Alcorn State University
Where Knowledge and Character Matter ®

Reference

Reference Department

The mission of the Reference Department is to support the intellectual development of planned instructional research, distance learning, cultural diversity and public service needs of the faculty, staff, students and the surrounding communities.

The Reference Department in the J. D. Boyd Library provides a variety of services to users with informational, directional, recreational and research needs in the accessing, retrieving, and interpreting the library's resources. Books in the reference collection are non-circulating. The reference collection is housed in open-stacks for accessibility to users on the second floor. These services are listed below:

Information Desk

The reference librarian assist users in locating information on the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), print resources, electronic databases, interlibrary loans, internet and library facilities. There are a variety of materials housed in this area such as the ready reference, brochures, policy and procedure manuals, workstations and offices.

The ready reference collection contains those frequently requested reference books and other materials. These materials are limited to a two hour time period when in great demand. For statistical purposes, the reference department asks that users sign a usage card when requesting materials from the ready reference collection.

Library Instruction

The library provides general to content-specific instructional sessions to support the academic and research needs of undergraduate and graduate students. Individual and group instructions are also provided to students, faculty, staff, and community users.

Interlibrary Loan Services

INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICE BORROWING POLICES

Eligibility

Interlibrary loan service is offered to Alcorn State University faculty, students, and staff supporting research and course related work.

Materials That Can Be Obtained

  1. Photocopy of journal articles, newspapers or books not owned by ASU.
  2. Thesis and dissertations, when available.
  3. Government documents and conference proceedings.

How to Make a Request for an Interlibrary Loan

  1. Check the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and Online Databases to make sure the item is not owned by ASU.
  2. Fill out the interlibrary loan request form, available at the Information Desk or the online request form.
  3. Graduate students, faculty and staff may request up to 25 items and undergraduate students may request up to 10 items at one time.
  4. The librarian will notify the requestor if the book is damage or missing.

Interlibrary Loan Requests for Distant Learning Students

The Interlibrary Loan Service allows currently enrolled Alcorn State University distance learning students to request materials owned by University Libraries to have the items mailed to their address.

Any item from the circulating collections may be requested through Interlibrary Loan with the exclusion of equipment (e.g., DVD and VHS players) reference, archives.

Interlibrary Loan Services will provide a maximum of 10 books per semester to any distance learning student and journal articles will be sent electronically via email. For orders placed over this 10-item limit, students will be charged a postage fee. It is the responsibility of the student to return borrowed item(s) by the specified due date.

The librarian will locate the requested resource for the student. If the requested material cannot be found at the University Libraries, then the librarian will try to locate the material in the student’s home state. The requested material can be picked up at a host library. After students pick up material at the library that is convenient for them, student must follow the rules of the lending library policies and procedures.

*Disclaimer: These items are unavailable for Interlibrary Loan: reference books, archival materials and media equipment.

Online Services

To support the university’s mission of teaching and research needs, the library offers instructional materials, such as peer-reviewed and scholarly journals, and eBooks, etc., via the online databases and the Online Public Access Catalog.

Tours

Tours of the library are available upon request. A tour of the library is useful in introducing patrons to programs, resources, and services.

Ask-A-Librarian

Ask-A-Librarian is an electronic service available at the library. Users may ask a reference question via email at any time. Every attempt will be made to respond to requests as soon as possible. All email reference questions may be sent to refdesk@alcorn.edu.

Contact:

Jawanda Wilson, Reference Assistant
Email: jawanda@alcorn.edu

Phone: 601.877.6357

Reference Librarian/Archivist

Email:

Phone: 601.877.2392

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday- Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.