Monday, August 29, 2011

New ProQuest Database Interface

ProQuest gets an upgrade. Click here to access a ProQuest database.
In August ProQuest databases revealed their new user interface. Improvement highlights include a cleaner look, more intuitive searching and search results pages, easier ways to limit to relevant search results, and an overall feel similar to another set of beloved databases--EBSCO. New features of ProQuest include:
  • personal user accounts--save your research and access it anywhere
  • persistent links to searches
  • share your research on social networking sites
  • customer-driver design
Below you'll find opportunities to learn how to use the new ProQuest database interface.

Online Training Materials
FREE Training Webinars
Here is a great opportunity for students and faculty alike to go beyond the basics when searching in ProQuest.  Participate in free training webinars. Click the links below to learn more and sign up. Many times are available for you night/morning owls. You can also watch a recorded training session (but then you won't have the opportunity to ask questions).
  • Click here to see dates and times of live and recorded webinars.
    • Introduction to the New ProQuest Platform
      • Upcoming times:
        • Aug 30, 2011 9:00 am 
        • Aug 30, 2011 8:00 am (French) 
        • Sep 1, 2011 4:00 am (French) 
        • Sep 1, 2011 8:00 am 
        • Sep 6, 2011 1:00 pm 
        • Sep 7, 2011 4:00 am 
        • Sep 12, 2011 4:30 am 
        • Sep 14, 2011 12:00 pm 
        • Sep 15, 2011 4:30 am (Polish) 
        • Sep 19, 2011 3:00 pm 
    • My Research 
      • Upcoming times: 
        • Aug 31, 2011 4:00 am (French) 
        • Sep 9, 2011 2:00 pm 
        • Sep 12, 2011 8:00 am 
        • Sep 19, 2011 12:00 pm 
        • Oct 21, 2011 4:00 am 
        • Nov 3, 2011 5:00 am

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Hold Request Button on Hold

August 30th Update:
WORKS AGAIN! Just looks a bit different. Try it out.

You are currently unable to place holds on books in our library catalog. When you try, you'll get this error:
  •  There was a problem with your Hold Request. Unable to create title level request. No available items associated with record.
Who even knows what that means. Don't panic. Instead, email tclibrary@smumn.edu or call 612-728-5108 with your hold requests and we'll take care of them for you.

The reason this error is occuring is because our MnPALS library catalog system was updated on August 24th, and, with all technology changes, there are some issues that need to be worked out. MnPALS is investigating the possible solutions and will fix this problem.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Friday, Aug. 19 Hours

Hello Library Users,
TC Library is open 9am-11:30am and 3pm-5pm on Friday, August 19th. We're closed from 11:30am-3pm due to the annual SMU Staff Picnic. We'll be open from 8am-3pm Saturday, August 20th. Last day of the semester!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Find It button & Gale Databases

9/2/11 Update: Problem fixed!


SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS. Sometimes it doesn't. But you should be aware:
  • Our suite of Gale databases is inaccessible when entered via the Find it button in another database or through Google Scholar. You get an error message that says the database is down. THIS IS NOT THE CASE!
  • FIX: 
    1. Enter the Gale database from our Databases A-Z page.
    2. Do an article title search.
    3. Retrieve your article!
Apologies for the inconvenience. We are working with Gale on it.

Database seemingly affected:

Friday, August 05, 2011

ILL Textbook Policy Change

As of Fall Semester 2011, the Twin Cities Campus Library is implementing a change to our interlibrary loan textbook-ordering policy. The policy is below. You can also read it here.

Though we understand that textbook prices are high, Twin Cities Campus Library will not order any edition of a book that is required in a course syllabus (in other words, textbook) through Interlibrary Loan for the following reasons:
  • Interlibrary loan services are not intended for ordering textbooks.
Interlibrary loan services were established to assist students and faculty with borrowing supplementary materials for class related research.
  • Purchasing textbooks is the responsibility of the student.
Similar to paying tuition and fees, acquiring textbooks and other required course materials is the responsibility of the student.
  • Interlibrary loan services do not meet student needs for ordering textbooks.
    • Most libraries do not purchase textbooks.
      Most libraries do not purchase textbooks for their collections, including Saint Mary's. If a library does purchase a textbook for its collection, the textbook is often placed on restricted course reserve for use by their students.
    • Interlibrary loan books take 1-2 weeks to arrive.
      Because so few libraries own textbooks, we often have to request textbooks from out-of-state libraries. The process of requesting, shipping, and receiving the textbooks takes 1-2 weeks.
    • Students can only keep interlibrary loan textbooks for three weeks.
      Loan periods set by lending libraries do not allow students to keep a textbook for an entire course.
We welcome feedback and comments.

Thursday, August 04, 2011

Free Books

Free books for Saint Mary's University students and staff!

What makes an August day even better? Lugging a pile of free books home in the hot, humid weather! Not only are individual book pages great at absorbing the perspiration you will no doubt shed as you carry the books home, but you can also read them once you've set them out to dry.

So come on down to TC Library! We have a whole big rolly-cart of free books for you. Many are in the fields of business and psychology.