Saint Joseph's College of Maine
 

Frequently asked questions

General
[GPS students: please see Distance learning FAQ.]

When is the library open?

Regular and special library hours are listed on the library’s web site. Please keep in mind that our hours do vary during summers and breaks, so it may be wise to doublecheck them.

How do I make photocopies/microfilm printouts?
Photocopies and microfilm printouts are 10¢ a page. The photocopier is self-service and can accept up to $5.00 at a time for copies. The microfilm printer will only accept dimes. Change for copies is available at the circulation desk.


Circulation FAQ
[GPS students
: please see Distance learning FAQ.]

How do I check out a book?
To take out a book or other circulating materials, you need to have a valid Saint Joseph’s College ID with an activated bar code on it. We can activate your bar code at the library, which takes about five minutes. Present your ID at the circulation desk each time you wish to check out materials. Materials can be returned during open library hours through the drop slot at the end of the circulation desk.

How do I renew a book?
Students can renew their own books by going to MINERVA and choosing View Own Record. Then simply type in your name and barcode to see your record. Books may also be renewed by phone for three weeks from the date of the call by calling 893-7725 during open library hours. They may also be renewed in person at the library circulation desk.

How do I get books through the Greater Portland Alliance of Colleges & Universities?
The Greater Portland Alliance of Colleges & Universities (GPACU) consists of the libraries at Maine College of Art, Southern Maine Technical College, University of New England, University of Southern Maine and Saint Joseph’s College. This consortium allows faculty and students from these colleges to use their home ID cards to check out library material from other libraries in the consortium. Libraries within the alliance have the right to restrict material they allow to circulate.

Material checked out at participating alliance libraries must be returned to the library where the material was checked out, NOT to Wellehan Library. Students and faculty are responsible for fines or charges incurred by not returning GPACU library material. Fines from other GPACU libraries will result in the SJC student or faculty library borrowing privileges at SJC suspended until the fine is paid. Any SJC student who has fines or charges outstanding at SJC will have GPACU library borrowing privileges suspended until the fines are paid.

How do I access course materials on reserve?
Reserve materials are kept at the library’s circulation desk. As for them by the instructor’s name and the material you are looking to use. You will need to leave your ID with the desk staff to use the materials in the library. Reserve materials are kept on closed reserve and cannot be taken from the library, but may be photocopied.


Interlibrary Loan FAQ
[GPS students:
please see Distance learning FAQ.]

What do I need to know about Interlibrary Loan?
Please read this information carefully. If you have any further questions about how Interlibrary Loan works, please do not hesitate to contact us!

I received a pdf file from you, but it won’t open! What do I do?
To open a pdf file you will need Acrobat Reader. Click on the icon below to download it free.


Accessing Resources FAQ
[GPS students
: please see Distance learning FAQ.]

How do I get help with my research?
Contact library staff by phone, e-mail, or in person at the library. We are always glad to answer questions and help with research, so let us know how we can be of assistance! We will also be adding to the Tutorials and How-Tos part of our website, so please check there often!

How do I find books?
Use MINERVA, the library’s online catalog, to find books in our collection. If we do not have the book you want, you can request the book from another Maine library through our catalog by entering your name and library barcode. If you need assistance with this process, please see a staff member.

How do I find articles?
Use our databases to identify articles on your topic – choose from the alphabetical or subject list of databases. Some databases provide full text online, while others provide only a citation and abstract. If the article you want is not available online, we will get it for you through Interlibrary Loan.

I’m home on break, and want to use Wellehan’s databases. What do I do?
Only Saint Joseph’s current students, faculty, and staff are allowed off-campus access to Wellehan’s databases. (Our online catalog, MINERVA, is the exception.) To show that you are part of the SJC community, you will need a special username and password for each of our databases. If you do not have a copy of those passwords, please contact the library staff for assistance.

How do I know if you have this article online?
To find out whether an article in available online, click on E-Journals on the library’s home web page. This will take you to a database that will allow you to enter the publication’s title and will lead you to the article if it’s available.

Help! I can’t figure out this database! What do I do?
Contact library staff for assistance - we’ll be glad to help!

How do I cite this source?
Please see the library’s helpful web sites page for great links to writing bibliographies, citing sources, etc.