Library Guide for Off-Campus Students
This guide is designed to assist Shenandoah University graduate students who receive their course instruction in locations other than in Winchester, including Web-based instructional delivery. We are committed to providing library support in all situations and locations. We know that access to library collections and services is an important concern for students at all off-campus sites, including Leesburg. The university has made a number of arrangements to ensure access. This guide outlines the ways in which we have accomplished this. We welcome your suggestions on ways to improve our services.
SU Collections
The Library collections of Shenandoah University are housed in two facilities. The Alson H. Smith, Jr. Library is the main library for the University, located in the center of the Winchester campus. The Health Sciences Library, located in the Health Professions Building on the campus of the Winchester Medical Center, contains collections in support of Pharmacy, Nursing, Respiratory Care and Physician Assistant studies. Current total holdings number more than 275,000 items, including approximately 131,000 books, scores, and bound serials, as well as 134,000 microforms and 30,000 audiovisual materials. The Library subscribes to the ERIC document collection, and has over 115,000 microfiche documents beginning with 1991. In addition, the Library currently has access to more than 32,000 print and electronic journals. Access to information is enhanced by more than 80 online databases and other electronic collections and texts, many of which are linked to full-text information in journals and reference books.
Library Web Page
Online access to the resources of the University library centers around the Library website. We have grouped a number of information resources at this location. There are direct links to the Webcat online catalog and to a variety of databases and electronic collections accessible via the Internet. There are also links to our Journal Locator, to Reference Services, to Media Services, to online forms for submitting interlibrary loan requests, and to information on library hours, staff and telephone numbers.
Access to Library Holdings Information
Access to the holdings in all University library collections is through the Webcat online catalog. Cataloged items include books, scores, audiovisual materials and periodicals. Webcat is accessible from any computer in the world over the Internet. On the World Wide Web, using a browser such as Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer, the direct URL (address) for the catalog is libcatalog.su.edu/uhtbin/webcat. The online catalog has a feature that permits borrowers to check to see what items they have checked out and to renew them if they wish. Clicking on the "User Services" button will take you to a screen to enter your student ID number (library card number) and a PIN number. You can get your PIN number via e-mail from Becky Rockwell, or by asking at the Smith Library Circulation Desk.
If you have questions or need assistance, please call the Reference Desk at (540) 665-5421, or e-mail the Library.
Borrower's Information
The University "Hornet" ID card is also your library card in both the Smith and Health Sciences Libraries. All students, staff and faculty are required to use updated ID numbers, assigned in fall of 2007. If you have not been received a University ID card, the Library will provide you with a temporary card for use in checking out materials. If you do not have a University ID card, the first time you come to the University libraries, we will request other identification and proof of your affiliation with the University. Please bring a tuition receipt, letter of acceptance or registration document connecting you with the University. Once we have issued a library card to you, please bring the card with you on future visits. If you have questions about borrowing materials, please contact Becky Rockwell at (540) 665-5424, toll-free at (877) 289-4611, or via e-mail at rrockwel@su.edu.
Loan Period - Graduate students may check out books and scores for 42 days. Three additional renewals are permitted, totaling 168 days, unless an item has been requested by another user. Books can be renewed over the phone, or by the student directly though access to our online catalog. The online catalog has a feature that permits borrowers to check to see what items they have checked out and to renew them if they wish. Clicking on the "User Services" button will take you to a screen to enter your student ID number (library card number) and a PIN number. You can get your PIN number via e-mail from Becky Rockwell, or by asking at the Smith Library Circulation Desk.
Overdues - Notices for overdue items will be sent by SU email throughout the year. The fine for overdue books is $0.10 per day. The fine for overdue interlibrary loans is $1.00 per day. Failure to receive an overdue notice does not relieve the borrower of the obligation to return the materials in question. If you are returning books to the library by mail, make sure you allow enough time for mailing to avoid overdue fees. We suggest that you renew books checked out to you prior to putting them in the mail.
Borrowing SU Materials by Mail
We know that some of our students rarely, if ever, come to the Winchester campus. However, if you live in areas covered by Zip Codes 22601, 22602, 22603, 22604, 22611, 22620, 22624, 22625, 22645, 22654, 22655, 22663, you should plan to pick up library resources at the Smith Library. If you live in any other Zip Code area, you may request that library materials be mailed to you at your home or office. Through the Library's Document Delivery Service, library staff will retrieve books from our collection, make photocopies of articles, and will mail materials to you without charge. However, the cost of returning books to the SU library is your responsibility.
If you cannot get an item full text online, you can submit your request by using the "Online Forms" on the library's website.
If for any reason you have not received a university ID card, our computer system should have the information we need to permit you to borrow by mail, as long as you are a registered student. We urge you to obtain an ID card the next time you are on campus.
If you are returning books to the library by mail, make sure you allow enough time for mailing to avoid overdue fees. We suggest that you renew books checked out to you prior to putting them in the mail.
Requesting Books and Articles from other Libraries through Interlibrary Loan
Students may request that items not owned by SU libraries be borrowed or copied from other libraries through what is known as interlibrary loan. Please submit ILL and document delivery requests electronically using the Online Forms on the library web site. Please allow at least 10 days for processing interlibrary loan requests. From off-campus, you will be prompted to log in to the proxy server to have access to complete the forms.
Please allow about two weeks for us to order and receive these items. If you live in areas covered by Zip Codes 22601, 22602, 22603, 22604, 22611, 22620, 22624, 22625, 22645, 22654, 22655, 22663, you should plan to pick up interlibrary loans at the Smith or the Health Sciences Library. If you live in any other Zip Code area, you may request that ILL materials be mailed to you at your home or office at no cost to you. However, the cost of returning interlibrary loan books to the SU library is your responsibility.
If you have questions about interlibrary loan, you may contact Jan Edgar, call (540) 545-7318, or use the Library toll-free number at (877) 289-4611.
Obtaining an SU Network Account
All students have an SU ID number and network account, which permits them to use many of the electronic resources that the Library makes available. If you are unsure about the status of your network account, or simply need more information about your account, please contact Rosemary Green, our Graduate Programs Librarian. She will work with you to provide the details of your account, or to expedite the creation of a new account by Institutional Computing.
Electronic Databases and Electronic Collections
The University subscribes to over 80 databases and electronic collections, which are accessible over the Internet from the Library website Databases and Electronic Resources link. Off-campus users connect to databases and electronic journals after logging into the library's proxy server (see next section). Your SU network account and password will be used to log in.
What do we have for your discipline? Check Library Databases by Subject.
Access to Electronic Resources from Off-Campus
Most of our databases and electronic collections may be accessed from off-campus by linking through the proxy server. Students from off-campus must use their SU network username and campus email password to connect to these databases. If you do not know your network account username and password, please contact Rosemary Green.
Our proxy server does not require you to configure your Internet browser for remote access. Most current browsers should work, including Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer. In all cases, cookies must be enabled. Usually, the default setting on your browser will be cookies enabled.
Some corporate, agency, or institutional, dial-up, cable, or broadband connections may automatically configure browsers so their own proxy server is used. It's possible these automatic settings, if they exist, could interfere with the use of our proxy server. If these networks have a firewall or preset Internet security settings they could interfere with the proxy server. You will need to talk to your network administrator at your place of business or school.
Access to Print and Electronic Journals and Periodicals
A complete listing of the print and full-text electronic periodicals, journals and newspapers to which the Library subscribes is viewable on the library website using the Journal Locator. This page provides web links to more than 32,000 full-text print and electronic journals indexed in library databases.
Remote access to most of the electronic journals is through the proxy server. Students from off-campus must use their SU network username and campus email password to connect to these journals. However, some electronic journal subscriptions may require a separate username and password. Access to these passwords can be obtained from the Passwords link, which again requires your SU network account and password.
Internet Resources
From the main page, select "Resources" to view various websites that the SU librarians have identified as being particularly useful for research. There are sites selected by field of study, including business, education, music, pharmacy and all other areas of the curriculum. Also on this page are links to our virtual reference collection, to style manuals, to search engines and to information about evaluating Web sites.
Reference and Research Assistance
Rosemary Green, Graduate Programs Librarian, is the principal contact for our off-campus and graduate students for reference and research assistance. Her office is in the Smith Library, and her phone is (540) 665-4634. At the request of course instructors, Ms. Green often travels to off-campus sites to meet with students and provide instruction on the use of library collections and services. She also meets with graduate students when they come to campus, either as a group or individually.
In addition to Ms. Green, reference and instructional assistance is provided by David McKinney and Cindy Thomas in the Smith Library, and from Denise Blake, (540) 678-4350, in the Health Sciences Library. Off-campus students may call the Smith Library toll-free at (877) 289-4611. All library staff will be happy to offer assistance or direct your call to another staff member who can help.
Contacting the Library Staff
We encourage you to contact the University library in Winchester for reference consultations, to make suggestions, to ask general questions, and for information about interlibrary loans. You may use any email application to contact the campus.
Use these links for information about library hours, staff and phone numbers.
Using Other Libraries
Shenandoah University has agreements with several area libraries for use of their collections. You should bring your University ID card and ask about arrangements to borrow materials. Contact Rosemary Green for further information. Area libraries include:
- Bridgewater College - Bridgewater
- Christendom College - Front Royal
- Eastern Mennonite University - Harrisonburg
- Lord Fairfax Community College - Middletown and Warrenton
- Handley Regional Public Library - Winchester and Stephens City
- James Madison University - Harrisonburg
- Loudoun County Public Libraries - Leesburg
- Mary Baldwin College - Staunton
- Samuels Public Library - Front Royal
You may also wish to use the libraries at other colleges and universities in the region. We have web page connections to many other institutions at Other Library Catalogs.
Students who travel to other libraries with whom we do not have agreements may not be permitted to borrow materials. Interlibrary loans are an option in those cases.