Reference Department
The Reference Department at the J.D. Boyd Library supports the intellectual and informational needs of the faculty, staff, students, and surrounding communities. The department provides a range of services to help users access, retrieve, and interpret the library’s resources for their instructional, research, distance learning, cultural diversity, and public service requirements. The non-circulating reference collection is housed in open stacks on the first floor, allowing easy accessibility for users. These services include:
Information Desk
The reference librarian assists users in locating information from various sources, including the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), print resources, electronic databases, interlibrary loans, the internet, and the library’s facilities. The reference area houses a variety of materials, such as ready reference books, brochures, policy and procedure manuals, workstations, and offices.
The ready reference collection contains frequently requested reference materials. These materials have a two-hour time limit when in high demand. For statistical purposes, the reference department asks users to sign a usage card when requesting items from the ready reference collection.
Library Instruction
The library offers a range of instructional sessions, from general overviews to content-specific trainings, to support the academic and research needs of undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the library provides individual and group instruction for students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Interlibrary Loan Services
INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICE BORROWING POLICES
Eligibility
The J. D. Boyd Library offers an interlibrary loan service to support the research and course-related work of its faculty, students, and staff.
Materials That Can Be Obtained
- Photocopy of journal articles, newspapers or books not owned by ASU.
- Thesis and dissertations, when available.
- Government documents and conference proceedings.
How to Make a Request for an Interlibrary Loan
- Check the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and Online Databases to make sure the item is not owned by ASU.
- Fill out the interlibrary loan request form, available at the Information Desk or the online request form.
- Graduate students, faculty and staff may request up to 25 items and undergraduate students may request up to 10 items at one time.
- The librarian will notify the requestor if the book is damage or missing.
Interlibrary Loan Requests for Distant Learning Students
The Alcorn State University Interlibrary Loan Service allows currently enrolled distance learning students to request materials owned by the University Libraries. The requested items will then be mailed to the students’ addresses.
The Interlibrary Loan Service allows students to request any item from the circulating collections, excluding equipment (e.g., DVD and VHS players), reference materials, and archives.
Each distance learning student is provided a maximum of 10 books per semester through the Interlibrary Loan Service. Journal articles will be sent electronically via email. Students will be charged a postage fee for orders placed over the 10-item limit. It is the student’s responsibility to return borrowed items by the specified due date.
If the requested material is not available at the University Libraries, the librarian will try to locate it from a library in the student’s home state. Students can then pick up the requested material at a convenient host library. Once picked up, students must follow the lending library’s 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
The library offers tours upon request, which can help introduce patrons to the available 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 [email protected].
Contact:
Jawanda Wilson, Reference Librarian/ Archivist
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 601.877.3913
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.