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.

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.

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.

Items in Special Collections & Archives will be retrieved, upon request. They are available for use in the SC&A reading room on the same day that you make your request, or as soon as the reading room opens the next day.  Special Collections & Archives materials can only be used in the Special Collections reading room; they cannot be checked out.

To request materials from Special Collections & Archives, use the "Request" option in OneSearch, or complete the paper request form available at Special Collections, the circulation office, or the research services desk in Olin Library. 

To request the item using OneSearch, follow these steps:

1. Search for the item in OneSearch
2. Click on the title of the item to view the record
3. If you are not signed in, click to "Sign in" for more options, and log in with your Wesleyan username and password
4. Click the "Request" option
5. Add any "Comments" you have, then click to submit your "Request."

It is impossible to know exactly how long it might take to get an item through InterLibrary Loan, so please plan ahead.  The length of time depends on where the items requested are located, the method of delivery, and if there are any other problems which may impede obtaining the material. Most items will arrive in less than 2 weeks; online articles usually arrive within a few days.

If your request is urgent, some items may possibly be expedited. However, Interlibrary Loan cannot guarantee any “Rush” request. Rush requests should be placed as usual with a note in the request saying “rush”.

For the best service, call the ILL office directly (860) 685-3876 to discuss your requests and find out how long they may take to arrive.

Older and lesser used materials are housed in our storage facilities. These materials are retrieved upon your request, and they will normally be available for your use within 24 to 48 hours.

To request materials from Storage, use the "Request" option in OneSearch, or complete the paper request form available at the circulation office or the reference desk in Olin Library. 

To request the item using OneSearch, follow these steps:

1. Search for the item in OneSearch
2. Click on the title of the item 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. Add any "Comments" you have, then click to submit your "Request"

Login to your InterLibrary Loan account

Login with your Wesleyan Single Sign On username and password. First time ILL users will be prompted to fill-out a form selecting their contact and delivery preferences.  Please contact the ILL office with questions: ill@wesleyan.edu or (860) 685.3876.

Email the Circulation department at circ@wesleyan.edu and give them the details of the item you returned.  They will search the library shelves for the item and remove it from your account when found.

Due dates are set by the lending library. Renewals cannot be guaranteed.  If renewals are allowed on the item, place your request for a renewal through your ILLIAD account before the due date. 

In your ILLIAD account, click on the RENEW/CHECKED OUT ITEMS link on the left side of the page.  You will now see a list of items you have checked out.  You must click on the Transaction Number of the item you want to renew.  Once you click on the Transaction Number, a new screen will appear.  Click on the “Renew Request” link at the top of the page.  If you don’t see “Renew Request”, please contact the ILL office at x3876 to inquire.