LIFELONG LEARNING
We Are Here to Help in Your Educational Journey
The Norma Wood Library at Arkansas State University Mountain Home provides an environment conducive to lifelong learning, supports students in achieving their academic goals, furnishes access to resources in a variety of formats, assists in research and technology issues, and acts as an information center for the University. If you have questions about how to use library resources or if you're a new student who is not sure how to get started, contact us directly.
Need tutoring? The Schliemann Tutoring Center is now located inside the Norma Wood Library.
If you have never conducted research at the collegiate level, it would be beneficial to learn some research basics. There are many Web sites that offer primers on beginning research. A few of the most helpful are:
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Introduction to Research - great starting point to learn the basics of research; prepared by Cornell University Library
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Writing a Research Paper - covers not only the research process (briefly) but also detailed information on how to go about writing a research paper; available from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
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Another great resource to refer to is the ProQuest Research Companion. It is comprised of Learning Modules and interactive Tools—all designed to automate the key elements of the research process. The multimedia-based Learning Modules engage researchers to think more critically and creatively about their research, while powerful, interactive Tools help them navigate through the research process more efficiently and more effectively, focusing more time on the research that interests them most. The responsive design means it's adaptable to all devices—laptops, tablets, and smart phones.
Once you understand the research process and are ready to gather information, the Norma Wood Library offers many resources to help you begin your search. In addition to its collection of print volumes and journals, the library also offers access to a wealth of scholarly information online through databases. To find descriptions of the databases, visit the Research Databases webpage. In an effort to make the online resources convenient to students, all library databases are accessible from off-campus by logging in with your student ID. The library has also prepared a tutorial to help you learn to use the different databases. It offers presentations on how to search each database along with search strategies, helpful handouts and other relevant information. The tutorial is available free to currently enrolled ASUMH students via Canvas and is titled Information Literacy. If you need help searching for specific sources for your research, the library has prepared a couple of basic primers for your use, check out our sections on Finding Items in the Library - covers searching the library's Online Catalog and locating items on the shelf, and Finding an Article - covers searching for a specific article or journal and searching for any article on a particular topic
If you are doing research on the Internet -- not through the library's databases -- you should be diligent in evaluating the quality of your Internet resources. While the Internet and the World Wide Web have made it possible for accessing a wealth of information, it is important to keep in mind that almost anyone can publish a Web site. If you are going to include a Web site as a source of information (for instance, when writing a paper), it is important to evaluate the site in light of the following criteria:
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Authority - Is there an identified author of the site? Are credentials and contact information listed?
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Accuracy - Can you verify the information on the site? Are correct grammar and spelling used?
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Objectivity - Does the site seem to be free of bias? Is it free of excessive advertisements?
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Currency - Was the site recently updated? Is it relatively free of "dead" links?
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Coverage - Does the coverage appear to be complete and thorough? Do links complement the site?
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For more information on evaluating Internet resources, check out the sites from UC Berkley and University of Virginia on this subject. When it finally comes time to write your paper, the library offers resources to help you with formatting and citing. If you are having trouble finding information on your topic, please make an appointment to meet with the librarian, who can help you target your information sources. Call or e-mail the library to schedule a meeting time. In the library, we are here to help you achieve academic success!
Cite Your Sources
It is of utmost importance to be sure that you provide citations for any content that you use. This includes quotes and information from books, articles, videos, websites, presentations, etc. Failure to cite your sources can result in plagiarism and lead to a failing grade on an assignment. Two of the most commonly used format for citations are APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association):
Searching for Items in the Library Catalog
Using the library catalog is the fastest and most accurate way to find items in the Norma Wood Library. The catalog is accessible both on and off campus. It lists not only books but also DVDs, VHS, multimedia CD's, instructor reserve items and e-books, just to name a few.
The basic search screen for the catalog offers most of the options that you will need to successfully complete your search. See picture below.
Use the Search box to type in your search terms. The All Fields drop-down allows you to specify the type of search you are performing; options include keyword, title, author, subject, call number, etc. We recommend that if you are just beginning your research on a topic, start with a keyword relevance search. A keyword search looks at every part of an item record -- author, title, subject and publication information. It gives you the broadest results for your search. The Limit box allows you narrow your search down to specific item types such as videos, reference books, juvenile books, or NetLibrary (e-books). By default, the quick limit is set to "None," which means you are searching all items types.
Once you have typed in your information and clicked the Search button, you will get a list of results. Your results list should look something like the picture below. Note: The result below is from a Keyword Relevance Search. If you perform another type of search your results will look different.
You can alter your search from this screen by using the options in the green bar; they offer you the same searching functions as the basic search screen. Your results are listed further down the page in a numbered list; click on either the number or the title to see the item record. Locating an item is easy if you look at the line below the title for each entry. Library Location tells you what area of the library to look in while the Call Number tells you where to look within that section of the library. e-books will not have a proper call number; you just click on a link within the item record to access the book online.
Locating Items on the Shelves
Locating items in the Norma Wood Library is easy once you understand the library shelving setup. Items are shelved based on two criteria: item type and item call number. The first criteria -- item type -- is going to be the basis for the item's location in the library. Common library item types (library locations) are:
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General Collection - Books that can be checked out
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Reference Collection - Books that are in-library use only
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NetLibrary - E-books; available online anytime
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Curriculum Development Collection - Children's books; great for Elementary Ed majors
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DVD - DVDs; can be academic or leisure viewing
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MediaVideo - VHS tapes; can be academic or leisure viewing
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MediaAudio - Can be CD or cassette tape
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McNaughton - Books for leisure reading; usually current bestsellers
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Once you know your item's library location, you can locate it on the shelf based on the item call number. ASUMH uses a system called the Library of Congress Classification System. Let's start with a sample call number to see how it works:
QE
534.2
B64
LINE 1: Call Numbers begin with one, two, or three letters. The first letter represents one of the 21 major divisions of the Library of Congress (LC) system. In this example, Q is science. The second letter "E" represents a subdivision of the sciences, Geology.
LINE 2: The numbers after the letter(s) help to define a book's subject. The range QE 500-625 are books about "Dynamic and Structural Geology" and the "543.2" in this example refers specifically to Earthquakes, Seismology - General Works - 1970 to Present." The call number "1" is frequently used for periodicals in a given subject area. For example, Q1.S3 is the call number for the journal Science.
LINE 3: This is called the cutter number after a man named Charles Ammi Cutter. Cutter numbers are coded representations of usually the author's name, but in cases where there is no author, it may represent an organization's name or the title of the work. B64 represents the author's last name, Bruce A. Bolt.
The Library of Congress Classification System organizes material in libraries according to twenty-one branches of knowledge. To learn more about how these categories are further divided, check out this easy to understand description of the LC system. If you are having trouble locating an item in the library, please ask any employee for help, and we will be glad to assist you.
Searching for a Specific Article or Journal
To perform a specific article or journal search, you must already know some information about the article / journal for which you are looking. At a minimum you should know the journal name -- this is enough information to perform your specific journal search. To perform a specific article search, you should have the title of the article and the name of the journal in which it was published. Date published will also be extremely helpful in this type of search.
To begin your search, you should visit the Norma Wood Library Homepage. From the "Start Your Research" section click the Find a Specific Journal link in the side menu. This will take you to the library's E-Journal Portal. The E-Journal Portal is a handy tool to look up any journal, magazine or newspaper that the library subscribes to -- whether that publication is available in print or online.
On the E-Journal page, type in the name of the journal for which you are searching and click the Search button-- use this search method whether you are looking for a journal or for an article within that journal.
As you can see in the example above, if the library subscribes to the journal, you should see it and all the library's holdings both online and in print in the results list.
As you can see in the example above, ProQuest first lists the publication name and full-text coverage then allows you to search within the publication (for your specific article title or for a general topic) or to browse all available issues by date. You may notice in the example above that the "Latest available issue" dates begin with the most current issue (in this case, April 2015) but remember that you will be able to access full text only for the dates indicated at the top of the page (in this case, May 1997 thru October 2003).
PLEASE NOTE: If the journal you are looking for is in a database other than ProQuest, your journal index page will look different than the picture above. All of the database's journal index pages work basically the same way but if you ever need help please don't hesitate to ask either in person, on the phone or via email.
Searching for any Article on a Specific Topic
When you are searching for articles by topic, the best way to begin your search is using one of the library databases. For example, let's say your instructor has assigned you a 5 page paper on illegal immigration and has required everyone to have 5 sources. Where to begin?
The best place to start is using the library databases. To see a list - along with descriptions - of the library databases, please visit the library's Research Databases page. If you have never used the library databases before and are unsure of their contents or purpose, we have prepared a free database tutorial available to all current ASUMH students via Canvas. It is highly recommended that you take the time to explore this tutorial since the information offered can save you hours of frustrated searching for the information you need.
If you are having trouble finding information on your topic, you may want to read the library's guide to Learning the Research Basics. If you still cannot find the type of information you need please make an appointment to meet with the library director, who can help you target your information sources. Call the library at 870-508-6112 or email cybrarian@asumh.edu to schedule a meeting time.
Computer and Internet Acceptable Use Policy
In keeping with the its mission to provide an environment conducive to lifelong learning, support students in achieving their academic goals, furnish access to resources in a variety of formats, assist in research and technology issues, and act as an information center for the University, the Norma Wood Library offers computer workstations and Internet access to its patrons. Download PDF of Policy.
Cell Phone Use Policy
The Norma Wood Library is committed to providing a welcoming environment conducive to study. Noise from the use of cell phones and pagers is disruptive to a study environment. Please set cell phones and pagers to a non-audible signal upon entering the library. Patrons are asked to conduct cell phone conversations outside the Library. Please take your belongings with you if you move to make a phone call. Please be courteous and responsible in the use of your cell phone. Library patrons wishing to report inappropriate cell phone use can contact a library staff member at the nearest service desk. The Library reserves the right to ask anyone to leave the Library if he/she is using a cell phone or pager in a prohibited area or disturbing others in the Library.
Children's Policy
Children are welcome in our libraries and we are concerned about their safety and welfare. However, parents and care-givers are responsible for monitoring the activities and regulating the behavior of their children under the age of 14 while the children are in the library. The responsibility for the safety and behavior of the children in the Library rests with the parents, legal guardians or other responsible adult caregivers.
Faculty Requests
Procedures for Ordering New Materials - This is a brief outline of the faculty procedures for ordering new materials for the library. Faculty are welcome to make whatever requests they think are appropriate.
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To assist faculty in making selections and verifying author/title, the library subscribes to several literature review journals. These can be read in the library or online. Consult your librarian for journal titles.
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Please make requests on faculty request cards, or by submitting the publisher's catalog with circles drawn around the items of interest. ). Request cards are available in the library. Please call (extension 130) or e-mail (tbradley@asumh.edu) if you want cards placed in your mail box.
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Cards should be typed or printed.
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Please keep in mind that it can take as many as 6 weeks to complete the entire order process. When items are backordered or out-of-stock, the process may take 3 months or longer. Rush orders can usually be completed in 2 to 3 weeks depending on their availability.
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Journal requests are welcome. Please consult with Library Director before submitting journal requests.
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Faculty request cards are returned to faculty once the item is cataloged. We look forward to helping you with your requests.
Laptop Checkout Policy
Laptop computers may be checked out only by currently enrolled ASUMH students, staff, or faculty who present a valid photo ID. The laptops are for use only in the Norma Wood Library and cannot be removed from the Library. A borrower must sign the Laptop Checkout Agreement before he/she can take a laptop away from the Circulation Desk.
Display Policy
Exhibits and displays of an educational, artistic, cultural, and informational nature can be mounted at the library within the limits of available space for organized and tasteful display. Advance application must be submitted and approved by the Librarian. Celebratory month and library or academic displays shall have priority in the use of the display areas. All other exhibits or displays will be displayed in the order the applications are received. Persons loaning items do so at their own risk and are required to sign a waiver which releases the library from any liability incurred through damage to or loss of any exhibited material.
Materials Selection and Patron Records Confidentiality Policy
Smart Board Use Policy
Laptop computer, color pens and eraser for use with the Smart Board may be checked out only by currently enrolled ASUMH students, staff, or faculty who present a valid photo ID. These items are for use only in the Norma Wood Library and cannot be removed from the Library. A borrower must sign the Smart Board and Laptop Checkout Agreement before he/she can take a laptop and the other items away from the Circulation Desk.
Wireless Access Policy
In keeping with its mission to provide an environment conducive to lifelong learning, support students in achieving their academic goals, furnish access to resources in a variety of formats, assist in research and technology issues, and act as an information center for the University, the Norma Wood Library of Arkansas State University Mountain Home is pleased to provide wireless Internet access to its patrons. Library patrons wishing to make use of the library's wireless Internet access should be aware of the following:
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A laptop/notebook computer or other wireless device with wireless networking is required to utilize the wireless Internet service. The library does not provide wireless network cards to patrons.
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Library staff will not provide technical assistance in configuring or troubleshooting to obtain wireless access. The library does not guarantee that all wireless devices will be able to connect to the wireless Internet service.
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While every effort has been made to provide comprehensive wireless coverage, patrons may encounter spots where wireless reception is limited. In such instances, patrons are advised to move to a different location within the library.
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The Norma Wood Library is not responsible for any wireless devices left unattended.
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No printers are available for laptop computer users. Saved files can be brought to one of the library's public access computer workstations for printing. The library assumes no responsibility for data loss that may occur during this process.
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The library is not responsible for any damage that may occur to a wireless device while connected to the wireless network.
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The library's wireless network is not secure. Information sent to and from any laptop computer or other wireless device may be captured by someone else with a wireless device and the appropriate software.
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By choosing to utilize the library's free wireless service, patrons agree to abide by the Norma Wood Library Computer and Internet Acceptable Use Policy. This policy provides guidelines for Internet access and lists examples of unacceptable use. A copy of this policy is available upon request.
Approved by the Library Committee on March 16, 2005
LIBRARY SERVICES & RESOURCES
The Norma Wood Library provides an environment conducive to lifelong learning, supports students in achieving their academic goals, furnishes access to resources in a variety of formats, assists in research and technology issues, and acts as an information center for the University.
We are proud of the library's collections and innovative services. Students are encouraged to make full use of them. The library staff provides one-on-one and group bibliographic instruction. If students need help finding books, identifying authors or titles, or having their computer-related questions answered, the library staff is happy to assist either in person or by telephone at 870-508-6112.
The Norma Wood Library has two conference rooms and three individual study rooms that are available for patron use. Rooms are generally available on a first-come, first-served basis but advance reservations may be made at the circulation desk by students, faculty and staff. If you would like to know if a room is available for a specific time or date, please ask at the library circulation desk or call 870-508-6112. All reservations require 24 hour advance notice. The day of a reservation, a sign indicating that the room is reserved for the specified time will be posted on the conference room window.
Interlibrary loan is a service provided to obtain materials which are NOT available in the Norma Wood Library. Materials, such as books and photocopies of journal articles, may be obtained from other libraries.
This service is available to ASUMH students , faculty, and staff only. Community members should utilize the interlibrary loan services of their local public library. To find out more about interlibrary loan or to request an item, contact the library.
The library subscribes to approximately 70 journals and newspapers in print. Current issues of popular titles are located on the display rack in the library. All other journals and newspapers are located on the periodical shelves. Journals and newspapers may not be checked out but may be pages or articles may be scanned using the library's flatbed scanners.
The library also offers access to over 30,000 journals and newspapers -- many full text -- in an electronic format through various library databases. These journals and newspapers are accessible to all users in the library and are also accessible from any computer with Internet access for students logging in with their ASUMH student ID number.
A searchable database of the library's journal and newspaper holdings - both print and electronic - is available online through the E-Journal Portal.
The computer lab in the Norma Wood Library offers 18 PCs in the main lab and 4 PCs in the multimedia lab. The library computers have many software programs installed including, but not limited to: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud, Digital Video Editing, and PaperPort. Not all programs are available on all computers; please ask a staff member if you need to locate a computer with a specific program installed.
The library offers access to a multimedia computer that has Adobe Premiere for video capture, editing and movie making capabilities.
The library computer lab is open to the public. First priority for computer use is reserved for current ASUMH and ASUJ students; if the computer lab is full those not performing academic work may be asked to give up their computer temporarily to accommodate those with coursework. Students and faculty may reserve specific computers or the multimedia lab for individual or group work. Faculty may also reserve the entire computer lab for classes. Reservations may be made at the circulation desk in the library or by calling 870-508-6112 All reservations require 24 hour advance notice.
Unsecured wireless Internet access is freely available in the library for patrons who would like to bring their own wireless-capable laptop computers or mobile devices.
The library has 5 laptops and 2 iPads that can be checked out to students for use inside the library. This allows students the freedom to use any area of the library for course work, even if there is not a desktop computer available. Ask at the Circulation Desk to request checkout.
ASUMH has a limited number of laptops that can be loaned to students temporarily for completing coursework. These laptops are intended for emergency or unexpected circumstances where a student does not have access to their own personal computer to finish their class for the semester.
STUDENT LAPTOP LOANS
Students currently enrolled in ASUMH classes are eligible for a laptop loan. Laptops cannot be loaned out when classes are not in session. Laptop checkouts can begin the week before semester starts, as long as the student is already enrolled. There are a limited number of laptops available and they are issued out on a first come, first served basis. If all laptops are currently in use, a waitlist will be created and as soon as a laptop is returned the next student on the waitlist will be notified.
To obtain a laptop, visit the Norma Wood Library on the ASUMH campus during regular operating hours. Please be prepared to present an ASUMH Student ID card for check out verification. A library staff member will check student schedules to be sure of current enrollment status. Students are required to sign an agreement that states they understand the laptop must be returned by the last day of finals of a given semester. Laptops can be returned to the library at any point during the semester if a student is finished using them or obtains access to their own computer.
The library allows check out of circulating materials to students, faculty, staff and community members who have active library accounts. All current ASUMH students have library accounts created for them automatically when they enroll in classes. Community members who wish to borrow items from the library need to present a current photo ID to establish an account. Circulating policies are as follows:
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Loan period for books is 14 days
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Loan period for DVD is 3 days
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Loan period for digital camera is 3 days (digital cameras available only to students, faculty & staff)
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Loan period for laptops and iPads is 2 hours, in-library use only.
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Reserve materials are for student, faculty & staff use only; loan periods vary
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Overdue fines are $0.10 per day for regular circulating items / max fine of $5.00 per item
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Overdue fines are $5.00 per day for reserve items and hourly checkout items / max fine of $35.00
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Items overdue for 30 days are automatically invoiced to the patron
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Patrons with overdue items are not allowed to check out additional items
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Check out limit of 10 items at a time for community members
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Check out limit of 100 items at a time for students, faculty & staff
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Check out limit of 5 DVDs at a time for students, faculty & staff
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Check out limit of 2 DVDs at a time for community members
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If you have questions about the loan policy, need to renew an item, or need to check the status of your account, you can come by the library or call the Circulation Desk at 870-508-6112.
The library has two large network printers for patron use: one black/white LaserJet printer and one color LaserJet printer. All printing can be picked up at the Circulation Desk. Printing fees are as follows:
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B/W LaserJet printer - First 50 pages free for university-related work, $0.10 per page after first 50. Non-University related printing fees are $0.10 per page.
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Color LaserJet printer - $0.10 per page (no free pages)
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Five flatbed scanners and one oversized book scanner are available for use free of charge. Scanning software, PaperPort, is installed on computers with scanners attached. The library has prepared a handout on scanning basics for patrons to refer to; handouts are available on the back wall in the library computer lab. If you need further assistance with scanning an item, please ask a library employee for help.
Student identification cards are made in the library at no charge to ASUMH students. In order to have an ID made, a student needs to present enrollment verification and a photo id issued by a generally accepted authoritative body (e.g. driver's license, state issued identification card, military id, etc.) to the employee at the Circulation Desk in the library. Pictures will be taken at that time and ID cards are issued immediately after.
LIBRARY HOURS
Fall & Spring Terms:
Mon - Wed:7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Thur: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fri: 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Summer Terms:
Mon - Thur: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
*Hours subject to change when classes are not in session.