Library Information for International Students

Welcome to the University of Alabama Libraries. This page provides general information about the Libraries for international students. This is page 2 of a three page document.

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5. Locating Library Material

Use the catalog [http://library.ua.edu/] to locate materials of all types: books, journals, theses and dissertations, videos, newspapers, government documents, etc. Once you have obtained a call number for an item, you may go directly to the stacks to retrieve the item. The stacks of all of the University Libraries are open to the public. Use the databases [http://www.lib.ua.edu/databases/] to locate articles from journals or newspapers.

Books:

Use the catalog's basic or advanced search options to look for books by author, title, subject, keyword, etc. For assistance, ask at the reference desk or go to the finding books page on the Libraries website [http://www.lib.ua.edu/find/findbooks.htm].

Journals:

Use the catalog's basic or advanced search options to look for print journals in the Libraries. Pick Journal Title from the drop-down menu when looking for a particular journal. Electronic journals are included in the catalog and are also available through the E-Journals page on the Libraries' website [http://www.lib.ua.edu/ejournals/].

Articles:

Use the databases page [http://www.lib.ua.edu/databases/] to locate articles on a particular topic. Use the subject list on the left side of the page to find databases in your subject area. For assistance, ask a librarian or go to the finding articles page on the Libraries' website [http://www.lib.ua.edu/find/findingarticles.htm].

Theses and Dissertations:

Use the catalog's Advanced Search option to locate theses and dissertations by UA students. Search the keyword "thesis" together with subject keywords to find theses and dissertations on a particular topic. UA theses and dissertations may also be identified through the database Current Research at the University of Alabama. Theses and dissertations from other universities may be found through the database Digital Dissertations. Both databases are available on the databases page [http://www.lib.ua.edu/databases/].

Foreign-Language Dictionaries:
Many language dictionaries are located in the reference sections of the various libraries on campus. Additional copies, which may be checked out, are kept in the stacks. To find bilingual dictionaries (e.g., a Spanish-English dictionary) in the Libraries' catalog, search the following phrases as a Subject Heading:

Spanish Language - Dictionaries - English

In addition, many language dictionaries are available on the Internet:

Your Dictionary [http://www.yourdictionary.com/]website includes dictionaries for more than 280 languages, plus links to online newspapers, radio stations, language resources, and print fonts.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary [http://www.m-w.com/dictionary.htm] includes an audio pronunciation guide. Just type in a word and listen to the pronunciation.

Dictionary.com [http://dictionary.reference.com/]site provides dictionaries, translations into twelve different languages, and links to resources for English grammar, usage, and style.

Foreign-Language Books:
The Libraries collect books in many different languages. To find books in a particular language, search the catalog as follows:

Starting from the Libraries' home page, click on Catalog and then on Advanced Search.

Click on Set Limits in the bottom right-hand corner of the search box.

In the first box, select a language; then click on the gray Set Limits box.

Now search the catalog by author, title, subject, keyword, etc. The search will deliver only titles in the selected language.

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International Newspapers and Periodicals:
Access the following databases with international content through the databases page [http://www.lib.ua.edu/databases/].

Ethnic NewsWatch - Provides full-text coverage of ethnic, minority, and native American presses from both English- and Spanish-language search interfaces.

Academic Universe - Provides full-text access to U.S. and international newspapers; TV and radio news transcripts; business and financial information; company directories; and legal sources.

Clase Periodica - Indexes Latin American periodicals in the sciences and humanities.

Informe - Offers primarily Spanish-language, full-text coverage of articles relating to Hispanic culture.

Many international newspapers are also available on the web:

Online News Papers [http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/]
The Internet Public Library [http://www.ipl.org/div/news/]

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6. Library Services

Renewals:

You may renew and item in person at one of the Libraries' circulation desks or electronically on the Libraries' website. The following items may not be renewed: items that are overdue or have fines; items that have been recalled or placed on hold by another patron; or items needed by a professor for Course Reserve. Renewal limits vary, depending on patron group and the type of material.

To renew online, first access your patron account:

Go to the University Libraries' home page.

Click on View Your Account at the top of the page.

Enter your ID number and your last name.

Click on Login.

Then, complete the online renewal:

Look at the Charged Items List; this is a list of items you have checked out and the dates they are due back.

Click on the Renew box next to each item that you want to renew.

At the bottom of the Charged Items List, click on Renew Items.

Look at the box to the right of the item. If the item was successfully renewed, a new due date will appear. If the message Not Renewed appears beside an item, you must bring that item to the circulation desk at the library where it was checked out.

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Holds and Recalls:

You may request an item that is currently checked out of the library by placing a hold or a recall. You may place a hold or recall in person at the circulation desk or electronically. If you place a hold, you will be notified when the item is returned, and it will be held for you for 10 days; the original due date on the item remains unchanged. If you place a recall on an item, a new due date will be assigned, making the item due 10 days from the date the request is placed. You will be notified when the item is returned, and it will be held for you for 10 days. Holds and recalls may not be placed on items that are not checked out.

To place a hold or recall online:

In the Libraries' catalog, find the record for the item you want.

Make sure the status is Charged.

Click on Holds/Recalls/Requests at the top of the page.

Enter your ID number and last name. Click Login.

From the drop-down menu, select Hold or Recall

If you want any copy of the item, select Any Copy. If you need a particular copy of an item, select the box with the item barcode.

Enter your ID number again.

Select the pick-up location. This is where you will pick up the item. The pick-up location does not have to be the library that houses the item.

Click Submit Request.

If your request was successful, you will see the message "Your Patron Initiated Request Was Successful." If the request was not successful, you will receive a message indicating that your request failed.

You will be notified when the item is available for pick-up.

If you need help placing a hold or recall, just ask. The staff at any of the Reference or Circulation desks will help you.

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Annex:

Seldom-used books and journals are kept in the Libraries' Annex, an off-campus storage building.

To recall an item from the Annex, use the Holds/Recalls/Requests link in the Libraries' catalog:

Locate the item you want in the Libraries' catalog.

Confirm that the location is "Annex."

Click on Holds/Recalls/Requests at the top of the page.

Enter your ID number and last name. Click Login.

From the drop-down menu, select Request from Annex. The "number available" tells you how many remaining items you may recall.

If you want a book, choose Select an Item. If you want a journal, choose Select an Item and then select the appropriate volume from the drop-down menu; or select Specify an Issue and enter this information manually on the form.

Select the pick-up location. This is the library where you will pick up the item.

Enter your ID number again.

Choose Submit Request.

If your request was successful, you will see the message "Your Patron Initiated Request Was Successful." If the request was not successful, you will receive a message indicating that the request failed.

Material is retrieved from the Annex twice daily on business days. If you place a request on a weekenc or on a day the library is closed, the material will be available on the next business day.

For additional information about retrieval of Annex material, see the Annex Service Policy. [http://www.lib.ua.edu/policies/servpol.htm]

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Rush Cataloging Request:

Books that have been purchased by the Libraries, but have not yet been cataloged will be listed in the Libraries' Catalog as "In Process." To request that a book e cataloged so that you can check it out complete the rush cataloging request form [http://www.lib.ua.edu/forms/rushcat.htm]. Your will be notified that the book is ready for check-out within a few days.

Suggest a purchase:

If you are a University of Alabama student, faculty member, or staff member, you may suggest a purchase [http://www.lib.ua.edu/forms/matpurchase.htm] of a particular book (not textbooks), video, journal, or database for the University Libraries collections. Your suggestion will be forwarded to the appropriate subject selector.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL):

Material that is not available in the UA Libraries may be obtained from other libraries by Interlibrary Loan. [http://www.lib.ua.edu/interlibloan/] First-time users are required to complete an online registration form. To request an item through Interlibrary Loan, you must first register with the Libraries' ILLiad system. Registration has three purposes:

Entering your personal information into the ILLiad system means you will not have to supply the information again when making future requests.

Having your e-mail and regular mail addresses on file with Interlibrary Loan enables us to notify you promptly and deliver materials accurately when your request arrives in the library.

By specifying a Username and Password of your choosing, you will have secure access to information about your requests. You will also be able to review the list of items you have requested in the past.

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Laptop Computers:

Libraries buildings have wireless access. Gorgas Library, McLure Education Library, Rodgers Library for Science & Engineering, and the Hoole Special Collections Library have laptop computers available for use within the library. The Libraries' laptops allow you to access the web, and use Microsoft Word and other productivity software at the same time. For information about laptop computer policies, please see Libraries' Laptop Computer Policies [http://www.lib.ua.edu/policies/laptop.htm].

You can also use your own wireless laptop computer in the Libraries. For instructions on using your personal wireless computer in the University Libraries, please see Using Your Wireless Laptop in the Libraries [http://www.lib.ua.edu/systems/wireless.htm].

Black and white and color printers [http://www.lib.ua.edu/printing.htm] are available in all libraries.You can use Bama Cash on an Action Card to pay for printing (5 cents per page for black and white prints; 25 cents per page for color prints).

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Course Reserves:

Course Reserves are materials that have been selected by instructors or professors for use in a particular course. Most are available electronically through the Libraries' course Reserves page; some are available only in print at one of the Libraries' reserve desks. To locate reserve materials from the Libraries' home page:

Click on Catalog

Click on Course Reserves

Use the drop-down menus to identify the Instructor, Department, and Course/Section number.

Click on Search.

If the Library Location is E-Reserves, the item is available electronically; click on the title and then on the words "Click here for on-line document."

If the Library Location is one of the Library reserve desks, the item is available in print at that desk.

Library Instruction:

The University Libraries provide tours, orientations, and classes on library sources and research strategies. In addition, you may schedule an individual meeting with a subject specialist to discuss advanced research. For details please consult the instruction librarian in the appropriate library. [http://www.lib.ua.edu/instruction/classes.htm]

If you prefer to work on your own, the Libraries' list of online tutorials [http://www.lib.ua.edu/tutorials] will help you with the Libraries' electronic resources and with Internet searching.

Ask-A-Librarian:

Brief questions about library resources and services may be submitted by email or live online chat. To submit a question, go to Ask- A- Librarian [http://www.lib.ua.edu/forms/ask.htm].

International Television:

Gorgas Library has two televisions devoted to International Programming [http://www.lib.ua.edu/tvprogramming.htm]. Located in Room 200 (behind the Circulation Desk on the second floor, the televisions offer several Mandarin and South Asian stations, as well as a Japanese station with Mandarin subtitles and the FOX soccer channel. The televisions are turned on all hours the library is open. UA students, faculty, and staff may check out wireless headphones and remote controls from the Circulation Desk.

Sanford Media Resource and Design Center (R&D):

The R&D [http://www.lib.ua.edu/randd/] is a facility for digital media production. The Center provides both resources and instruction for projects involving graphic design, Web design, remote file transfer, page layout, video editing, DVD authoring, audio recording, musical composing, CD authoring, and file format conversion.

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