Do you have my textbook?

It’s the time of year when we get a lot of questions textbooks, so before you come and ask “Does the library have my textbook?” let me save you some time and say...probably not. And the next question is "Can we get textbooks through Interlibrary Loan (ILL)" and the answer is....no.

I know, I know it sounds really mean, but we do have good reasons for this so if you keep reading for a bit I'll give you a brief explanation.


We usually don’t purchase textbooks because they are really expensive and the publishers push out new editions so often that books become obsolete very quickly.  If we purchased every textbook for every class we wouldn't be able to buy all of the other books you may need for your research or anything else.  While you may find a book that's being used for your course, its very rare and its likely an older out of date edition, meaning that page numbers and information would likely not match up with the information your professor wants you to have.

Students also ask us if we can get their textbooks on Interlibrary Loan (ILL). The answer is no.  Just as we don't buy the textbooks most other libraries don't buy textbooks.  Even more important its frowned upon in ILL to borrow textbooks as it puts other libraries at a disadvantage and generally goes against ILL rules (there are a set of rules nationwide that govern ILL policy.)  Please don't ask and please don't make the request for your textbooks via Interlibrary Loan because it could hinder our ability to get other books from libraries.


So while we appreciate your visits to the library and we want you to get your books and information here, but we don't intentionally purchase textbooks and we can't borrow them through Interlibrary Loan.

New Additions To The Collection - August 2010

DVD
Peter And Paul, PN1997.9 REL BIO .P4 1981

Music Scores
Jeptha, Oratorio in 3 Acts, HWV 70, M3 .H2 Ser. 1 v.30

New login procedures for computers--and note on printing

We have a new procedure for logging into the Library's computers.

If you are a student of Mercer University please follow these steps:

1. Press "ctrl + alt + del" to get to the log-in screen:
   
2. When the log-in screen appears:
   
   
   • ⇒ Enter your 8-digit MUID as the User name (e.g. 10712345)
   • ⇒ Enter your birthday (YYMMDD) as the password (e.g. if your birthday is September 4, 1981, enter 810904)
     
     **NOTE** After your first log-in, you'll be prompted to change your password. Be sure to choose something you can easily remember, as you'll need it to log-on everytime you want to use library computers.
   • ⇒ Make sure "MERCERU" is selected in the "Log on to" box. Also, make sure the "dial-up connection" box is NOT checked.
   
   
3. You should now be logged on to the computer.

    4.  When you're done with using the computer please log off by going to the "start" button on the bottom left of the screen  and pressing "log off."


**NOTE FOR FACULTY/STAFF** If you are a faculty or staff member, even if you are taking classes, you will use the same account information as when you log onto your e-mail account or your personal computer.

If you are an Alumni of Mercer University please see the Circulation Desk for assistance with logging onto the computer.

*NOTE ABOUT PRINTERS*  At this time some of the computers are defaulting to the color printer.  To make sure you can print your job in black and white follow these steps:

• Go to file menu at the top left of the browser window
• Select print
• In the drop down menu for printer name choose "BearPrint B&W simplex"

and then print as normal.  Your job will now print at one of the black and white printers.


If you have any questions please stop by the circulation or the reference desk.

GALILEO Search Problems

GALILEO has informed us that the GALILEO search utility is currently giving error messages. You can still access the resources you need, but by directly searching individual databases such as Academic Search Complete, JSTOR, etc. These can be found at http://tarver.mercer.edu/sources/list.php. To find specific e-journals, use the A to Z e-Journal Locator found at http://atoz.ebsco.com/titles.asp?Id=tarlis&sid=167430916&TabID=2

If you have any problems, please contact the Circulation staff at 478.301.2961

Where's Tarver?

Do you know the number of places that you can find Tarver Library online?

Not only do we have this blog (Tarver Library News), but we also have a Media Center Blog and...

You can also friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and view images on Flickr and...

You can also chat with us, text us, e-mail us, call us, or come visit us in person!

We're here to help YOU out.  Just let us know how we can best answer your questions and help you find the resources that you need.

Featured Government Website in August

HealthCare.gov is a federal government Website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Through HealthCare.gov, you will have more control over your health care as informed and empowered consumers.

This new consumer website is "simple and easy to use, and provides one-stop shopping access to a wealth of information, including your new consumer rights and benefits under the Affordable Care Act, a timeline of when new programs under the new law will come online between now and 2014 and a new insurance finder that will make it easy to find both private and public health insurance option that works for you." (Source: White House Blog)

Here are what you can find from the website:

Find Insurance Options -- See which public, private and community programs meet your needs

Learn About Prevention -- Start here to learn how to stay healthy

Compare Care Quality -- Help users compare the quality of care that hospitals provide

Understand the New Law -- Know about the Affordable Care Act

Information for You -- Provide information to families with children, individuals, people with disabilities, seniors, young adults, employers

Please take a video tour to know more about the website of HealthCare.gov.

Hot Document in August

Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), 2010-11 Edition

The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. The Handbook is revised every two years.

This book describes about 250 occupations in detail and covers what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects. Also includes information on additional occupations.

In addition, the Handbook gives you job search tips, links to information about the job market in each State, and more. You can also view frequently asked questions about the Handbook.

Tarver Library has the print copy of this document in its government documents collection.

ScienceDirect to become SciVerse

News from Elsevier:

"Elsevier is integrating the world's most trusted scientific content from ScienceDirect and Scopus into a single platform with productivity-driving enhancements. Learn how you can leverage this powerful tool to accelerate your research.

In August, ScienceDirect, Scopus and the targeted web content from Scirus will be integrated within one platform - SciVerse. SciVerse will combine trusted content with an expanding universe of tools that accelerate search and discovery. Over time, SciVerse will form the core of an ecosystem in which researchers and librarians work with publishers and developers to build collections of applications targeted to the specific interests and workflows of researchers, increasing the value you derive from your subscribed content.

See what's coming - Our four minute video provides an overview of the next release of your Elsevier subscribed products.

As our Accelerating Science video explains, the August release of SciVerse will:

* Deliver de-duplicated results from a single search across your licensed ScienceDirect, Scopus and Scirus products
* Feature three free applications to enhance search and discovery, including one that allows you to search only the methods/experimental procedures sections of the articles in ScienceDirect

Over subsequent releases, SciVerse will:

* Give you access to content APIs that allow you and other members of the scientific community to develop applications
* Enable researchers to establish a trusted social network of colleagues that will help them filter information

For the complete story, watch the Accelerating Science video."

Upcoming changes with EBSCO databases

As happens periodically EBSCO databases are updating the way their user interface looks.  Don't fear things aren't changing to much.

Here are the highlights of what will change over the next couple of days.

• The limiter and the date slider column will move from the right to the left of the Result List. For a look at the updated Result List, you can go to this link.
• Detailed record pages will be more streamlined, and links to full text and ILL buttons will be more prominently displayed on the left hand side of the record
• You'll be able to select multiple source types, such as books and articles, when narrowing down your result list.
• A "breadbox" will show users which limiters, expanders and source types have already been selected, and enable easy removal of these refinements.

If you have any questions about the changes please contact us and we'll do our best to answer your questions.