What happens when an item is overdue? April 30, 2008
Posted by Kathi in : Question of the Week, Tips for students , 2commentsBefore heading home for the summer, you may want to check whether you have any books out on loan… and when they’re due. Here’s how to find out:
- Click on “My Account” on the library homepage searchbox
- Enter your Net ID/password
- The number next to “Loans” will indicate the number of items you have out. Click on the link for the full details.
Once an item is overdue, you should receive an email. Charges can vary depending on the type of material (book, laptop, video) and the lending library. Here are some quick links:
What if the article I need isn’t full-text online? April 22, 2008
Posted by Kathi in : Catalog Tip, Question of the Week, Tips for students , add a commentUnfortunately, not all databases or online searches will lead to full-text articles, but there is always a chance that we have a print copy of the journal. In order to check whether the library has copies of the journal, check the online catalog:
- You can either search by “Journal title keywords” or “Title begins with…” from the library homepage search box
- Be sure to type the name of the journal in the search box (not the article title)
We also maintain a handy guide of helpful tips and instructions for finding journals. If you’ve ever been confused about journal abbreviations or how to find journals on your topic - it’s a great place to look!
CIT Showcase Features Research Tips & Tools April 21, 2008
Posted by Phoebe in : Cool tools , add a commentThis year’s annual Instructional Technology Showcase, on April 24 in the Bryan Center, features a number of presentations about using technology tools in teaching. Come hear about:
Duke Digital Initiative 2008-2009
Tips and Tricks for Incorporating Web 2.0 in Your Class
Duke’s New Teaching and Learning Spaces
Second Life in Undergraduate Education at Duke
New Tools for Library Research and Teaching
Google Earth for Teaching and Learning
Of special interest to readers of the Library Hacks blog will be the 10:20 am program on New Tools for Library Research and Teaching, facilitated by Tom Crichlow. We’ll be highlighting some of the tools on the library’s Research Tools page, with tips on how to make them work for your needs, and will be fielding audience questions.
Register, see these tools in action, and meet some of the people behind their use at Duke!
It’s National Library Week! April 15, 2008
Posted by Phoebe in : Librarians, Life in the library , add a commentThis short & funny video was produced by the American Library Association. Don’t let it give you any funny ideas about questions to bring to the Reference Desk…
(But if it does inspire you to appreciate your librarian this week, go for it!)
What should I do if the book isn’t on the shelf? April 14, 2008
Posted by Kathi in : Question of the Week, Tips for students , add a commentYes… I guess it’s happened to all of us. You make a trip all the way to the library, and then realize that the book you want is nowhere to be found.
Before leaving in frustration, try one of these steps:
- Look around the surrounding shelves a bit. It’s possible that the book was inadvertently misplaced. Nearby copy machines and tables are also possible spots to quickly look.
- Check the catalog record again, and make sure that both the call number and location are correct. Bound journals, for example, are not shelved with the other books, and you might be looking in the wrong area (maybe even the wrong library). Here’s a quick glance at our book location chart.
- When double-checking the catalog record, make sure that the book hasn’t already been checked out. Take a look at the “Library (Owned/Out)” column in the catalog record. The first number indicates how many copies the library owns, and the second number will let you know how many are checked out. If all the books are available, the second number should read “0″.
- Is the book still missing? Try checking the re-shelving area in Perkins. Before going back to the shelves, the books are organized in a room behind the circulation area - Level A. Follow the pathway with the library lockers, e-print stations and copy machines. The re-shelving area is the first door on the left.
- Finally, you can request a search for the book. Submit this missing book form electronically, and library staff will try to locate the book for you. This request form includes both Perkins and Lilly (plus a few other branch libraries). You would be contacted by email regarding the status of the book. If the book is found, it will be held for you. Otherwise, an inter-library loan might be suggested.
Additional information about the shelf maintenance at Perkins Library can be found here.
