Faculty FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions from Faculty and Staff
Library Policies
Finding Resources
Instructional Aids
Why do we have to "swipe" our OneCards at the entrance?
We believe the slight inconvenience of swiping your OneCard through the turnstile reader is worth it because it benefits LMU students. The Von der Ahe Library is an attractive library with good resources, so it draws the public. We don't want LMU students – our primary clientele – to compete with the public for library resources and study space. Also, controlling access keeps online subscriptions costs down. We pay for our electronic databases and e-journal subscriptions based on the total number of potential users – right now that means our campus community. We would have to pay more if we allowed the public at random to use these resources, too. One other important point -- we've had fewer stolen wallets and other petty crimes since we began controlling access. Lastly, you need your OneCard at the library anyway. You use it to check out books, print in the reference area, and make copies in the photocopy room. You can also add flexidollars to your OneCard at the dispenser in the library lobby.
I'm an LMU staff member. Can I use the library?
Of course. Your OneCard will get you through the entrance turnstiles. If you find a book you want to check out, take it to the Circulation counter. (You can't check out journals.) From your office, you can see what's in our collection by searching LINUS , the library's online catalog. Just click on the library's home page, click on LINUS and follow the instructions. We have a great collection of scholarly books and journals, classic fiction, and videos. We're not a public library, so we may not have a lot of the popular fiction and magazines you're looking for. Feel free to view videos in the library at the carrels. Need information for personal reasons or your job? The library's online databases and reference tools are wonderful resources. Just ask a reference librarian for help. The library is a nice side-benefit to working at LMU; please use it!
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Can I send my research assistant to check out materials for me?
Yes, but first you must print out the Research Assistant Borrower's Form and return it to the Circulation Desk. We will enter your research assistant's name in your library record, and then that student will be able to check out any materials you need. But don't forget to notify the Circulation Desk when a TA resigns and always send us a new form each time you get a new research assistant.
Why can't I access a library database from off-campus?
Our electronic subscriptions require that we limit use to LMU community members only. When you are trying to access the library’s electronic databases and e-journals from off-campus, you’ll need to prove that you are a member of the LMU community – you do that with your name and barcode number/Library No. You name and barcode should automatically be in your library record in our system, but if not, either bring your OneCard to the Circulation Desk and they will add it, or call the Reference Desk at 310-338-2790 to add your information. It is also important to make sure your computer is configured to connect from off-campus . After that, whenever you're at an off-campus computer and you want to access our e-resources, just enter your name and barcode/Library No. from your OneCard when the system prompts you.
Who chooses books, videos, and periodicals for the library's collections?
Historically, faculty have done most of the selecting, and still do a large part of it as they know best what subjects they are teaching and what materials students will need. Faculty are encouraged to send us requests for materials. Get book order request cards at the Reference Desk. You can drop completed ones off there, too. Or use the online Library Purchase Request . Also, every librarian is a subject selector, responsible for a particular subject, and collects library materials in that subject.
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Must the library cancel one journal before it can subscribe to another?
Yes. The periodicals budget usually receives a generous increase each year, but this only allows us to cover price increases for existing subscriptions and to subscribe to a few new journals in new faculty members' research interest, but not to start lots of new subscriptions. Every spring your academic department chair receives from the library a list of current journal subscriptions in your discipline. Feel free to make recommendations about cancellations and new subscriptions to your department chair.
How can I find out if the library has a particular journal?
That's easy; go to the library's home page. Then click on the Journal List , a searchable list of all periodical titles to which the library subscribes. When you find the one you want, first notice the start and end dates. If there is a start date but no end date, the subscription is current and we're still receiving it.
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After that, how do I find the journal?
While you’re still in the journal list and looking at the journal title you want, look at “location.” Or if you're in the LINUS record for that journal, look at the "location." A periodical may have multiple locations because we may receive it in print form, online in a database, or on microfilm. If the location is:
- a call number, it’s a journal in paper form and you’ll find the current, unbound issues in the periodicals stacks. Here are a couple of examples of what a call number for a journal looks like:
Daily Variety PN1993.D3
Savoy E185.5.E45
Urban History Review H127.U7
When we receive all of the unbound issues of a volume, we then bind it into a book. These older, bound journals are stored off-campus at the Iron Mountain storage facility, but are retrievable. To retrieve an article from a bound journal, go to LINUS. Do a title search for the periodical (not the article title!). You'll see a button that says " Request. " Complete the form and submit it online. Include the information requested on the form about the article you want. A photocopy of the article can be picked up in two days at the Circulation Desk. There are more detailed instructions for Iron Mountain retrieval .
- “ microfilm ” or “ microfiche ” -- go to the Media & Reserve Services Department and they’ll help you find the microfilm reel or fiche and show you how to use the microfilm/fiche reader/printer.
- “ Circulation ” – go to the Circulation counter; the staff will get it for you.
- “ Lexis ,” EBSCO ,” ProQuest ,” or just about anything else means the journal is online in one of our databases. Go to the Reference area and a reference librarian can help you search the databases for it. You’ll be able to print articles from the journal at the reference area computers.
An important hint: if the Journal List shows that the periodical is in print form (a call number) and in a database (like Lexis or EBSCO ), then don't request it from Iron Mountain. It's quicker to get the article online from the database.
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Why aren't all of the paper-form periodicals in the upper level periodicals stacks?
The library has simply run out of space. Something had to be stored off-site. The University Library Committee (a committee of faculty and students) decided that the bound periodicals should go to storage. But, they are retrievable as explained above. If you can’t find a journal, ask for help at the Reference Desk. We'll be glad to help you find it.
Why are some journals housed as individual issues, while others are bound?
It’s for preservation and ease of use. Journals last longer when they are bound. Current issues are unbound individual issues. When all the issues of a volume have arrived, it is then sent to the bindery for binding and on to Iron Mountain Storage facility where it is kept until you need it.
If LINUS says a book is "stored offsite," what does that mean?
It means the book has been stored off-campus at the Iron Mountain storage facility in Azusa, California. The book is retrievable, so request it by clicking on "request" when you're in the LINUS record for that title. The book will arrive from Iron Mountain in a couple of days and you can pick it up at the Circulation Desk.
Where can I borrow a slide projector or other instructional equipment?
Contact the Classroom Technology Office (CTO) in University Hall. The phone number is (310) 338-1735. CMO staff should be able to help you with all your media equipment needs.
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How can I put materials on Reserve for my class?
The easiest answer is to refer you to the Reserves web page . Click on "Reserve Services for FACULTY" and you will find all the necessary information about how to place your materials on reserve, the two types of reserve services available to you (traditional and electronic reserves), loan periods for your materials, copyright guidelines and more.
When I submit an order for a book to be added to the library collection, how long will it be before the book is on the shelf?
Book orders are handled in the order we receive them. Early in the semester and late May are the busiest times for ordering. Normally your book will arrive about six weeks after we place the order, but during busy times expect it to take longer. You can watch the status of your order in LINUS. Search by title or author. Your request has been processed when you see 1 copy ordered for library on XX/XX/XX. When you see 1 copy being processed for library , your book has arrived and is awaiting cataloging. If you need the book immediately, request rush cataloging. Go to the library's home page. Click on Request Forms . Then, click on Rush Processing . Complete the form and click the submit button. The book will be cataloged for you within two days and you will be notified when it's ready to pick up at the Circulation Desk.
Can you help students who lack library research skills?
Yes! Our library instruction program can tailor a session to meet your needs, whether for an entire class period or a 20-minute focused explanation, a full research skills presentation or a supervised searching exercise in your department's computer lab. Contact the instruction program coordinator . At the very least, encourage your students to use the library. If an assignment requires library research, send a copy of the assignment to the Reference Department so we can alert all of the reference librarians and be better prepared to help your students.
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