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INDEX

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

The library policies and procedures exist for the benefit of library users, primarily to ensure that materials will be available when they are needed.
Key Honor System

The Chemistry Library, in cooperation with the Departments of Chemistry and Polymers & Coatings, currently has an honor system for graduate students which provides the opportunity of 24-hour access to the Chemistry Library. By following procedure, you may be issued a key to the Chemistry Library. To get a key you must:

1. Go to Dr. John Hershberger, Chemistry Department, or to Dr. Gordon Bierwagen, chair of the Polymers & Coatings Department, and get a letter.
2. Take the letter to the Chemistry Library and set up an appointment with Heather Heger, Library Manager, to receive individualized instruction in library procedures.
3. You must read and sign a copy of the Library Policy Guidelines.
4. After she is certain that you understand the policies and procedures, and that you understand how to use the backup system, Heather will sign the letter and you may take it to the suppy room for your key.

Failure to follow policy and procedures may result in loss of key priviledges, and therefore loss of 24-access to the Chemistry Library.

Chemistry Library Policy Guidelines:

1. ALL materials must be checked out with your picture ID before they leave the library. There are no exceptions.

2. Never, for any reason, should any portion of Chemical Abstracts leave the library.

3. Only individuals who have been issued a key, and who have it with them, are allowed in the library after hours. Do not let anyone into the library after hours, even if you think they have been issued a key. Do not ask anyone to let you into the library. Each person must use his/her own key to enter after hours.

4. Reference books are to be used in the library. In rare instances, the full-time staff person will consider checking an item out for up to 24 hours on special request. For a Reference Book to leave the room, it must be checked out to you by Heather Heger or the Physical Sciences Librarian. If you are granted permission to check out reference material, you should be aware that there is a fine of $10 per hour with no "cap" if the material is returned late. Do not ask student workers to check out references books to you...they do not have permission to do that. Do not take reference books out of the Library after normal hours, even if you plan to bring them back immediately.

5. Do not check material back in yourself. If you do, and there is a problem, you will be responsible for paying any fines.

6. Please do not wear your lab jackets into the library. We need to protect our collection from contamination.

7. The last person out of the library after hours is responsible for turning off the lights and the copy machine.

8. Any copy machine priviledges must be arranged with your advisor. In order to check out a copy machine key, the library must have a letter from your advisor on file. You are responsible for all copies, including mistakes.

Chemistry Library Procedures:

1. When the library is closed, if you have a key for 24-hour access, you may check out circulating materials using the computer on the main desk. Instructions are on the desk when library is closed. If you have forgotten how to use the system, please ask the staff for instructions. Always look at the screen to make sure the computer is operating properly. If in doubt, write down the information on the sign-out sheet. Please make sure that we can read what you have written. Please DO NOT check materials back IN. DO NOT check out or remove materials which do not circulate, such as Reference Material and Chemical Abstracts.

2. Please DO NOT reshelve materials. Please place all items you have used on the gray rolling cart. This will assure that our statistics are accurate for determining how important certain items are to our collection. This procedure is extremely important and benefits you and your department.

3. You can use the online circulation system to: search for materials, place holds on materials that are checked out, renew your materials, check on the status of your record, check library hours, etc. Library staff will be happy to show you how to do this.

4. You can use Interlibrary Loan (ILL) to get materials you need that are not part of our collection. Requests may be entered online, or you may fill out a card. Ask at the Chemistry Library Circulation desk.

5. Contact the acting Physical Sciences librarian for STN or Dialog searches. A fee is charged for this service based on the time spent online and number of citations retrieved.

Circulation Policies:

Books
Periodicals
Fines

HOURS

For normal hours, check the Calendar on the Web. In some cases, the Chemistry Library will close for short periods due to meetings or lack of staff. When this occurs, we will give as much warning as possible by posting a note on the Chemistry Library door.

LIBRARY STAFF

Heather Heger, Chemistry Library Manager, 231-8293, heather_Heger@ndsu.edu
[Vacant], Supervisor and Physical Sciences Librarian. (For operations concerns, contact Thomas Bremer, 231-8878, Thomas.Bremer@ndsu.edu. For reference questions, contact Alan Stevens, 231-7965, Alan.Stevens@ndsu.edu)

LOCATION OF MATERIALS

Most relevant materials are located in the Chemistry Library, Dunbar storage, the Main Library, or in the Pharmacy Library. Always check the location notation in the online catalog. Most Chemistry periodicals are in one of three locations: Current and recent periodicals are in the Chemistry Library, older periodicals are in the Dunbar Storage room (ask at the Chemistry Circulation Desk), and oldest periodicals, discontinued titles, and microfiche are in the Library Annex.

To access materials in the Library Annex, use the Pull Service.

Many of our periodicals are now available online.

Books are shelved according to the Library of Congress system, Periodicals are shelved by the Dewey Decimal system, and Government Documents are located in the Main Library according to the SuDocs system.

SERVICES

Interlibrary Loan

No library can own everything that will be needed by its patrons. In most instances, you will be able to get what you need through Interlibrary Loan. In many cases, ILL materials are received in 3 to 5 working days, but it could take longer, depending on the location and procedures of the lending library. Currently, there is no charge to you for Interlibrary Loan.

To submit an Interlibrary Loan request, you may fill out a card at the Chemistry Library or the Main Library. You may also submit the request electronically, by using the form on the Web, or on the online catalog.
Special Services

If you need specialized services, contact the Physical Sciences Librarian (temporarily, Alan Stevens). The Librarian can help you determine the appropriate database for searching, help you set up Uncover Reveal accounts, and give individual assistance in database searching. The Librarian can also conduct online searches of Chemical Abstracts with you using STN. The costs of searching STN will be billed to you. Most STN searches will be conducted after 5 p.m. in order to take advantage of academic rates. Contact Alan Stevens at 231-7965 or e-mail: Alan.Stevens@ndsu.edu.

THE COST OF INFORMATION

Even though most library services at NDSU are presently at no cost to you, you should be aware that these services, and information in general, are not "free". For example, costs are accrued every time you press the enter key while in the online catalog. Usually, full text information is much more costly than citations. NDSU pays many thousands of dollars per year for electronic access to databases, in addition to the many thousands spent on print indexes, books, and journals. Different databases cost varying amounts, and costs also vary by the particular vendor serving the information to the Libraries. Some of the databases provided at NDSU have a set subscription rate, and there is no additional fee for searching or retrieving information. For others, an amount is deducted from our account each time the return key is pressed. Still others charge for connect time, as well as each citation retrieved, and full text information is even more costly. Interlibrary Loan also costs the Libraries quite a bit of money. An average cost for each Interlibrary Loan request is $10. The Libraries normally place a cap on the cost of ILL requests, and you will need to contact the ILL department to continue such a request. You are encouraged to use all of the Library resources, but we ask for your cooperation in keeping costs down by being prudent.

ELECTRONIC DATABASES

Electronic Resources

This guide has both a subject index, and an alphabetical index, both with links to the databases. In many cases, descriptions of the databases are provided. Many of these databases are for the use of NDSU primary patrons only because of licensing restrictions. Ask at the Main Library Reference desk if you have questions, or contact the Physical Sciences Librarian. You can also access the electronic journals from this page.

The NDSU Online Catalog

There are two ways to access the NDSU Online Catalog and associated databases: Classic PALS and WebPALS. To use Classic PALS you will need to know or learn certain commands. WebPALS is more user-friendly, but lacks some features of Classic PALS, and sometimes is much slower.