REFERENCE SERVICES & RESEARCH INSTRUCTION

As access to information expands beyond the Library's walls, the research environment has grown more complex for all users. New resources and databases are added on a regular basis. Faculty are encouraged to schedule tours and Library instruction for their students and may request research services and instruction as outlined below.

Reference & Research Sources & Services

• Electronic access to over 115 online full-text and citation databases
• Electronic access to over 41,000 online books and 8000+ scores/sheet music
• Traditional paper indexes and printed reference works
• Research assistance, including DIALOG searches
• Librarians at Reference Desk 71 hours/week, including evenings and weekends
• Phone requests, x4160
• Ask-A-Librarian email assistance, from the library's web page, to submit questions online

• Information Literacy Program, covering several academic levels
• Tours, orientation sessions
• Assignment-based library instruction for students
• Individual and group instruction sessions for faculty and students
• Bibliographies and instructional handouts tailored for specific class assignments
• Laptops and an Instruction Room with PCs for hands-on learning environments

BORROWING MATERIALS

Faculty and staff may borrow books for a period of one semester. In December, the Public Services Librarian will send out a list of borrowed items, with a request to either return or renew the items. Loan renewals for an additional semester may be made by contacting Circulation staff at x4022 or x4459. Books may also be renewed in iLink (see Electronic Access to Information below) using the “My Account” function. In May, another list of borrowed items will be sent out. We ask that all materials be returned to the Library at the end of the spring semester for the annual summer inventory.

NOTE: Generally, periodicals and newspapers do not circulate; for limited loan of these items, please consult a librarian.

CONSORTIA MEMBERSHIPS

The Blough-Weis Library belongs to three library consortia:

• Associated College Libraries of Central Pennsylvania (ACLCP) http://www2.aclcp.org/
• Susquehanna Library Consortium (SLC) http://www.slclibrary.org
• Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. (PALCI) http://www.palci.org

By virtue of membership, all participating members extend reciprocal borrowing privileges to libraries (via Interlibrary Loan), and many libraries extend borrowing privileges to individuals as well. Faculty should check with the Reference librarian for specific borrowing information at any given library, since borrowing privileges vary among libraries.