In addition to the Main Library (located at the corner of 12th Avenue North and Albrecht Boulevard) there are also three branch libraries: Architecture (114 Ehly Hall), Chemistry (209 Ladd Hall), and Pharmacy (135 Sudro).

If you need assistance in using any of the collections or services of the NDSU Libraries, please ask at the Reference Desk. In addition to this handout, there are several other information sheets you may find useful.

NDSU Libraries house a wide variety of materials. In addition to books and journals, there are also special collections of government documents, local publications, videos, etc. Books are located on the second floor of the Main Library, arranged by Library of Congress Classification schedule (for example, call numbers begin with letters). Magazines and journals are shelved in the basement by the Dewey Decimal classification scheme (i.e., call numbers begin with numbers):however, due to flood damage they are shelved in the following ways:

1.      Current periodicals are shelved in the corridor of the main library.

2.      Older journals are in storage and unavailable for public use.

3.      The library is making many of our journals available in electronic format.  Check the web and/or the

      online catalog for any that might interest you.

4.    NDSU students, faculty, and staff may request other needed articles through interlibrary loan.

Some statistics are:

NDSU Libraries are open 92 hours per week during the regular academic year. For a current listing of the Libraries' hours, use the HRS command in the online catalog. At the prompt type HRS and a current listing will appear. From the Libraries" home page (www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/), under Information, select Calendar for a monthly listing of the Libraries' hours. A taped message is also available by dialing 231-8876.

The NDSU Libraries online catalog (PALS) is a powerful research tool. It is your key to finding the information you need. In addition to providing access to the books, journals, audiovisuals, and other materials held in our collection, the online catalog can also be used to search the catalogs of Moorhead State University, Concordia College, or any of the over 80 libraries in the MSUS/PALS (Minnesota University System/Project for Automated Library Services) system. Nearly 5 million items can be searched by a variety of approaches. Furthermore, the online catalog has gateways to other libraries and networks in North Dakota and other states. In addition, the online catalog provides access to a number of reference databases (periodical indexes and directory information) such as Expanded Academic Index, Business Index, Company Profiles, etc. These databases index over 3500 magazines and journals and provide full text articles from 1300 of those titles. The catalog is accessible via the Internet or via modem over the telephone.

You must have your picture ID to check out library materials. Undergraduates: Books circulate for 28 days; periodicals do not circulate. Graduate students: Books circulate for 120 days; periodicals for 5 days. Faculty/staff: Books circulate for 180 days; periodicals for 5 days.

Reserve collections are located at the Circulation/Reserves Desk at the entrance to the Main Library. The Architecture, Chemistry, and Pharmacy Libraries also have reserve collections. Reserves are checked out for short or limited loan periods determined by the course instructor, e.g., two-hours, overnight, or three days.

If the NDSU Libraries don't own the book or periodical you need, the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service will obtain a copy from another source. There is usually no charge for this service. To request an item, fill out an interlibrary loan form at the ILL office in the Main Library or use the online ILL form on the web at www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/ill/.

NDSU Libraries offer a number of library instruction services including: general tours and orientations, course-related instruction in specific subject areas, demonstrations of special services and information formats such as database searching,  assistance in developing appropriate library assignments, seminars on special topics such as reprint file management, end-user searching, etc.; and a one-credit course: Introduction to Library Research (LS 121). Ask at the Reference Desk for more information.

Computer searches are available to students, faculty, and other researchers by contacting your appropriate Subject Librarian or calling the Reference Desk (231-8886). Over 400 databases are available on a cost-recovery basis. AGRICOLA, Sociofile, Current Contents, MEDLINE, and PsycLIT are available for CD-ROM searching at no-charge.

Telefax services are available in the Main Library at reasonable fees. Ask at Interlibrary Loan for details.

Photocopy machines are located in numerous locations in the Main Library and the Branch Libraries; copies cost $.10 per page.