Locating/Obtaining Books/Articles

Required books can be purchased through local bookstores. Course packets of articles are sometimes arranged by professors. Professors will provide pertinent information. Also see Obtaining Books and Articles under Frequently Asked Questions.
Some of the books and articles that you need may be available electronically. This can easily be determined from information in the record in the database which you are searching or from records in the online catalog of the LSU Libraries. Full text journal articles in databases include links to the full text in the record. Full text books or journals in the LSU Libraries online catalog are designated by See Electronic Address at the top of the record or a URL near/in the record for the title. (Note: Search the online catalog for the title of the journal rather than the specific author and title of the journal article.) If not available as full text;
Search the online catalog of the site library where you are receiving instruction. See links to the online catalog through LOUIS. The instructor may have put books and articles on reserve or the site library may own the material. If not found;
Search the online catalog of the LSU Libraries. If found, note whether electronic access is available. If only available in print format, complete the special form provided (not the ILL form) the material will be sent to you. See additional information below. If not found;
Search Ingenta (a document delivery service) for availability. Click here for more information about Ingenta. (Note: When setting up an Ingenta account, type your TigerCard number in the box to the right of the line beginning New faculty . . . ; Do not click, Sign Up. If LSU Libraries owns any issues of a journal, you will not be able to order through Ingenta. Articles must be faxed directly to the student.) If not available through Ingenta;
Request through Interlibrary Loan at the site library where you are receiving instruction. You will be required to show your LALINC card (DE student should be checked) and a picture ID.
You may also request journal articles (not books) through LSU Libraries Interlibrary Borrowing

Accessing Reserve Books and Services at a Site Library

Services to distance education students vary by library since each site library has policies and procedures unique to their clientele. However, the following information should be helpful:

When requesting books or assistance, always identify yourself as an LSU distance education student.
Reserve books may or may not be in the online catalog. If found, note the location since books that are already in a non-circulating collection will remain in that location. If not found, ask at the circulation or reserve desk.
When Interlibrary Loan services are needed from the site library, ask for directions for submitting a request.
Many electronic databases are shared by LOUIS libraries, so reference librarians at site libraries can give advice on how to use the shared databases.
Staff at the site libraries are extremely supportive of the LSU distance education program, but this is a specialized service so some staff might not be familiar with the program . If necessary, ask if anyone else might have additional information.

Requesting Books and Articles Owned by LSU Libraries

Complete and submit the Electronic Request Form. All required information (fields in red) must be provided; however, including additional information (fields in black) will help expedite the request.
Only five document delivery requests will be processed per person per day for books and/or articles. This allows us to quickly serve the needs of a greater number of DE students.
Articles will be sent to the site library either in a bound volume of the journal or as a copy of the specific article. This will be determined by the LSU Libraries Circulation Department based on a variety of factors at the time of the request. Occasionally, articles will be faxed, so be sure to complete that section of the form.
If an article is copied, up to 50 exposures (defined as a final copy sheet or page) per semester will be copied free of charge. Additional exposures will be charged at the current per-page-rate for students. Charges will be sent to the LSU Bursar's office and the Bursar will bill you. Students may keep copies of articles.
Books are checked out to students at the time that the request is filled. Be aware of due dates and return books so that they will be received by the LSU Libraries by that date. You might want to renew books online at the time that you return them to the site library.
If a book that is needed is checked out to another patron,

Place a hold on the book.
Complete the Materials Request Form AFTER notification that the book is available.
Type the title of the book in the appropriate box.
Add (Book on hold for me) immediately after the title.
You may also add "Book on hold for me" in the Comments box if you wish.

This will enable library staff to quickly pull the book from the Hold shelf and send it to you without additional searching.
Usually it takes two to three days for requested materials to arrive at the site library. The time of day that the request is received and the distance of the site library are determining factors. Materials are sent to the site library by the LANTER delivery service.
When delivery of materials to a receiving site or nearby library served by the LANTER service is not possible, books owned by LSU Libraries will be sent directly to you at our cost. A return mailing label will be enclosed for your convenience, but you will be required to pay the return postage. Books must be returned by the due date.

Overview of the Process

The DE Student e-mails a request to Middleton Library using the special form provided (not the ILL form).
Library staff retrieves the book or journal volume or copies the journal article as appropriate.
LSU Libraries Circulation Department checks the book out to the LSU DE student and e-mails the student when the material has been sent.
The book or copy of the article is sent to the receiving site library using the LANTER delivery service.
The DE student picks up the material at the receiving library (either the Circulation Desk or ILL depending on the library) after showing a picture ID. (The receiving library does not keep checkout records.)
The student returns the book to the site library; the receiving library returns the book to the LSU Libraries via LANTER. Copies of journal articles do not need to be returned. Books must reach LSU Libraries by the due date. Renew the title online if you are unsure whether the material will arrive at the LSU Libraries before the due date.

ELECTRONIC REQUEST