Frequently Asked Questions
- Materials and Reference
- Textbooks
- Reserve Materials
- Selecting an Appropriate Database
- Locating a Book or Periodical
- How to interpret LC Call Numbers
- Journals held by the Libraries
- Electronic Journal Holdings
- Theses and Dissertations
- Theses and Dissertations from Out of State
- Finding Fiction Books in the Library
- Finding Book Reviews
- Policies and Procedures
- Technical Issues
Materials and Reference
How do I find textbooks in the library? LSU Libraries does not strive to keep textbooks for every class on campus. If you know the title of the textbook you need, you can search for it in our catalog on the Libraries' main page (http://www.lib.lsu.edu) to see if we own the book. We do not keep lists of textbooks by class, so you need to know the title and author of your textbook before you come to the library. Your other option is to see if the instructor has placed the textbook on reserve for your class. For instructions on how to retrieve reserve materials, see the question immediately below.
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How do I look up materials on reserve?
From the Libraries' home page click on the "Find Course Reserves" link in the left-hand menu. There are three methods of searching for reserve materials. If you know the name of the instructor, enter his or her name and click on "By Instructor." If you have the name of the course, e.g. Engl 1001, enter this course abbreviation and number and click on "Course Number." If you know the name of the course, e.g. ID 1051 is "Introduction to Interior Design," enter the course's title and then click on "Course Name."
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Selecting an Appropriate Database to use for Your Research If you are unsure of which indexes or databases are appropriate for your subject area you can perform a subject specific search which will indicate which indexes and/or databases pertain to which subject(s).
From the Libraries homepage, http://www.lib.lsu.edu click on the link titled 'Indexes and Databases' on the yellow bar at the top of the page, under "Resources." You can either choose a broad category to search (e.g. Arts and Humanities); or a narrower subject by clicking on the links next to the broad categories.
If you are still unsure of which product to use after retrieving the list of indexes and databases, click on the small box with the lowercase 'i' to the left of the database link and an intermediary page will give you a description of the index or database to give you a better idea of the subject coverage and the dates available for searching.
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Where can I locate this book or periodical? Once you have used our online catalog to get the call number of your book or periodical, you should either click on the "Call Number Location" link from within the online catalog, or use the following chart: http://www.lib.lsu.edu/circ/#callnumbers.
You will also need to ascertain which library the materials are housed in, as many campus libraries are listed in our online catalog. You will be able to tell this by going into the full record of an item by clicking on "Details" and looking directly under "Specific Item Information." You may see other libraries on campus, such as the Vet Med Library, or specific library centers within Middleton, such as the Carter Music Resources Center or the Education Resources Center. Each of these collections is held separately. For directions, check the website or ask a reference librarian.
If the materials you need are in the Middleton Library Main Collection, you will need to look at the first two letters of your call number to determine what floor the materials will be housed. You should also look at the “Location” field. Reference materials are kept in Room 141 on the first floor. Materials marked “Reference Desk” are located on the kiosk behind the reference desk. For those marked “ID Required,” ask at the reference desk. Any call numbers that include colons (:) and/or slashes(/) are Government Documents, and unless indicated in the catalog, will be housed in room 53 of the basement.
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What exactly does this call number mean?
- Step One:
- The first line is entirely alphabetic. A comes before B comes before BA comes before C comes before CT ...
| B 25 .S43 |
BA 25 .L9 |
BX 25 .N3 |
CT 25 .L13 |
DA 25 .N7 |
DK 25 .A2 |
- Step Two:
- The second line is a whole number:
- Step Three:
- All subsequent lines are alphabetic and decimal: A before B before C AND, all other things being equal, 1 before 2 before 21 before 3 before 33 before 332 before 3321 before 4...
| E 5 .S2 |
E 9 .S25 |
E 25 .G4 |
E 25.3 .G1 |
E 53 .G13 |
E 253.178 .G12 |
E 253.2 .A2 |
E 253.21 .A1 |
E 253.218 .A1 |
| AI 5 .A1 |
AI 5 .A12 |
AI 5 .A125 |
AI 5 .A17 |
AI 5 .A2 |
AI 5 .A2782 |
AI 5 .A29 |
AI 5 .B4 |
AI 5 .B4 L78 |
AI 5 .B4102 A9 |
How do I find a journal in the Online Catalog?
If you already know the journal that you are looking for, begin at the Libraries homepage http://www.lib.lsu.edu. Under "Search the LSU Libraries Catalog," select 'periodical title' from the drop down menu; 'periodical title' is used to search for journals and magazines. Then enter the name of the periodical that you are looking for in the text box. Either hit enter on your keyboard or click on the "Go!" button to perform the search.
If you do not know the journal you are looking for, but you are looking for an article, see the question "How do I search Indexes and Databases?"
The catalog says we have the journal electronically, but when I try to access my article, it asks for a username and password. What should I do?
Just because the library has a subscription to a particular journal online doesn't mean we have access to all years and issues of that journal. If in doubt, go to JournalFind (Select "EJournals" under "Resources" on the yellow bar at the top of the main page.) Type in the title of the journal for which you are searching. If we own it, the title will come up, followed by one or more links to the sites where the journal is available. Next to each link is a listing of the years or issues available to LSU affiliates on that site. Make sure that the article you are trying to access is included in those issues. If you're still having problems, contact the reference desk. Note that for some journals, we have issues in print that we do not have access to online. Always check the catalog as well to see if the article you want is in the stacks.
Where can I locate Theses and Dissertations?
The LSU Libraries have a large collection of theses and dissertations available for use in its collection. Many are available in print format on the second floor of the Middleton Library in Room 241 while others are available only in an electronic format. For detailed information on how to locate specific theses or dissertations, please refer to this webpage.
For more recent theses and dissertations, you can also search the Electronic Theses and Dissertation Library or ETD Library. For information on the ETD Library, what it contains, and how to use it, refer to the webpage located at http://etd.lsu.edu/.
How do I obtain Theses and Dissertations written at LSU if I am from out of state?
All Theses and Disseratations submitted for the Spring 2002 semester or later are available electronically from our Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Library. If the thesis you want is before 2002, you can submit an interlibrary loan request through your local library. Although most theses can be obtained in this way, there are some that we do not lend. For information on obtaining a copy of these, please contact Judy Bolton at jbolton@lsu.edu for instructions. Depending on whether or not we have the author's permission to copy, you may have to purchase the dissertation from UMI.
How can I access databases and electronic journals off-campus?
If you are a student, faculty, or staff of LSU, you can access databases and ejournals from anywhere that has an internet connection. Simply use the Libraries' webpage as you normally would, and enter your user ID and PIN when prompted. If you don't know what to enter see the User ID and PIN section of this FAQ.
If you are not affiliated with LSU then you may not access our resources off-campus. You can however come into the Middleton Library and access our databases and journals from within the building.
How do I locate fiction books in the library?
Finding fiction books in the library for simple recreational reading isn't as easy as just walking to a shelf and looking for a specific "section". However there are many ways someone can go about using the various tools the library has to offer to find a fiction book that interests them. Visit the webpage available at http://www.lib.lsu.edu/virtual/fiction/fiction.html. This page contains information on many ways you can locate a fiction book of your choosing.
Where can I locate book reviews?
The LSU Libraries have many print and electronic resources that can be used to locate various reviews for books of all subjects. For an in-depth list and brief description of these resources please visit the webpage located at http://www.lib.lsu.edu/hum/lit/bookreviews.html.
Policies and Procedures
How do I renew items?
In order to renew your materials online, you must enter your 17-digit Tiger Card number. (If you do not know the number, refer to your Tiger Card). To renew your materials, go to the Libraries' home page and click on "My Account" link beneath the catalog. Click on "Manage My Account" and enter your 17-digit TigerCard User ID (without a hyphen) and your PIN number. You can alternately enter your 9-digit LSU ID number (beginning with '89') and your PIN.
Once you correctly enter your User ID and PIN, and click on "Checkouts," (either the link or the tab) and you will see a page listing all of the materials charged to your ID. Click the check box(es) next to the materials that you would like to renew, and then select "Renew Selected Items" at the bottom of the page. A confirmation screen will follow, providing the new due dates for the materials which you have renewed.
I'm not affiliated with LSU. Can I use the library and check out books?
Non-LSU persons are welcome to come in and use the LSU Libraries. Middleton Library provides public access computers in the Reference Department (Room 141). Local users can apply to become a "Friend of the Library." The fee is $50 annually. More information is available here and here. If you are a student at another Louisiana college or university, you may be able to borrow books using your own school's library card. The LALINC Reciprocal Borrowing Chart can give you more information. If you are not local to Baton Rouge, or cannot come to Middleton Library directly, please contact your own local library's interlibrary borrowing program. We will lend books to most libraries in the country.
If you are not affiliated with LSU then you may not access our resources off-campus. You can however come into the Middleton Library and access our databases and journals from within the building. If you are a resident of East Baton Rouge Parish, you are also eligible to use the databases owned by East Baton Rouge Parish Library. Contact them for more information.
Will you scan, fax, or copy materials and send them to me?
Middleton Library does not scan, fax, or copy and send materials. Most materials may be borrowed by placing an interlibrary loan request at your home institution. Special Collections in the Hill Memorial Library does have a limited copy service. More information on this service can be found here: http://www.lib.lsu.edu/special/dupl.html
Technical Issues
What is my User ID and PIN?
Your User ID is the 17-digit Tiger Card number (no hyphens) that appears on the front of your Tiger Card. Your alternate ID is the 9-digit LSU ID number beginning with '89' that also appears on your Tiger Card. The locations of the numbers are shown below. To get your PIN fill out this form and your PIN will be emailed to you on your LSU email account, as well as instructions for changing your PIN to something you will remember.
Troubleshooting
If you are entering your 17-digit User ID number from your TigerCard (remember, no hyphens), and the system is giving you an "invalid id" message, fill out the "Email my PIN" form from the "My Account" link on the Libraries' home page.
You will then be prompted for your 17-digit Tiger Card number or your LSU ID number (the one beginning with '89'). Fill out the form, and your pin information will be emailed to you within 24 hours.
If you get a message indicating your privileges have expired or your account has been "barred," contact circulation at 578-2058 to see what the problem is.
How do I print documents in the library?
One of the most frequently asked questions is how to print from the computers in the library as well as the other various computer labs located across campus. The printing system, which is called Pharos, seems like a complicated method but is actually quite simple and easy to learn. For instructions on how to print documents, visit the webpage available at http://www.lib.lsu.edu/virtual/print/print.html. Follow the steps there to learn how to print in the library and in the labs all over campus.
How do I print wirelessly from my laptop?
If you have a Windows laptop, follow the instructions here: http://grok.lsu.edu/Article.aspx?articleid=234. If you have a Mac, follow the instructions here: http://grok.lsu.edu/Article.aspx?articleid=644.
How do I access the databases?
Users can access our databases by clicking on "Indexes & Databases" from the Libraries' home page. From the Indexes and Databases page, use the listing on the left, (if your database of choice is listed) or the A-Z list across the top of the page to access the databases by name. The databases are also divided by subject at the bottom of the page.
How can I access databases and electronic journals off-campus?
If you are a student, faculty, or staff of LSU, you can access databases and ejournals from anywhere that has an internet connection. Simply use the Libraries' webpage as you normally would, and enter your user ID and PIN when prompted. If you don't know what to enter see the User ID and PIN section of this FAQ.
If you are not affiliated with LSU then you may not access our resources off-campus. You can however come into the Middleton Library and access our databases and journals from within the building.
When I am searching for articles in one of the databases, what does it mean when I see this symbol
under the article citation?
When you see the
icon under an article citation without another link to the full text, it simply means that we do not have full-text access to that journal in that particular database. If you click on the link for "Check LinkSource for more information" a page will open that will give you other linking options. LinkSource will search in other databases to see if the full text of the article is available through another database we own first. If it is available, LinkSource will provide a link that will direct you to the article you want. A link will also be provided to "Search the LSU Catalog." Clicking on "Search the LSU Catalog" allows you to search the Library's catalog to see if we have a subscription to that particular journal. If we do not have a subscription, you can click on the other link, "Request this item through interlibrary loan," which will take you to the Interlibrary Loan page where you can request that we get the article from another library. For more information about Interlibrary Loan, please go to http://www.lib.lsu.edu/ILL.html.
How do I use Endnote in conjunction with library resources?
Endnote is a program that allows the user to easily create bibliographies for papers and projects while researching inside the Online Catalog or various online databases. Endnote may be used to directly search the Online Catalog and certain databases or information downloaded from databases can be imported into Endnote for use as well. The LSU Libraries has information on Endnote and the files a user would need to use it in conjunction with our databases available at this webpage. Please visit that page for more in-depth information as well as actual files for use with Endnote.
