Library FAQ

The hours are always listed on the library homepage. We have extended hours during final exam periods, but shorter hours between semesters and during breaks. During the semester, hours are
            Monday–Thursday      7:45am–11:30pm
            Friday                          7:45am–6:00pm
            Saturday                     12:00pm–6:00pm
            Sunday                        2:00pm–10:30pm

Librarians are experts in suggesting where to search, identifying appropriate keywords, and navigating search results. In short, we can help you complete research assignments. This video from Northeastern Illinois University explains it well: Who are librarians and what do they do?

Our in-person availability during construction and the pandemic is limited, but you can always contact us online.

Come see us at the desk in the library. During the semester, we are at the desk Monday–Wednesday 9:30am–6pm, Thursday 9:30–4:30, and Friday 9:30–2. Weekday mornings we are usually available before 9:30; ask the staff member at the desk to see a librarian. If it's not Fall or Spring semester, we're still available; again, ask at the desk.

You can also Reserve a Librarian or contact us via chat, email (askus@uwp.edu), or phone (262-595-3432).

Librarians can help you identify when you need to talk to your professor for clarification about an assignment. It's up to you to do searches and select the resources you need to complete your assignments. If you need help with writing or other subjects, see the tutors in the PARC or NetTutor.

If you have a topic in mind, try exploring Library Search, on the library's homepage. If you get overwhelmed or think, "There's nothing on my topic!" ask a librarian for help.

If you are looking for topic ideas, explore the links on this Choosing a Topic page. 

These tutorials can help.

Click here to view this tutorial in a different window.

Click here to view this tutorial in a different window.

You can print from any computer in the library, or download a client to a personal laptop to use the campus printers. Cost is 6¢ per page for black-and-white and 25¢ per page for color.

You must have money on your Ranger Card, which you can add online, at the Concierge Desk, or at the Campus Cash boxes on the wall outside the library and in Molinaro.

When you send your job to the printer (LabLasers for b/w, ColorLaser for color), give it a very simple username and password. At the printer station, swipe your Ranger Card. Click on your job and press Print. Type in the password you chose, and your document will print. When you are finished, click Logoff.

More information about campus printing, including in the library

Instructions for printing from a personal laptop

Add money to Ranger Card online

The library’s collection includes academic and popular books, DVDs, CDs, periodicals, video games, and other items. Students can borrow most books for 28 days and audio-visual items for 14 days. See the Circulation Policy for more information.

Course reserves are available at the desk or online.

The library provides online access to thousands of periodicals and hundreds of databases, which include articles, ebooks, images, videos, and more. Start your search on the library homepage or contact us for assistance. 

For books from Parkside or another UW library, use the Your Library Account link on the library home page to see what items you have checked out, when they are due, and to renew materials. You can also renew items in person (you do not need to bring the items in) or by phone (262-595-3432), provided that no one else has requested them. There is no renewal on Closed Stacks items, reserve materials, laptops, or other equipment. You can renew books 3 times and CDs and DVDs once.

To renew items from Interlibrary Loan (ILL), which will have a large sticker on the front, use the Interlibrary Loan link on the library home page. Log into your account and select "View/Renew Checked Out Items." All renewals must be requested on or before their due date.

See the library's Circulation Policies for more information.

This video from UWM explains it well. More detailed text instructions follow.

 

In Library Search, there will be a link to Online Access under the information about the article.

Click that, and you'll get one or more options for databases that have the article for you to read. Choose one, and you should be set.

In other databases, if there isn't an obvious link to full text, look for the Find It link:

Click that, and you'll get options for accessing the article through databases or the library's collection. If the library doesn't have the article, sign in and click Request a Copy under Get It to request the article from another library through Interlibrary Loan.

Finding articles can be complicated. Contact us if you have questions.

Current Parkside students, faculty, and staff can access databases off campus. When you access the databases or Library Search through the library homepage you will be prompted to enter your regular Parkside ID and password to verify you are affiliated with the university. Contact us if you have trouble accessing a database or item from off-campus.

Community users may only access the databases on campus.

 

The Business Databases page has sections for finance, marketing, company, industry information, and more.

Finding sources can be complicated. If you've been looking for 5 or 10 minutes and haven't found what you're looking for, contact us for help.

You can download a client to a personal laptop to use the campus printers. Contact Campus Technology Services or visit the Tech Bar if you need help installing the client.

More information about campus printing, including in the library

Probably not. As a general rule we do not buy textbooks for the library’s collection, though some professors put their textbooks on course reserve, and you can ask your professors to do so.

You can use the Library Search on the library homepage to check if your textbooks happen to be in the library's collection. You may request these books from other UW campuses using Library Search, but you may not request textbooks through Interlibrary Loan. (Any book available through the campus bookstore is considered a textbook.)

The campus bookstore's website lists what textbooks are required for every class.

When you know the article you're looking for, search for the journal or magazine title (NOT the title of the article) in Library Search. If Parkside has access to the publication, the availability statement will indicate if it's in the library or online. (If you're having trouble finding the publication title, switch to the Journal Search at the top of the screen.)

 

In this example, the first item is in the library, and the second is available online. Click either of these to get information about which issues (by date) are available in which medium. Look for the availability that includes the date of the article you are looking for.

If you can't find the journal title, or if the date you need is unavailable, you can request the article through interlibrary loan, and we can get it for you from another library.

Finding articles can be complicated. If you haven't found what you're looking for, contact us for help.

The library's News guide lists many sources for newspaper articles, including historical newspapers. 

The library has access to The New York Times via academic pass. Anyone with a valid UWP email address can sign up for free access to the NYTimes.com website and smartphone apps. Please read registration instructions.

The library also has access to The Washington Post. Be sure to go through the library's website for full access.

Gathering sources can be complicated. If you haven't found what you're looking for, contact us for help.

Most items do NOT accumulate fines if you return them late

We only charge fines for materials that circulate for fewer than 28 days. The fine for overdue two- and four-hour material is $1.00/hour the library is open. The fine for overdue 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day reserve material is $1.00/day the library is open. All other material with loan periods of fewer than 28 days is fined $1.00/day per item for each day the library is open. Individuals with outstanding fines or fees at any UW System library will have their borrowing privileges suspended; students may also have “holds” placed on their university records.

Lost items are those that have been overdue for more than six weeks. Lost item fees include the cost of replacement, or if out of print, $60.00 plus a non-refundable $15.00 processing fee. These charges apply to each item lost. If a lost item is returned before payment is made, only the $15.00 processing fee is assessed. If a lost item has been paid for and is later found and returned within one year of payment, the borrower is reimbursed the cost of the item but not the processing fee. After one year, no fees are refunded.

Fines may be paid at the front desk in the library with cash, check or money order. Fines will only be accepted on weekends and 7:30am–4pm on weekdays. Credit cards are not accepted in the library. It may be possible for larger payments to be made via credit through SOLAR. Please contact the library Circulation Office (262-595-2260) or the Cashier's office (262-595-2258) for details in making this sort of transaction.

See the Circulation Policy for more information. 

The library's MLA Citation page has many links to MLA guides and sample citations. There are also paper handouts available at the library's desk, and the MLA Handbook is in the reference collection on L1 (call number Ref LB2369 G53 2016). If you still have questions, contact the Parkside Academic Resource Center (PARC) or talk with your professor. Librarians can help with straightforward citation questions.

If you already have a career in mind, start with the resources on this Career Information page, and if you still have questions, please ask.

If you're trying to find out what kinds of jobs or careers a particular major will prepare you for, the free internet is a great resource. Search for the major and "careers" or "jobs." For example: English major and careers. If you're still not finding what you're looking for, ask us for help.

There are a few techniques to try:

• Think of terms that are more specific and try changing the keywords or terms.
• Add search terms. You may find more specific or additional keywords in your search results or in the list of limiters in the Refine Search options.
• Use limiters such as date and resource type to retrieve a targeted results list. For example, you can search for peer-reviewed articles within the past 5 years.
• Think about a more focused aspect of your topic, such as
  • a single event
  • a specific group
  • a limited time period
  • one cause or effect
  • one argument or viewpoint.
• Do not use OR between search terms.

Finding sources can be complicated. If you've been looking for 5 or 10 minutes and haven't found what you're looking for, contact us for help.

Adapted from Portland State University's Library DIY and Choosing a Manageable Research Topic from the John M. Pfau Library at California State University, San Bernardino.

Full text means you'll be able to read the entire article right now, online.

In Library Search, there will be a link to Full Text Available under the information about the article.

Click that, and you'll get one or more options for databases that have the article for you to read. Choose one, and you should be set.

In other databases, if there isn't an obvious link to full text, look for the Find It link:

Click that, and you'll get options for accessing the article through databases or the library's collection. If the library doesn't have the article, sign in and click Request a Copy under Get It to request the article from another library through Interlibrary Loan.

Finding articles can be complicated. Contact us if you have questions.

For sources covering many subject areas, start with Library Search, the large search box on the library's homepage. Then use the link on the left side of the screen for Peer-reviewed. (You may also want to use limiters for date, topic, or other options.)

If you are looking for articles focused on a specific subject area or discipline (for example, chemistry, business, art, etc.), use the Research Your Topic link, then choose your subject area to get a list of recommended databases to explore.

Sometimes your professor will tell you to use a particular database; look for it in the Databases: A-Z List.

Gathering sources can be complicated. If you haven't found what you're looking for, contact us for help.

Interlibrary Loan materials may arrive more slowly than they did in the past due to shipping delays. Contact us with questions.

UW-Parkside students, faculty, and staff may request items from other UW libraries, which will arrive at Parkside in about 3 business days. Sign in to Library Search and use the link for a "UW Request."

These users may also use other UW libraries in-person, as well as the libraries at Carthage College and Gateway Technical College. 

Use Interlibrary Loan (click the "Find It" link in many databases) to request items from non-UW libraries.