User Guide – Books

INDEX: [How can I find the book I need?] [How should I use Books?]

[How can I get the Book I need?]

How can I find the book I need?

· First use the Bluefield State College catalog

o Start from Library Homepage: (http://www.bluefieldstate.edu/Library.htm)

o Click on “Search the Library Catalog”

o Use left hand pull-down menu to set type of search (author, subject, etc.)

o Use right hand pull-down menu to set library (e.g. Bluefield State College)

o Key in search term or phrase, then click GO

o Record call number to find item on shelves

o Need library card to sign out items, need school ID & driver’s license to get library card

· Then use outside catalogs

o Library of Congress [world’s largest library] (http://catalog.loc.gov/)

o RedLightGreen [Union Catalog, over 130 million books cataloged] (http://www.redlightgreen.com/)

o Amazon.com [world’s largest online market] (http://www.amazon.com/)

o Note: If you find and item in an outside catalog first check and see if the book is part of the BSC library system. If it is not then you will have to request that item for interlibrary loan, to learn how to do that see [How can I get the Book I need?]

· Online Full Text

o Some books can be found online in full text particularly world classics and older works not protected by copyright (or those who have willingly waived their copyrights). I have listed some of the better sites below:

§ Bartleby, Great Books Online (http://www.bartleby.com/)

§ Google, Book Search (http://books.google.com/)

§ Internet Public Library, Directory of Online Text (http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse/hum60.60.00/)

§ Project Gutenburg (http://www.gutenberg.org/)

§ The Online Books Page (http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/)

How should I use Books?

Books often allow for more detail and precision that in any other format. While they lack the currency and speed of publication that many articles offer they more than make up for this by way of depth and explanatory power. Books can be used for research support (paper citations), background reading, self instruction, or pleasure reading.

Books should be cited in accordance with the standards of the career field or the instructor’s assignment parameters. For help with the writing or citation process consult your instructor, librarian, or other educator. In addition here are some useful web pages:

Writing Process

· Harvard’s Writing Center: (http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/resources.html)

· Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL): (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/)

· UNC’s Writing Center: (http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/)

· UW-Madison Writing Center: (http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/index.html)

Citation Methods

· Long Island University:

(http://www.liu.edu/cwis/CWP/library/workshop/citation.htm)

· Purdue University’s OWL for APA (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html)

· Purdue University’s OWL for MLA (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html)

How can I get the Book I need?

· Mountain Library Network (MLN)

The Mountain Library Network (http://mtlibrary.mln.lib.wv.us/) is an organization of libraries both academic and public in various counties across southern West Virginia. A library card at one library grants you access to all libraries in the network. Although depending upon your status your privileges may vary from library to library. As a Beckley campus student your fist choice in library use should be at the New River Community and Technical College & Bluefield State College campuses. Check their web pages for contact information, hours, and location. The nearest public library is the Raleigh County Public Library (they will obviously have less academic material) but might be more convenient due to location.

o Greenbrier Valley Campus (New River), GVC Library

(http://nrctc.edu/subPages/library/index.htm)

o Bluefield State College, Hardway Library (http://www.bluefieldstate.edu/Library.htm)

o Raleigh County Public Library

(http://rcpl.lib.wv.us/)

· Other Libraries (Not Members of MLN)

o Mountain State University, Robert C. Byrd Library

(http://www.mountainstate.edu/current/library/)

MLN members restricted to in house-use only. You must be a MSU student in order to sign out items

· Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Your first step is to search for items that are available on hand at nearby libraries. If none of the available library collections has what you need your next option is to request items via interlibrary loan. Books, articles, and sometimes even other media formats (DVD, CD, etc.) can be ordered. Order times vary and can range from a few days to a few weeks or longer. Lending privileges vary so contact each library directly for full details.

o Greenbrier Valley Campus (http://nrctc.edu/subPages/library/illPolicies.htm)

No charge for most items

o Bluefield State College (http://www.bluefieldstate.edu/library/ill.htm)

No charge/item; $.10/page for photocopy costs

o Raleigh County Public Library (http://rcpl.lib.wv.us/)

$1.00/item; case by case basis for photocopy costs