Checking Out & Your Account
How do I get a library card?
Your ULM Library card is your ULM ID card. If you are not affiliated with ULM, go
to our
visitors page here for alternative card options. If you're a ULM student or employee and want to check
out books directly from other university libraries in Louisiana, you can get a LOUIS
Borrowing Card. Print
this application, fill it out, and email it to library@ulm.edu.
Or mail it to this address:
ULM Library Circulation Dept.
University of Louisiana Monroe, University Library
700 University Avenue
Monroe, LA 71209-0720
How many books can I take & for how long?
What are the overdue fees?
Borrowing rights and overdue fees are dependent on account status and what you've
checked out:
Students
Loan period is 28 days (may be shortened because of ID privilege expiration date)
Maximum of 20 items may be checked out
Maximum of 5 renewals per item
May place holds/recalls
Recalls change due date to 7 days; recall notice is emailed
Recalled items not returned result in blocked privileges
Overdue charges:
$ .10/day with maximum of $50/item for general collection item
$ .20/day for recalled item
$ 1.00/hour or portion of hour for 2hr. Reserve item (effective July 1, 2017)
$ 5.00/day for 1, 3 & 7 Day Reserve item
$ 5.00/hour or portion of hour for Study Room keys, chargers, headphones, and webcams
(effective July 1, 2017)
$5.00/day for overdue Interlibrary Loan item
One overdue item will block borrowing privileges
May not renew McNaughton books
ULM Employees:
Loan period is one year from date of check out
Maximum of 100 items may be checked out
Maximum of 1 renewal per item
May place holds/recalls
Recalls change due date to 7 days; recall notice is emailed
Recalled items not returned result in block privileges
No fines for overdue ULM items; charged replacement cost for lost item
Five overdue items will block privileges
Loan period for McNaughton is 28 days
May not renew McNaughton books
LOUIS Borrowing Card users:
Loan period is 28 days (may be shortened because of ID privilege expiration date)
Maximum of 20 items may be checked out
Maximum of 5 renewals per item
May place holds; may not place recalls
Overdue charges:
$.10/day with a maximum of $50/item for general collection item
$.20/day for recalled item
One overdue item results in blocked privileges
Recalled item not returned results in blocked privileges
May not use Interlibrary Loan services
May not check out Reserve items or study room keys
Where do I check out books?
To check materials out, take the items you want to the Circulation Counter along with
your ULM ID card or other qualifying card.
Can Graduate Assistants do library tasks on behalf of faculty?
Yes, GAs can check out materials for faculty members. The professor should send the
student to the circulation desk with the professor's ID, and a letter with his/her
signature which identifies the student who is authorized to check out materials for
the professor. The letter will be kept on file at circulation. The Serials Dept. on
the second floor also has a form to be filled out for GA access to print journals.
This procedure will need to be repeated if/when the professor changes GAs.
GAs may also pick up Interlibrary Loan materials, and can be added as "authorized
users" on the professor's ILL account. To learn how, visit
Interlibrary Loan.
Can I get a list of what I've checked out?
How do I renew items?
To review a list of the materials you have borrowed you may choose "My Account" from
the
ULM Library Catalog search screen, then click on Review My Account. You can use your Campus-wide ID and
month and year of birth in four digits (MMYY) to gain access.
To renew items online you can also use this same account. Click "Renew My Materials."
If you want to renew the items in person you may take them to the Circulation Counter
along with your ULM ID card. You may renew checked-out items only one time online
if your account is not blocked or a hold has not been placed on the item(s).
How do I get my Interlibrary Loan materials?
How do I know when they arrive?
You will be notified by telephone or email when your requested materials are available.
They may be picked up at the Circulation Counter, emailed (if electronic text), or
sent to your mailing address.
How do I get materials placed on reserve?
Reserves are classroom-related books and other materials that professors have placed
on a special limited check-out system to provide students access to required supplementary
materials assigned by faculty. You may request reserve materials at the Circulation/Reserve
counter with your ULM ID card.
If you are a faculty member or instructor and would like something placed on reserve,
fill out this reserves form and bring it to the circulation desk. If you'd like something to be scanned electronically
for you, contact the
ULM Copy Center. The library computer lab also has a scanner you may use. Copyright limits may apply.
How may I use the library if I am a visitor?
Visitors are welcome to use the resources of the Library. You may use our public kiosk
computers, our guest wireless network, and photocopiers. If you'd like to get a library
card to borrow materials, go to our
visitors page here for your card options.
Library Building
How may I get help using the library if I have a disability?
Please make your special need(s) known to the Reference Librarian on duty, and s/he
will be happy to accommodate your need(s). You may:
- Visit the Reference Counter located on the first floor.
- Email reference@ulm.edu or use the Ask a Librarian page here
- Telephone the Reference Department at 318-342-1071
How do I find a room in the library?
The first number in the name of the room is the floor, and after that is the room
number or letter. There is an online map available
Floor Map & Locations here.
Is there a place to study?
Study carrels may be found in various locations on each floor. Floors 4 and 5 are
designated quiet floors. Some group study carrels are in the library and the rooms
may be scheduled at the Circulation Counter by ULM students, faculty, and staff only.
A currently ULM ID card is required to obtain a room key, and minimum of two (2) people
must be present to receive a room key.
Where are computers to access the Internet/type my paper?
The Computer Lab is on the 1st floor. The Info Commons on the 2nd floor also features
a computer lab.
- Only enrolled students may use computer lab, as a student password is required
- Downloading or saving of files is only permitted to removable media / remote locations
- Computers are connected to network printers
- Printouts are free to ULM students (costs covered by STAP fees). There is a weekly
allowance of 300 pages. More information on printing can be found at the Information
Technology's/IT's Printing FAQ
Where are the Photocopiers?
Photocopiers are located at the rear of the first floor (behind the computer lab on
the bayou-facing side) and in Media Services on the second floor. The cost to make
copies is .10 per page. Copy machines accept coins and bills ($1-$5). All change is
returned in coins. The library staff can not provide change.
Where can I find a Fax Machine?
A fax machine for student use has been installed at the Computer Lab Help Desk on
the 1st floor of the library. Instructions for using the machine are posted directly
on the machine. Students using this service should be aware of the privacy issues
involved.
Both FedEx Office and online fax businesses can be used to receive faxes as well.
The process for doing so will vary by provider.
Where can I print?
Only enrolled students may use computer lab laser printers, as a student password
is required. Students have an allowance of 300 pages per week. More information on
printing can be found at the Information Technology's/IT's
Printing FAQ
Can I use my laptop on wifi?
The library has wireless. There are 3 networks at the library: Guest, Faculty, and
Student. The latter two require a ULM email account login.
Where is the Conference Center?
How do I get to the 6th or 7th Floor?
The ULM Library and Conference Center building has two main entrances. Floors 6 and
7 can only be reached through the Conference Center entrance located on the south
corner near the Warhawk statue.
Floors 1-5 can only be reached through the Library entrance located on the north corner
under the belltower.
Finding Resources
Can I get a book or article not available at ULM?
You can try to get such materials through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). The service we
use for this is called "ILLIAD." Visit the
Interlibrary Loan page to learn how to create an ILLIAD account and use ILL.
How do I use library resources off-campus?
Library resources are accessible from home via the library's web pages. Click on a
database and you'll be asked to log in. Your USER ID is your CWID, and your PIN is
your four-digit birth month and year (MMYY). The databases are only for ULM students
and employees.
What if a book isn't checked out but is missing?
Ask for assistance at the Circulation Counter. Circulation personnel can search for
lost/ missing items.
How do I find physical items located in the library?
The library's collection is comprised of several collections. When you search for
items in the catalog, the catalog will tell you the location of those items.
Here is a map of the library floors. The most common locations are:
- The Stacks are on floors three and four (3 and 4). Books shelved in Stacks can be checked out.
Some bound journals (earlier issues) are shelved in the Stacks:
• A - P 3rd Floor
• Q - Z and Oversize 4th Floor
- Reserve books are at the circulation desk on the first floor.
- Most (but not all) Government Publications on the fourth (4th) floor can be checked out
- Unbound journals, microfilms, media, and etc. are located on the second floor in Media Services. Copies can be run from microforms at a cost of .10 a page. Payments must be made
in cash (no big bills, please) at the Media Services desk.
- Special Collections is on the fifth floor
- the Curriculum & Juvenile Materials collection is on the 4th Floor
How do I get a journal, newspaper, or magazine that I know the name of?
Search the
ULM Library Catalog using the "periodical title" search option. Type the journal name in the space provided
then press Enter.
How do I get a dissertation or thesis?
A permanent copy of all ULM theses, dissertations, and field studies is kept in the
Special Collections department on the 5th floor. A circulating copy is also available
on 3rd floor. Search the
ULM Library Catalog either by author or title to locate a specific item.
The Library also subscribes to the Proquest
Dissertations and Theses database. This provides electronic access to some documents either in part or in
full text.
How do I use EBSCO eBooks?
Can I use EBSCO eBooks on a Kindle e-reader?
You can view EBSCO's eBooks in your web browser by clicking
eBook Full Text.
The is also a download option for an eBook reader,
Download This eBook (Offline).
Adobe® Digital Editions 1.7.1 or higher is required for offline viewing. This free
software can be downloaded from this
link. You also need an EBSCOhost user account, which you can get by clicking
sign in at the upper right of the EBSCOhost page. See the
official EBSCO eBooks support page for more information.
EBSCO eBooks aren't compatible with Kindle book readers, and might not be compatible
with other proprietary eBook readers either. However, it still may be possible to
use EBSCO eBooks on your reader. If you have a Kindle Fire, or another device which
can access the internet, you can read EBSCO eBooks the same way you would on a computer,
using a web browser such as Opera.
You can also use the Bluefire Reader App on a Kindle Fire (and other similar e-readers).
See
EBSCO's support page here to learn how.
Where can I get answers to my questions?
Or help with my problems?
You can reach us in more than one way:
1.
Email reference or use the
Ask A Librarian form2. Visit the Reference desk located on the first floor of the library
3. Phone a reference librarian at 318-342-1071
Research
How do I find online books and articles?
How can I tell if a resource is good for research?
Just because it's on the Web doesn't mean it's true (you know that). The Web is mass
of networks, controlled by no one, regulated by no one, and edited by no one. Anybody
can publish on the Web, and this is as it should be. It makes it difficult for research,
though. It's important to evaluate the resources you get from the Web to make sure
you're getting quality information that’s legitimate and fits your needs.
Wikipedia: in particular this should never be cited as a resource unless the subject is so
unbelievably esoteric that it appears in no other resources (this is highly unlikely,
so ask your instructor before trying). Wikipedia can be extremely useful for links
and references to other works and resources, however.
Some points to keep in mind when looking at a source you've gotten from the Web:
- Authority--who created the web page? Are they experts? What are their credentials? Do they
provide contact information?
- Accuracy--where did they get their information? Are the facts verifiable through another source?
Do they list a bibliography of citations from where they obtained their information?
- Objectivity--does the site have biases? Is the information presented in such a way to allow the
viewer to make his/her own judgment, or does the site try to persuade you to adopt
its viewpoint? What is the purpose of the site?
- Currency--when was the site last updated? Are the facts on the site up-to-date? Is the information
current?
- Coverage--how much of the topic does the resource cover? Does it attempt to cover all or most
of the aspects, or is it vague, or is it fixated on one part?
How I cite or quote materials?
There are different ways to cite resources. It depends on the type of source being
cited, the information available for the source, and the style guide you are using.
The most common styles are Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological
Association (APA), and the Chicago Manual of Style. Purdue University's
The Owl at Purdue is extremely helpful and provides examples and guidelines for these and other styles.
The official authority on the styles are still the print manuals: Copies of these
manuals are available in the library:
- MLA: MLA handbook for writers of research papers, LB2369. G53 -- On reserve at the
Circulation Counter
- APA: Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, BF76.7 .P46 --
On reserve at the Circulation Counter
- Chicago: A Manual of Style, Z253. C5 , in Stacks on the 5th Floor
What is considered scholarly?
The library provides access to all sorts of resources-books, journals, databases,
and web resources. Not everything in the library (or on the Web) is purely academic,
or scholarly, in nature. Materials that aren’t truly scholarly are called "popular."
Popular publications are usually intended for a general audience, and the articles
are written by journalists. Journalists are not "bad," but they typically do not specialize
in particular subjects. "Popular" publications also very often need to market their
information and sell it, so they may be likely to report on what is interesting to
its readers (as well as people they wish to acquire as readers) rather than what is
truly important.
Professional and industry-specific publications are also not usually scholarly, but
are more reliable than general news resources, especially if published by an organization
of note in the field.
Scholarly materials are usually meant for real research; the audience for scholarly
materials is usually composed of college students, professors, and serious researchers.
The articles in scholarly publications are usually written by professors, researchers,
specialists, or experts. Peer-reviewed or refereed ones are evaluated before they
ever go to print. Here are a few things to think about when evaluating publications.
- Audience – who is this resource aimed at? Is it intended to simply inform or entertain, or
is intended to disseminate academic research?
- Authority who wrote the article? Is that person simply a journalist reporting on a topic, or
is that person a specialist? What are the credentials of the person writing the article?
- Bibliography or notes – does the source use other sources or research? Does it cite those sources?
- Vocabulary – does the source use every day language that anybody can understand? Or does it
employ academic, technical, or specialized vocabulary?
- Coverage – does the publication cover a variety of topics, or is its focus on one particular
topic or field?
- Other things to consider:
- Is the publication peer-reviewed or refereed—that means other professionals or specialists
(peers) review the material and determine whether the content of the article is appropriate
and accurate.
- Does it contain a lot of commercial advertisements? Or little or no ads? Are the
ads general or related to the subject of the publication?
- Examples of popular publications: Newsweek, Time, People, Sports Illustrated, Library Jounral (it's a magazine).
- Examples of scholarly publications: Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal
of Clinical Psychology.