Search our Library FAQ

Assuming you have identified a topic, the next step is to determine what types of sources you need for your research.

At the earliest stages, you may want to consult encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, or other reference sources which offer brief introductions to or summaries of a topic. Wikipedia is often a good place to start, but you can also use Credo Reference, a large collection of published academic sources, or select from a list of subject specific online reference sources.

If you want to go straight to finding books, articles, video and sound recordings, images, etc., you can use OneSearch, a Google-like search engine that searches most (but not quite all) of Wesleyan's library resources (both online and offline materials). Or select a subject specific index or database which can offer deeper and more specific coverage of a particular topic. Whatever search tool you use, make sure you use effective searching techniques to get the best results for your efforts.

Remember to evaluate what you find to make sure the sources are relevant and reliable, and also to properly cite what you use. 

Also remember you can ask a librarian at any point during your research for more specific and detailed assistance.

To renew your library books and other materials:

• Go to the My Account page.
• Login with your WesID and last name.
• In the "Loans" box, select individual items you wish to renew or select to "Renew All."

To renew items online, you must renew them before they are overdue.  After they are overdue, they can only be renewed in person or by telephone.

Telephone renewals are accepted at (860) 685-3967 from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday.

There is no limit to the number of times an item may be renewed, provided it is not needed by another library user. 

The library employs many students who work in a variety of jobs. Most openings are available at the beginning of Fall semester, but occasionally there are openings at other times of the year. Student jobs in the library are posted on the Job Postings page on the Student Employment website, and also on bulletin boards in Olin Library (on the board across from the Reserve desk) or in Science Library (on the board next to the elevator, across from the circulation desk).

If someone else has a library item checked out that you wish to use, you can use OneSearch to request the item.  The person who has it will have up to 7 days to return it. 

After it is returned, we will hold the item at the library circulation desk for you and you will be notified by email when it is available to pick up.

To place a recall request, follow these steps:

1. Search for the item in OneSearch
2. Click on the title to view the record
3. If you are not signed into OneSearch, click the link to "Sign in" with your Wesleyan username and password
4. Click the "Request" option
5. For "Pickup Location," select which library's circulation desk where you want the book held for you.
6. If you have a deadline after which it would be too late to get the item, put that in "Not needed after." We will get it as soon as possible, but if there is a delay we will keep trying until you say it is too late.
7. Click "REQUEST" to submit the completed request form.

You will be notified by email when the item is available to pickup at the library circulation desk.

Wireless
Wireless network access is available throughout the libraries. 

Faculty, Staff, and Students - For details on accessing wireless, see the instructions from Information Technology Services.

Alumni and visitors/guests - You can obtain access via a self-registration page that is presented upon connecting to the Wes-Guest network.
 
Plugging in
Network jacks are located throughout Olin Library and the on the upper level of the Science Library. Library users with network ready laptops can plug them into these data jacks for access to both the Wesleyan network and the Internet.  You'll need:

• a network (ethernet) card
• an ethernet cable
• a Wesleyan login or Wesleyan Guest account

Because of technical constraints, not all the data jacks in the libraries have been activated. Those that are active are indicated by a sign either on the wall next to the jack or on the study table or desk nearest to it.

That depends on what you are looking for.

 

OneSearch is a Google-like search of nearly all of Wesleyan's online and in-library (physical) resources, as well as materials available from Connecticut College and Trinity College, though it does not include WorldCat which must be searched separately. See the OneSearch Help Guide for tips on how best to use its features.

Credo Reference is a large collection of published academic reference sources (encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc.); there is also a list of subject specific online reference sources.

WorldCat is a list of most books in most libraries in the United States and many libraries elsewhere, so if a book has been published and cataloged by libraries it is most likely listed in WorldCat. This includes many titles not in Wesleyan’s collection and thus not included in OneSearch. WorldCat does indicate whether a particular title is held by Wesleyan, Trinity, or Conn College.

So, if you are looking for a specific book (or audio/video recording or other specific known item), use OneSearch and limit your search to "Wesleyan Books & Media" to see if it is available at Wesleyan, or limit to "CTW Books & Media" to also check Connecticut College and Trinity College; if a book is at Conn or Trinity, you can place a CTW request to have it sent to Wesleyan. For books not listed in OneSearch, you can use WorldCat, which allows you to place an interlibrary loan request for books not in a CTW library.

If you are looking for a specific article, use the Journal Titles A-Z list to see whether Wesleyan has online access or a physical copy of the journal (or magazine or newspaper) the article is in, then find the article in the journal. If the library does not subscribe to the journal, you can place an interlibrary loan request for the article. Or, you can enter the article title into OneSearch to see if OneSearch has a record for the article -- to make sure the record for the article shows up at or near the top of the results list, put quotes around the title to search it as a phrase, and add the author's name and/or the title of the journal.

If you are looking for information on a topic, OneSearch is a good place to start. Enter a few keywords to describe your topic, then you can narrow and specify the results using the facets on the left of the screen (limiting to peer reviewed sources, sources in a particular discipline, etc). Or, you can look through the Indexes & Databases to find an appropriate subject specific index of publications. 

Or, you can ask a librarian for assistance. 

Do you want to read the Chronicle of Higher Ed online, on a mobile device, or set up email delivery of the Chronicle newsletters?  Here's how to do so using Wesleyan's subscription so that you will have full access to all the Chronicle content, including those articles marked .

CHE content from 1989 to present is available online to the Wesleyan community through our institutional subscription.  The library holds microfilm of the CHE from 1977 to 1988.

Reading online

Reading on a mobile device

Setting up e-mail newsletter subscriptions

Read the Chronicle online

On campus you have two choices:

• Go directly to the Chronicle website (http://chronicle.com/)  It will recognize that you are coming from Wesleyan and give you access to all content.

• From the library's home page, select Journal Locator and then type in the name of the journal you want to read (Chronicle of Higher Education).  You will be presented with all of the sources from which we can access Chronicle content.  Click Single Journals.

Off-campus you have three choices:

• Direct access the Chronicle through this URL:  http://ezproxy.wesleyan.edu:7790/login?url=http://chronicle.com/section/Home/5 .  You will be prompted to login with your Wesleyan single-sign-on and then will be re-directed to the Chronicle site, giving you access to all their online content.

• Create your own Chronicle.com account using your Wesleyan email address, then login at the Chronicle site each time you want to read articles.  For information on how to do this, follow the instructions for under the Reading The Chronicle on a mobile device, below.  The procedure is the same for a desktop computer as it is for mobile devices.

• From the library's home page, select Journal Locator and then type in the name of the journal you want to read (Chronicle of Higher Education).  You will be presented with all of the sources from which we can access Chronicle content.  Click Single Journals. You will be prompted to login with your Wesleyan single-sign-on and then will be re-directed to the Chronicle site, giving you access to all their online content.

 

Read the Chronicle on a mobile device

First, you need to make a Chronicle account:

1. Go to http://chronicle.com in a web browser.
2. Select Log In at the top
3. Scroll down to click the Create a Free Account blue button
4. Enter and confirm your @wesleyan.edu email address, then follow the steps on the account setup pages.

Second, you need to access the The Chronicle through the ipad app or a web browser:

Ipad app

1. Install the Chronicle's ipad app (it's called The Chronicle of Higher Education)
2. Open The Chronicle app
3. Tap Sign in on the top right
4. Login with the account you created with your wesleyan.edu email address (as described above.)

Web browser on any smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer

1. Go to http://chronicle.com on your device’s Web browser
2. Select Log In at the top.
3. Login with the account you created with your wesleyan.edu email address (as described above.)

 

Set up email newsletter delivery

NOTE: anyone can sign up for Chronicle newsletter delivery.  However you will only have access to the full content of the articles if you are recognized as a part of Wesleyan through the methods described above.

1. Go to the Chronicle website (http://chronicle.com/)
2. Scroll all the way to the bottom and click on Get Newsletters.
3. Sign up for any newsletters you wish to receive.

See the library's guide to creating bibliographies with EndNote which describes:

• why you might want to use EndNote
• how to download it
• step-by-step instructions on performing specific tasks in EndNote, such as adding references, importing references, using EndNote with Microsoft Word, outputting your EndNote references in various citations styles, and much more

We charge overdue fines only on items on reserve and items that have been recalled by another patron.

For everything else we do not charge overdue fines.  However, after an item has been overdue for 45 days we consider it "Lost" and will bill the replacement cost of the item plus a processing fee to your student account.

For more details about our library fines and fees, read our fine and fee policy.

You can always check the status of your interlibrary loan request through your ILL account.  If you need to cancel your request before it arrives, contact the ILL office, ill@wesleyan.edu.

Physical items will be delivered to the Olin Library, Room 112 for you to pick up. Electronic items will be delivered to your ILL account, as a PDF, where you can download them.  In either case, you will be notified by email when your ILL item is available.

You can pick up your items in the ILL office 9-5 Monday through Friday.  During other times, see a Reference Librarian for assistance.

You should return your ILL materials directly to the ILL office.  Please DO NOT return them via campus mail, the library book drop, or to the Circulation Desk.

The Interlibrary Loan Department supports your research by borrowing materials which are not available in the CTW consortium libraries. Generally this service is limited to books, theses and dissertations, photocopies of articles, and microfilms. Most items can be obtained in less than two weeks. For information on how to place an ILL request, see Search and borrow from other libraries.

There is often confusion between CTW borrowing and ILL borrowing.  For a brief description of the difference, see CTW vs. ILL.

See the library's guide to How to Write a Literature Review; this guide:

• details what a literature review is
• provides examples of literature reviews
• describes how to find relevant literature to review
• provides guidelines for writing a literature review

When off-campus, be sure to start from THIS page to ensure that you will be recognized as a member of the Wesleyan Community.

Current Wesleyan students, staff, and faculty can access the Library's online materials  from off campus.  You will be prompted for your Wesleyan username and password to gain access.
 
Alumni and former faculty, students, and staff are not provided access to the Library's online resources from off-campus.

 If you are a current Wesleyan student, faculty or staff member, then your Wesleyan ID is your library card.

For everyone else,  see our Get a Library Card page.

Our librarians are happy to discuss library services with you, give you a tour of our facilities, or help you with your research.

See the sidebar on the right-hand side of this page for how to contact us through online chat, phone, text message, email, or to make an appointment.

Reference and research services are available at Olin and Science Library as well in the Music Library and Special Collections & Archives.  If you'd like to visit the Olin Research Services desk in person, check our Research Services Desk hours.

We have guides for citing your sources in various citations styles here: http://libguides.wesleyan.edu/citing

It can be challenging!  We break it down for you here: Finding Materials by Call Number.

We offer library carrels for undergraduate honors thesis writers.  Carrels are assigned by lottery each September. How and when to apply for a thesis carrel.