study rooms to reserve and which are full.

5. Help

You can also, at any time, borrow help from any one of the kind, helpful, and super-awesome library staff of experts who are available at the Reference Desk, Circulation Desk, 2nd Floor Help Desk, and wandering the stacks like information roombas.

I swear to you it is a cat, dressed as a shark, on a roomba chasing a small duckling.

We just want to help you find books, stop running away!

We can help you find quality research resources, provide citation guidance, suggest good research topics, locate full-text articles, or show you how to print your assignment from your phone.  We are also a text, email, phone call, DM, PM, or online chat away:

Best wishes for Fall 2019!

Frosh News

Are you new to campus?  Are you just new to the library?  At the RPL, we believe in fast, accurate, and reliable information, so here’s a quick rundown of all the top 5 facts you need to be successful that first day on campus.

1. Find computers, even late at night.

The Library holds the largest general computer lab on campus 119 computers, and the only computer lab open late at night.  As long as the library is open, our computer labs are open.   Each machine has all the software you need to succeed, including Minesweeper.

Hours of the library include Monday - Thursday, 7 A.M. to 1 A.M., Fridays from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M., Saturday 10 A.M. to 8 P.M., and Sunday from 1 P.M. until 1 A.M.

2. Find printers, scanners, copiers, and yes, even a fax machine.

You can find printers on all floors in the library, including color printers.  Printing is done on ‘release stations” where you login with your TechID or pass your TechID near the scanner.

Just print your document to the “Universal Print Queue” printer and release at any of the stations scattered throughout the library.  Black and white copies are $0.10 a page, but if you release the job at a color printer, that’s $0.30.  Every Tech Student Starts with a $20 balance every semester.  If you run out of money, just add more (cash only) to your TechID using the PHIL station on the first floor.

map of the first floor of the library

We also have traditional copy machines for making copies at $.10 a page.  Or save money by scanning for free!  The library has recently purchased a KIC scanner on the first floor where scanning documents and books is as easy as the press of the SCAN button.

picture of our new awesome scanner. Press a button to scan documents

If you need to fax materials (ancient technology still used by doctors, scholarship offices, and utility companies), we have a publicly available fax machine located on the first floor, near the Reference Desk.

Read more about our policies here:  http://libguides.atu.edu/services/students

3. Find (Some) Textbooks, Calculators, Headphones….for Free!

If you are enrolled in a Gen Ed course this semester and you don’t have the textbook, check our online course reserves and search for “Textbooks”.

A screenshot of our course reserves catalog showing results for keyword "textbooks"

Remember, we do NOT have ALL Textbooks!  We have a limited collection of textbooks for General Education courses ONLY.  You can also search by course name, title, or ISBN.  If your professor has specifically added a book to their course, it might be here, too—just try searching for their name.

Textbooks are available for a limited 2 hour check-out, and you cannot remove them from the building.  But if you need to get some reading done before class or photocopy a few pages, these are available to any student with a Tech ID at the Circulation Desk.

We also checkout graphing calculators, headphones, whiteboards, and all other course reserves materials at the Circulation Desk.  It’s as simple as walking up and asking.

4. Find Almost Everything Using Find It

Imagine Amazon.com but for library materials like articles, books, videos, ebooks, calculators, headphones, streaming videos, and more—all for free to you, the Tech student.  That’s Find It—the library’s search engine.  Anything we have available to check-out, watch, print, or download, you can find it here.  Try typing in a keyword, and use the facets on the left to limit by type, location, online, or more.  Get started by going to http://findit.atu.edu

Screenshot of Find it search box with keyword Game of Thrones5. Find Help with Librarians

Probably the best-kept secret in campus support, we are trained professionals whose main job duty is to help you succeed by finding accurate, reliable, and authoritative information.   No question is too small or too large.  We want to help, and we do it better than Google.

screenshot a google text autocomplete which says, "Librarians are the ..." which completes to Librarians are there, Librarians are the secret masters of the universe, librarians are the ultimate knowledge managers, librarians are the new black, librarians are the original search engine

Contact us by the following methods:

Find us so you can find everything else.

Back to School

Welcome home and welcome back!  The Library is open and ready for new and returning students & faculty.  Over the summer, we’ve really bulked up with new services, new hours, and new databases designed to help everyone keep calm and carry on through the academic life of Tech.  Here’s the top five things you should know about Tech’s most popular destination for studying, printing, and researching.

We’re Open Late…Really Late

The Library is the best and ONLY place on campus open for studying, printing, and meeting after midnight at Tech.  From Sunday through Thursday, we remain open until 1:00 AM and continue to offer excellent and slightly over-caffeinated service long after other offices and buildings close.

In addition, the Library will now offer extended hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Beginning Friday, August 25th, the library will remain open until 8:00 P.M. on Fridays and Saturdays during the regular fall semester.  Additionally, we will open early on Sunday’s at 1:00 PM beginning Sunday, August 27th.

hours for the library in a chart.

Check our website for full schedules, special hours during holidays, and our upcoming 24-hour schedule at finals.  Feel free to bring in a coffee (with a lid) and burn the midnight oil with us.

We Got the Prints

We know many students at Tech only come to the library for the printers.  And that’s ok!  But if you are new, the act of printing can be a little confusing.  Here’s a step-by-step introduction on how to print:

  1. Login to a computer in the General Lab.
  2. Press Ctrl + P or find a Printer Icon to print your academic paper, course schedule, or cute cat pics.
  3. Choose “Dell Universal Print Queue” as your printer and select “Print”
  4. Get up and look for the printer stations. These are separate computers next to a large laser printer.
  5. Login with your Tech Username/Password or simply swipe your ID at the station.  You should see your document ready to print.  You’ll also see the balance on your account and the cost of the job.
  6. If everything looks right, press print.

Prints costs $0.10 a page in black and white, but we also have a color printer that eats up $0.30 a page.  Every student starts with $20 on their account each semester.  But if you run out of money on your account, you can always top it off with cash at the PHIL station, next to Circulation Desk.

If something goes wrong or you can’t find the right printer, friendly staff are standing by on all floors to help with this very thing.

You Can Get a Room

image of bookit chart with red squares indicating booked rooms and green squares indicating free rooms

The Library offers study rooms, multimedia-use rooms, and even an audio lab to record songs, mix music, or narrate video.  Reserve space using our online reservation system, Book It.   The Library has 5 study rooms that can be reserved by any Tech faculty, staff, or student on a first come, first serve basis.

If you need to make a Tegrity recording, reserve one of our Multimedia rooms.  These all-purpose rooms allow you to record yourself taking an exam for instructors, create video or audio presentations, or use interactive software such as Read & Write Gold or Pronunciator.

screenshot of how to book a tegrity room from the Book It dropdown.

If you need to make a podcast or lay down some sick beats, you might want to book some time in our new Audio Lab.  Open to all students, faculty, and staff, the audio lab contains sophisticated software and hardware designed to create professional recordings.   Professional staff are standing by to help you learn the software and make something amazing.

a picture of a woman's hands manipulating a Mini mixing board

We’re All About That (Data)base

Need research?  We have all that in one easy-to-use search:

Screenshot of our find it search engine. There's a blank to search articles, books, and moreSearch and find scholarly articles, books, DVDs, streaming video, or calculators using our search engine for all things Tech Library.  Not sure how to find something in Find It?  See this handy guide for getting the most out of your searches: http://libguides.atu.edu/FindIt

If you need something more specialized, see our list of A-to-Z databases, containing over 200 topical databases for every subject or format need.

We’re Better Than Google

google search result indicating that librarians are the secret masters of the universe.

A search engine will never replace the listening, knowledgeable, and compassionate humans at the Library (at least…not yet).  We have dedicated, friendly staff poised to drop anything to help you succeed.  We thrive on questions, and chase after answers like the professional information hunters that we are.  When you are in need of an answer and don’t know who to call, call us: (855) 761-0006.  We may not always know the answer, but we know the right place to find it.  You can also ask us a question via Ask-A-Librarian or text us at (479) 802-4876.

So come by this semester, either online or in-person, and let us help you find the answers, book a study room, or print your cat pictures.  In the meantime, welcome (back) to Tech and good luck!

 

Legends of RPL

June at the Ross Pendergraft Library saw the departure of two beloved members of our family: Beverly Cooper and Delores Pollard.

Beverly has been our Public Services Assistant since 2010.  She graduated from Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching and a Master of Education in Elementary Education and Teaching.  She worked for Oakland Heights Elementary, Crawford Elementary, and Center Valley Elementary until her retirement in 2005.

For many students frustrated and frazzled by the mysteries of library databases and research assignments, she was a hero who gently guided them through the myriad of resources here at the Library.  Beverly’s smile was usually the first thing people saw every morning at the Ross Pendergraft Library, waiting to help the lost and comfort the confused.  She also took the time to fill our display cases with new and interesting collections and she made sure the new books were out front and center as soon as they arrived.

We will deeply miss her and wish her well as starts a new chapter in North Carolina.

Chareen, Beverly, and Sherry–the Public Services dream team

Another legend, Delores Pollard, officially retired on June 30th after a whopping 37 years as a full-time Serials Librarian Assistant.

Delores with her family and friends

She graduated from Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and started out in the library at a student worker back in 1975, when the library was in Tomlinson and grown men thought it was ok to wear sideburns, wide ties, and plaid pants.

Delores Pollard from 1979 Tech yearbook, the Agricola

Delores saw the transition of the library through waves of new technology—from card catalog cards to completely online collections and databases.  She faithfully drove from her home in Waldron, Arkansas, all the way to Tech every morning to help the library obtain, organize, bind, subscribe, and wrangle the library’s periodical collection.  Just about every newspaper, journal, ATU thesis, and microfilm roll since 1980 in this building has had her hands on it.

 

Cake decorated as a shelflist

Arkansas Tech University and the Library salutes Delores and Beverly on their new adventures.  Don’t you forget about us!

Judd Nelson and the classic scene from the Breakfast Club wherein he fist pumps the air

Google Scholar and You

If you are a student at Arkansas Tech University, you may have experimented with Google Scholar.  Maybe you heard about it from your friends or tried it once at a party.  Maybe you saw results for “scholarly articles” within a regular Google result and decided to click on it, just to see what it was like.

screen shot of google scholar results

This gateway drug of academic resources can appear like harmless fun—a way to quickly find scholarly journal articles in the same way you can find chicken tikka masala recipes and advice for disobedient cats.  But you may not be aware of the pro’s and con’s of this addictive source of scholarly research.  Let the Ross Pendergraft library help you get your facts straight about Google Scholar.

skillet full of academic research journals

PRO’S

  1. Size: The exact number and sources for Google Scholar indexing is unknown, but one study concluded that it indexes over 160 million documents 1.  This makes it one of the largest academic databases around.  Another study estimated that Google Scholar covers about 87% of all scholarly documents accessible on the web in English 2.  For most academic resource searching, Google Scholar can make a quick, one-stop research trip.
  2. Ease of Use: If you are unsure where to go to find scholarly articles, then Google Scholar makes a lot of sense. It covers multiple disciplines such as science, literature, nursing, behavioral sciences, and more. Finding Google Scholar is as simple as Googling it.  Searching is free and includes no login restrictions.   One search box makes the interface simple to use.  Advanced search, if needed, is also simple.  Just click on the arrow in the search box, and another window allows you to search by author, words in the title, and date-ranges.
  3. another view of advanced google scholar advanced google scholarConnects to ATU Library: Google Scholar enables you to select a ‘home’ library to connect resources you find in Google Scholar with full-text access through the Ross Pendergraft Library. In Google Scholar, open Settings, and click on Library Links. In the search box, type in “ATU” or “Ross Pendergraft Library” or “Tech”.  Click the checkbox and save:

Screenshot showing library links in the google Scholar settings

If the articles within your search results are available in full-text at the Ross Pendergraft Library, you will see a link on the right for “Find it At Tech”.

screenshot showing how to connect google scholar to tech resources

CON’S

  1. No “Peer-Reviewed” Button: Most of the databases you find through the library (such as Find It, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO, ERIC, etc.) include the ability to narrow results by peer-reviewed articles.  This is important to help you drill down to original research that meets the highest of academic standards.  While much of Google Scholar contains peer reviewed articles, a lot of it can be conference proceedings, unpublished scholarly articles, master’s theses, legal summaries, blog posts, and book citations.  So how do you separate the peer-reviewed articles from non-peer-reviewed articles?  There’s no really easy way, unless you are familiar with the publications.  You can also copy and paste the article title in our Find It database, then filter by the Peer-Review buttons there.  But if you have to go through all that, why not just start from Find It in the first place?
  2. screenshot of "peer-review' selection in Find ItNot Everything You Find is Free: While Google Scholar can index a lot of content, much of it is only available via the publisher for purchase. The title links (left-side) will lead you to the publisher website while the links on the right, if available, will lead you to the free PDF available at open-access sites like Research Gate or through the library’s site through “Find it at Tech”.  If you click on the title-level links, the publisher’s website will offer a PDF download for a price, probably between $30-$35.  NEVER PAY!  If you are a student at Arkansas Tech and the article is not available for immediate download in our Find It database, use the Interlibrary Loan service to quickly obtain the article from another library.  No purchase necessary.
  3. Limited Advanced Searching and Inaccuracy: Sure, you can search by words in author and words in the title, but you cannot search or limit results by more sophisticated means like subject searching.  You also can’t limit results to available full-text. The databases in the library, however, offer a variety of tools to help narrow down or make your searches more efficient and precise.  Library databases have indexing done by professional human beings who can assign controlled subject terms and provide quality control.  Google Scholar uses web crawlers to extract data from the publisher websites, and sometimes this data is either incorrect, attributed to the wrong author, or completely false.

Ultimately, Google Scholar can be useful as a source of scholarly information, but it does have its drawbacks.  The resources available at the library website like Find It can be your best bet for accessing full-text, peer-reviewed resources available to you as a tuition-paying student.

Craving more information about Google Scholar and scholarly articles?  Contact your research dealers and knowledge pushers at askalibrarian@atu.edu.  Ask your librarian if Google Scholar is right for you.

 

1Orduña-Malea, E.; Ayllón, J.M.; Martín-Martín, A.; Delgado López-Cózar, E. (2014). About the size of Google Scholar: Playing the numbers. EC3 Working Papers, 18(23). Retrieved from: https://arxiv.org/abs/1407.6239

2Khabsa, M., Giles, C.L. (2014). The number of scholarly documents on the public web. PLOS ONE, 9(5), 1-6. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093949

 

 

 

8 Library Facts

If you are new to campus, it’s quite possible you haven’t had the chance to visit the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center.  Here are 8 library facts you should know to help you make the most of the collections and services we offer at the Library.

1. We have all the things

Looking for books?  Sure, we’ve got books.  But did you also know we check out graphing calculators?  DVDs?  Audiobooks?  Headphones?  CDs?  Scanners?  Yes, we have all of those, too.  Search our catalog to find all of this and more.  If you just need a quiet place to study, print your paper, or book a study room, we offer that, too.All the things

2. Get started with Libguides

There are so many resource at the Library, it can be overwhelming to find the right resource for your topic.  Where do you start?  LibGuides can give you direction for finding books, articles, and search strategies for whatever assignment is thrown at you.  Compiled by librarians, each guide is tailored for a specific subject, and in some cases, a specific course.

libguides

 3. Learn anything with online tutorials

Whether you want to brush up on your Spanish or learn Microsoft Excel, the Library can help you further your education from the comfort of your own dorm room.

  • Mango Languages feature online tutorials for learning 63 languages, including Japanese, English as a second language, and Pirate.
  • If you are more interested in learning software, create an account with the Virtual Training Center (VTC).  As a student (or faculty/staff), you have free access to over 98,000 video tutorials on programming, databases, web design, or basic computer courses through the VTC.
  • For help using library resources, check out our own Library Tutorials page, featuring videos on using Dewey Decimal, online library resources, interlibrary loan, and other services.
Keanu Reeve's face

(Kung Fu tutorials not yet available)

4. Credo Reference is your new best friend

Think of Wikipedia.  Now imagine if it was a reputable, scholarly resource which could connect you to articles, books, and other academic resources about your specific topic.  That’s Credo Reference.  Comprised of hundreds of encyclopedias and dictionaries, it can mean one-stop shopping for many research assignments.  We love it so much, we put it on our homepage.

credo

5. We give away fabulous prizes on social media

Last year, we gave away books, buttons, and even a Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.   We also gave away free information about our hours, events, and new additions to the library.  Like us & follow us.  We might even be giving away something right now…

6. We’re constantly acquiring new stuff

The Library continues to add new books, DVDs, and other materials as the semester progresses.  You can keep up new items by clicking the Open Your Mind logo on the top right corner of our homepage.  That will take you to a list of recently purchased books, movies, and music.

If you are in the library and would like to browse just the new books, we also have a new books section in the lobby, near the south entrance.

openyourmind

7. Can’t find it?  Library A-Z it

We have a new way to navigate every library resource we offer—the Library A-Z page.    The Library A-Z list provides direct links to library maps, electronic tools, policies, collections, contact information, and anything else that we can provide through our website.

LibraryAZ

8. Home of the ultimate know-it-alls

Despite their godlike powers, the librarians at RPL are highly approachable, friendly, and helpful.  No question is too mundane or too complex for them to lend their expertise and attention.  Give them a call (toll-free) at 855-761-0006 or email them at askalibrarian@atu.edu.  Drop by the Reference Desk for on the spot questions.  Remember, you cannot yet contact them through intense mental concentration, but keep checking our website for additional services we may provide in the future.

Librarians

 

Signing Day

Ross Pendergraft Library is now recruiting students, faculty, and staff to stand up for libraries by signing the Declaration for the Rights of Libraries.  Stop by the Reference Desk to add your name to the growing list of library supporters from around the world, affirming the right to free, democratic access to information.

WP_002558 (2)

 

The initiative, created by the American Library Association, aims to capture the importance of libraries of all types into one document which can be distributed and signed by individuals all over the country. It’s a small way to send a big message, that:

  • Libraries Empower the Individual
  • Libraries Support Literacy and Lifelong Learning
  • Libraries Strengthen Families
  • Libraries Build Communities
  • Libraries Protect our Right to Know
  • Libraries are the Great Equalizer
  • Libraries Strengthen our Nation
  • Libraries Advance Research and Scholarship
  • Libraries Help Us to Better Understand Each Other
  • Libraries Preserve Our Nation’s Cultural Heritage

Why is this important?  When times are tight, libraries make an easy target for school districts, cities, and governments to save a little money.  And it is often easier to cut libraries and library funding when ordinary people do not speak up for their immeasurable worth to this country’s literacy, education, and democracy.

Swing by the Reference Desk to add your John Hancock to the roster of names promoting the value of libraries, or sign virtually here.  Help us increase public and media awareness about the critical role of libraries in our community and country one signature at a time.  Feel free to use your fancy glitter pen–we won’t mind.

 

Top Ten of 2013

Tis’ the season for top ten lists!  Bookstores have best seller lists; libraries have best circulating lists.  Here’s a look at what Arkansas Tech has been reading, watching, and listening to during the year 2013.

Top ten most checked-out books from the Popular Reading collection:

  1. World War Z : an oral history of the zombie war / by Max Brooks.
  2. Cinder / written by Marissa Meyer.
  3. Crown of embers / by Rae Carson
  4. Game of thrones / George R.R. Martin.
  5. Giver / Lois Lowry.
  6. Incarceron / Catherine Fisher.
  7. Scorpio Races / Maggie Stiefvater.
  8. Girl of fire and thorns / Rae Carson.
  9. History of the world according to Facebook / Wylie Overstreet.
  10. Why we broke up / novel by Daniel Handler

Top ten most checked-out audiobooks:

  1. Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone / J.K. Rowling.
  2. Hobbit / by J.R.R. Tolkien.
  3. Game of thrones  / George R.R. Martin.
  4. Feast for crows / George R.R. Martin.
  5. Storm front / Jim Butcher.
  6. Telegraph Avenue : a novel / Michael Chabon.
  7. Bayou trilogy / by Daniel Woodrell.
  8. James Herriot collection / by James Herriot.
  9. Singularity is near : when humans transcend biology / Ray Kurzweil.
  10. Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets / J.K. Rowling.

Top ten most checked-out movies:

  1. Curious case of Benjamin Button
  2. Silver linings playbook
  3. Avatar
  4. Life of Pi
  5. Insidious
  6. Thor
  7. Game of thrones. The complete second season
  8. Skyfall
  9. Walking dead. The complete first season
  10. Spirited away

And the number one most checked-out item in the whole library is….circulation headphones!

Want something from these lists that is checked out?  You can always place a hold request on the item so that when it returns, you will be the first to know.  Just find the item in the online catalog, and pick “Place a Hold or Recall” action from the top left of your screen.

Place a hold

For questions about placing holds, checking out items, or searching the online catalog, contact your ever popular librarians: askalibrarian@atu.edu.  Happy new year!

List of Databases?

Databases: they come in different shapes and sizes. Some provide full-text, and some have only abstracts.  Some are interdisciplinary and cover a little bit of everything; some are focused on one particular subject.

If you’ve ever used our main “Article” search box on the homepage, you have sampled one of our most interdisciplinary databases–Academic Search Complete.

Article search page

It covers a little bit of everything, includes peer-reviewed articles, and makes a great launching point for undergraduate research.  Maybe you’ve tried it, and found a few resources you could use.

But what if you need more?  What if you couldn’t find…anything?

Morpheus

If at first you don’t succeed, try another database.  We subscribe to over 150, in fact, and they can all be accessed from our homepage, under Research, in Tech Databases.

The list is organized in alphabetical order and includes a description of each database beside the name.  Under the Access column, you’ll find that most of the databases are Tech-only, meaning you must be a student, faculty, or staff to access the content.  If you live off-campus, you’ll be prompted to login using your Tech ID and password before using the database.  On-campus, however, you will have seamless access, though some databases can only be used on-campus.

How do you know what databases are right for you?  If your research is focused on a particular subject, like music or psychology, click the subject terms to the left of the list.  You will then see a much shorter list of databases you might want to use for a more subject-focused set of results.

Problems?  More questions?  Contact your friendly neighborhood librarian: askalibrarian@atu.edu 

You can also contact us via phone or in person, anytime the library is open.

Happy searching!

Survey says…

Last month, over 500 Tech Library users participated in the annual spring Library survey and provided important feedback to help improve library services and collections.  Several of you provided comments or asked specific questions about some of the library’s services.  Since you took the time to share your thoughts, we would like to take the time to answer some of the questions and share our plans to improve in the areas which are in our control, and identify areas not in our control.  Below were some of the most commonly asked questions.

Searching/Tutorials

Q. I have a difficult time finding library resources and using the databases is very confusing. Do you have any ‘how to’ guides for finding resources or ways to make searching for information easier?

A. The Library has access to several databases, journals, books, and other materials –so many, in fact, that it can be very difficult to know where to begin searching. Here are some of the resources we have to assist students and faculty on how to use the Library:

1. Video Tutorials: The Library website actually has an entire page devoted to tutorials for most of our commonly used databases.  Here is how to get there:  library.atu.edu > Help > Database Tutorials.  Many of these tutorials are YouTube videos with step-by-step instructions.  We also have library tutorials on how to use the Dewey Decimal system, the Library Catalog, and Interlibrary Loan Services.  These are all located at library.atu.edu > Help > Library Tutorials.  We plan to add two new videos: “Intro to the Tech Library Online Resources” and “Search Efficiently the Online Catalog with Subjects” for the fall 2013 semester.

2. Instruction: The Library also provides personal and group instruction throughout the year, at the library or in a classroom elsewhere on campus.  Students can schedule one-on-one instruction with Sherry Tinerella stinerella@atu.edu, 479-964-0571 or a Library Tour with Beverly Cooper at bcooper8@atu.edu, 479-498-6041.  Faculty can also contact Sherry Tinerella for classroom instruction or library tours.  For more information, view our Information for Faculty page (library.atu.edu > Services > Information for Faculty). We are also implementing a new faculty-oriented instructional session before the fall 2013 semester begins, in addition to new subject guides for students.

Website Navigation

Q. It takes a lot of clicks to get around on your website, and I have a very hard time finding anything!  Can you make navigation better?

A. There is a horizontal menu on every Library page, but many links lead outside of the Library site, and thus the navigation becomes different. To ease finding, we are creating a Tech Library sitemap with an alphabetized list of all library services and tools.  Coming soon this fall!

Journals (print and online)

Q. How come the Library does not have more full-text journals and articles?

A. Academic journal prices are very expensive.  We evaluate our journal subscriptions yearly and base our selection on factors like field specialization, feedback from faculty, cost, budget constraints, electronic availability, and usage. A balance of cost of subscription per number of uses is a strong indicator as to whether we keep or cancel journal subscriptions.  In other words—use it or lose it.

If you cannot find a particular article or journal title, Interlibrary Loan services can, in most cases, assist you in acquiring the article.  Copyright and other agreements may restrict usage, so we may not be able to satisfy all article requests.

Students are also encouraged to suggest journals titles by emailing us at askalibrarian@atu.edu or by using our online suggestion form located on our “Contact Us” page (library.atu.edu > Services >Contact Us).  Faculty members should send their requests directly to their departmental library liaison or department head.

Noise

Q. The Library is too loud, and there are not enough quiet places for me to study.  Can you make the Library a quieter place?

A. While we cannot be everywhere at once, our staff will be more vigilant in enforcing our existing noise policy.  We also have a new service desk on the second floor, next to the Music Lab, to help monitor noise levels during the day.  In addition, we are creating new signage to help remind students of designated quiet zones.  Designated quiet zones are located in the southeast corner of the first floor and the eastern half of the second floor.  If you hear someone being excessively loud, please feel free to notify staff.

Hours

Q. Will you extend the Library hours to 24/7?

A. Over a quarter of all 328 comments suggested extending hours or have 24/7 hours as the most important way to improve one’s Library experience.  However, in order to extend our hours, we need additional funding for the extra Library staff, computer services, and campus security—even for just a short time period like finals.

Temperature

Q. It is too cold in the winter time and too hot in the summer time. Can you make the temperatures more comfortable?

A. Temperature controls are set by campus administration in an effort to save energy.

Food/Drink

Q. Why can’t we have food and drinks in the Library?  What about vending machines or a coffee shop?

A. This is also something set by campus administration policy.  Food and drink can bring additional problems to the Library from insects, stains, and equipment damage.

Study Rooms

Q. Where did our study rooms go?

A. This was another common response, and it is also out of our control.  As Arkansas Tech grows and buildings undergo renovation, available space for displaced offices has become a serious problem throughout the campus.  The study rooms in the Library help alleviate these temporary shortages, and eventually, these study spaces will return as the other buildings are completed.  In the meantime, reserve the remaining study spaces early, and we will do our best to accommodate your group.

Thanks to everyone who took the survey and provided feedback.  For additional comments or collection suggestions, contact us at askalibrarian@atu.edu.  Students also have the opportunity to voice their concerns and questions through their Student Government Association: sga@atu.edu.