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!
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.
Save time! Learn EndNote! April 9, 2008
Posted by Emily in : Cool tools, Duke researchers, Research Help, Tips for students , add a commentJump start your research and writing by using EndNote, a reference management tool that is sure to save you time and frustration. Duke faculty, students and staff may download EndNote to personal or work computers, free of charge.
Perkins Library is offering four free EndNote sessions:
- Wed, Apr 9 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM in Lilly Library Training Room (EndNote Advanced–Scieces/Social Sciences)
- Mon, Apr 14 from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM in Lilly Library Training Room (Introduction to EndNote)
- Tue, Apr 15 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM in Bostock Library, Room 023 (EndNote Advanced)
- Thu, Apr 17 from 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM in Bostock Library, Room 023 (Introduction to EndNote)
Interested? Register today — space is limited!
Watch Your Laptop March 18, 2008
Posted by Phoebe in : Life in the library, Tips for students , add a commentYesterday there were two laptop thefts reported in Perkins-Bostock in the course of the morning. The police officer who responded walked around the building and noted that he could have taken three more laptops that he saw unattended. Please do not leave your laptop alone, even if you just plan to run to the Perk or to the stacks for 2 minutes!
Laptop thefts are a financial blow to students, but they often cause academic harm as well. Many students do not regularly back up their files, so the loss of a laptop can mean the loss of projects and papers you haven’t turned in yet.
Sometimes it feels like we’ve seen it all at the Reference Desk (there was the squirrel living in a trash can on Perkins 4 one spring), but we never get used to the heartbreak of seeing students who have lost significant work. I’d estimate that laptop theft is the number 2 cause of loss of student work; the number one cause we see is saving to the desktop of a public computer, then getting logged out (which wipes the desktop of all files). Take the time to back up your files, and keep your belongings with you. It’s worth it.
