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Aurora University
Phillips Library

Library Information in a Nutshell

Library Catalog
If you go to the library homepage you will see, first, our library catalog, called I-Share Books (we only maintain a computerized catalog). We are part of an academic library consortium, CARLI (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois), of more than one hundred libraries and we participate in other resource sharing, also. That means that if we don’t have the materials you seek, you may search all of I-Share for materials that might be held by other libraries in our group. You may request books on your own through the I-Share connection (Request). You may also check your personal library account online for due dates and to renew items (Renew Books/MyAccount).

There are some titles that may be viewed full-text online through Net Library.  The catalog entry for a title will indicate this online availability.  You may read Net Library materials in the library or off-campus.  If you want to use the off-campus option you must first create your Net Library profile at one of the library computer stations.  It only takes a few minutes.

Periodical Databases
Next on our webpage is a compilation of the databases that we offer to students, faculty, and staff of AU. You may access these databases from home or other off-site computers as well as from the library computers. You may view databases by Name or Subject - content is the same.  

If you know the full citation for an article you want, go to Full-Text Electronic Journals and search by title of journal (Title Begins With).  A visit to the library for learning more about database searching is a good idea.

Internet Links
We provide librarian-selected links to internet resources, both General Sources & Search Tools and Subject-Specific Web Sites.  Look here for links to: dictionaries, information on nursing and health, business, literature, social work, education, recreation, women’s studies, science, religion, APA , MLA and other style guide formatting, writing a literature review, and much more.

Periodical Holdings, Library Services
From our homepage, you may also view our library’s in-house periodical holdings at the link called AU’s Print Periodicals. 

Periodicals and reference materials may not be checked out of the library.

Interlibrary Loan
You may request book interlibrary loans directly using the Request function in I-Share.   You may also fill out an online form by clicking on Library Services and then filling out the Document Request form. 

Periodical articles that are not available through database links may also be requested by using the Document Request form.

The WorldCat database offers interlibrary loan of books and audiovisual materials; you need to fill out a brief online form.  Use this option after you have already checked the I-Share catalog.
It takes one to two weeks to get your interlibrary loan so plan ahead.

Computers in the Library
We have many computers in the library connected to the internet.  Printing from our computers is free at this time for AU students, faculty, and staff. 

There are laptop computers available for use in the library.  Since we are using wireless technology for the laptops you may use them anywhere in the library.  Laptops check out at the circulation desk, after you have read and signed a user’s agreement.  We have a central printer for laptop printing; this too is wireless technology.  Please note that when you are using a laptop it is advisable to regularly save your work.

Copiers
There are two multi-purpose black and white print copiers available for patrons. We charge .10 a copy.

Resources
We offer reserve item services for faculty; materials are kept at the circulation desk.

We have many circulating titles in our collection that support AU curricula, a reference collection, subscriptions to periodicals and newspapers, a selection of AU and other dissertations and theses, and AU yearbooks from 1917 to 2000.  Circulating books usually check out for four weeks.
The Jenks Collection of Adventist materials is a research collection and facility located in the library; hours are by appointment.

The Aurora University archives are held in the library.  Contact us with your university history questions.
Most of our AV (audiovisual) collection is shelved with the book collection; AV materials circulate for one week.  If you choose to view or listen to materials in the library, we have equipment for your use.
There are group study rooms in the library as well as areas set aside for quiet study.

Other Services & Links
You may view library hours and information (Library Info), use AskALibrarian (email questions, under Library Services), request materials (Library Services), and contact the library director and staff (Library Info).

There are links to other AU sites from our homepage; click on AU Homepage or open the Hot List menu and click on the link you desire.

Hours
Our late night/early morning hours during the regular school year are posted on the Library Info link.  During the summer, our hours are specific to the season. 

The computer lab in the library, associated with the ITS (Information Technology Service) Department, is open during the hours that the library is open.  

Reference Assistance
We offer excellent reference services in person, by email, and by phone.  Reference librarians also conduct library user instruction sessions to familiarize students with library resources.  We tailor these sessions to each group and provide handout materials.  Faculty members are encouraged to contact the library to set up a session. 

We aim to keep the library a friendly environment for our students and patrons. 

All information can be viewed at the library homepage, www.aurora.edu/library. If you would like further information please direct your information services/reference questions to:

The library director, John Law, may be reached at: 630/844-5438, jlaw@aurora.edu.  The library secretary, Jewel Huggins is available at: 630/844-5472, jhuggins@aurora.edu.

Questions about materials you have checked out should be directed to Kay Culhane, 630/844-5439, kculhane@aurora.edu.   

For faculty – questions about acquisitions for the library may be directed to Andi Seifrid, 630/844-5444, aseifrid@aurora.edu.

Revised August 13, 2007

 
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