Frequently Asked Questions at the Grinnell College Libraries
Directional (Where is...?)
Q. Where is the lost and found?
A. Lost and found items are kept at the Circulation Desks in Burling and Kistle libraries. Circulation staff will attempt to contact the owner of lost and found
items by telephone or email if the owner is identifiable. If the item remains unclaimed after a week, items
are sent to the campus-wide Lost & Found at the information desk at the
Rosenfield Center. Unclaimed items that are deemed valuable, such as wallets,
jewelry, or watches are sent to the Grinnell College Security Office. Any items that are left at the end of the semester are disposed of/recycled, unless they are of some value (like a pair of glasses). Those items are then sent to the Information Desk at the Rosenfield Center.
Q. Where can I find a stapler?
A. Staplers can be found near the printers on the 1st, 2nd and ground floors or Burling, near printers in Kistle Library. If none are to be found in these locations, please inform the Circulation Desks.
Q. Where can I find a restroom? Are they handicap accessible?
A. The women's restroom is located at the extreme west end of Burling's basement, and the men's restroom is located at the extreme east end of Burling's basement. These two restrooms are not handicap accessible. The co-ed restrooms located on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th floors near the elevator are all handicap accessible.
There are no restrooms in Kistle Science Library; the Noyce Science Center has multiple restrooms available on each floor.
Q. Where is the Burling Media Room?
A. The Burling Media Room is located on the lower level of Burling Library. It houses a collection of nearly 7000 documentary and feature films in DVD, Blu-ray, and VHS formats, as well as a collection of over 22,000 audio recordings primarily in compact disc format.
Q. How can I find the Research Desk? When will a librarian be there?
A. the Burling Library Research Desk is located on the 1st floor of Burling, across from the Computing Commons. If you are having trouble locating this desk, please use the Burling Library floor map.
You can also find a list of the Grinnell College Libraries' hours (for Burling and Kistle), and the hours for the Research Desk on our website.
Please use our list of consulting librarians to access contact information and subject areas of specialty if you wish to discuss your research with them and/or schedule an appointment for a library lab.
Q. Where is a printer/scanner/photocopier?
A. From our list of facilities and equipment and from the floor maps of Burling and Kistle libraries available on that page, you will find locations for this equipment.
Our Computing in the Libraries page contains a wealth of information for locating and using library printers, scanners, and other equipment.
In Burling Library, there are networked printers on the first floor in the Computer Commons, on the second floor on the north side of the building in the computing area, and in the Interactive Instructional Facility in the basement. There is a color ink-jet printer on the 2nd floor of Burling.
The Kistle Science Library has a networked printer in the southwest corner.
The Libraries have three scanners for general use; each is connected only to the computer workstation nearest it. They are located in the Interactive Instructional Facility (Burling, basement level), the Computer Commons (Burling, first floor), and the southwest corner of the Kistle Science Library.
Coin-operated photocopiers are located in Burling Library behind the north stairway on the fourth floor, to the west of the elevator on the second floor, and along the weat wall on the first floor, behind the consultation spaces. There is a photocopier in the southwest corner of Kistle.
Q. Where can I find special collections in Burling (including Smith Memorial, Black Library, Latino Collection, Oversize, Z's, etc.)?
A. There are several specially-named collections in Burling Library (such as the Smith Memorial, the Black Library, Oversize, etc.), all of which are noted on the Burling Library floor map.
Q. Where can I pick up items on hold or Interlibrary Loan items?
A. Items on hold: When you request an item be recalled for your use, you also state where you would like to pick up the item, when it is available -- Burling's Circulation Desk or Kistle's Circulation Desk. When you receive an email informing you that your item(s) are ready to be picked up, this email will also state where the item is waiting (Burling or Kistle).
Interlibrary Loan items: Books, scores, government documents, and some materials reproduced in microform are generally available. Photocopies of periodical artucles can be requesting in accordance with the U. S. copyright law. These materials will be at the Burling Circulation Desk after you receive an email notifying you of their arrival. Please leave all slips attached to the item.
Articles requested through Interlibrary Services are now delivered to students, staff, and faculty electronically in Portable Document Format (PDF) through a Web browser. Individuals who request articles through Interlibrary Services will be notified by email when their request has been fulfilled. This email will contain instructions regarding how to view/access your document(s). Articles can be downloaded to your computer, or printed.
Q. Where is the IIF?
A. The Interactive Instruction Facility, or IIF, is a computing and instruction space on the ground (lower) level of Burling Library.
If you'd like to use this space, please takea moment to view our use policy, the IIF's hours, and our list of availabke hardware and software within the IIF.
Q. Where is the Print and Drawing Study Room?
A. Prints, drawings, and photographs in the Grinnell College art-on-paper collection may be viewed and studied un the Print and Drawing Study Room (or Print Room), located on the lower level of Burling Library.
The facility houses over 3000 works on paper, including pieces from the John L. and Roslyn Bakst Goldman Collection of German Expressionist Prints and graphic art by William Hogarth, Francisco Goya, Pable Picasso, and William Kentridge, as well as photographs, drawings, and examples of all types of printmaking.
Q. What is the Iowa Room and where can I find it?
A. The Iowa Room is located on the lower level of Burling Library and houses the Department of Special Collections and Archives at the Grinnell College Libraries. Their mission is to collect, preserve, and make available for research rare and unique materials.
Q. How/Where can I borrow headphones?
A. You can check out headphones from the Circulation Desk. They are for in-library use only.
Q. Where can I find information on copyright?
A. We recommend reading both our Grinnell College Copyright Policy and our Copyright Statement webpage, which also features copyright contact information at Grinnell College.
Circulation-related Questions:
Q. I am a student. How long am I able to borrow materials?
A. Books borrowed from the Grinnell College Libraries by a student are due at the end of the semester. Please see our Circulation Policies for Students webpage for detailed information on this topic. Burling Media Room Circulation Policies (for media items) differ from those of the policies for checking out books.
Q. I am faculty/staff. How long am I able to borrow materials?
A. Books checked out from the Grinnell College Libraries by faculty and staff are due at the end of the academic year. Please see our Circulation Policies for Faculty and Staff webpage for detailed information on this topic.
Q. I'm faculty and I wish to have someone be able to check out books and/or other materials on my behalf. Do the Libraries support authorized, or proxy, borrowing?
A. Yes, we do. Faculty often like to have research or academic support assistants have authorized borrowing privileges for them. We recommend viewing our Authorized Students and Staff services page for additional details – or talk to staff at the Burling or Kistle circulation desks. Our Library Forms webpage may have additional useful forms for Grinnell College faculty.
Q. How do I access my library account?
A. You can do this from the Logins drop down menu at the top of most Grinnell College webpages. Just select “Library” from that list, and use your network user name and corresponding network password to log in.
If you’re a Grinnell Community member and have a barcode with the Grinnell College Libraries, you can log in to your library account from the same page, but using your name and barcode number.
Q. How do I find out the due date of a book?
A. The easiest way to do this is just by logging into your library account. Please feel free to contact the Circulation Desk at Burling or at Kistle in-person or over the phone, too.
Q. How long can I check out a book from Reserve? Can I renew it?
A. Reserved item loan periods are either 2 hours, 1 day, or 3 days, depending on the item. You can see from your course reserve list how long an item is available to be checked out. They are renewable, if others have not requested access to the item.
Q. Can I renew my books online?
A. From your library account, you can see the items you currently have checked out and their due dates as well as renew most items.
Q. How long does it take an Interlibrary Loan request to arrive? And how long will I have access to it?
A. Plan ahead when requesting materials. Allow two weeks to search, process, and receive each request. Please speak with a research librarian and the ILL department if your research will require extensive use of interlibrary loan materials.
The loan period is determined by the lending library and is usually 2-4 weeks. Renewal requests should be made at Burling Library's Circulation Desk 4 days in advance of the due date. All materials borrowed through interlibrary loan must be returned to the Circulation Desk on or before the due date. Materials may be recalled by the lending library at any time and must be returned immediately. Returning materials late jeopardizes our ability to borrow from other libraries in the future.
If you requested an article and you are granted access to it in PDF form, you may download, save, read, and print that item for as long as you need, as it has been reproduced for your individual use.
Q. How do I use/check out items from the Burling Media Room?
A. The Burling Media Room offers eight viewing stations with high-definition monitors for individual use or for small groups of up to six persons and two listening stations connected to a variety of playback equipment--from turntables to a reel-to-reel audiotape player--housed in the Media Room office.
All recordings may be used in the Burling Media Room or throughout Burling Library. You will find some videos housed on reserve in the AV Center. The online catalog will direct you to the appropriate location, or please stop by or call Randye Jones (3365), Burling Media Room supervisor, or Ralph Helt (3073), AV Center supervisor, for assistance in locating the audio or visual material you need.
A valid Grinnell College ID is required to check out materials from the Burling Media Room.
Please see our Burling Media Room Circulation Policy page for additional details on user limits, equipment and item borrowing procedures, and information regarding fines, holds, and recalls.
Q. Are the circulation policies the same for media as for books?
A. No. The Burling Media Room Circulation Policy details circulation policies for faculty and staff, Music Department Faculty, and students with regard to recordings (CDs, cassettes, and other media) and videos. Information on holds and recalls on these items are also available on the BMR Circulation Policy page.
Q. I’m a member of the Grinnell community. Can I check out books?
A. Yes – in fact, we encourage local residents to obtain borrowing privileges at the Grinnell College Libraries.
To register for borrowing privileges, we have several requirements – you must:
- Be of at least high school age
- Live within 20 miles of Grinnell College
- Have a Drake Community Library Card (Grinnell Public Library)
- Have a valid email address
Please use this link for more information on our visitor policies.
Q. Are Grinnell community members able to check out media items?
A. No. Local area residents are not permitted to check out Burling Media Room or AV Center recordings. Please see ourBurling Media Room Circulation Policies for additional guidance.
Q. Do the Grinnell College Libraries loan any eReaders?
A. Yes. The Grinnell College Libraries have both Kindle and nook eReaders. Please view our eReader policies.
Q. I received a notice that my book has been recalled. What does this mean?
A. You will recieve an email notice with a new due date and we ask that you return the recalled item to the Grinnell College Libraries by that date. Recalls are enforced for all members of the campus community. Please see our Circulation Policies for additional guidance.
Q. I can't find a book on the shelf, but the Catalog said it was available -- how else might I locate it?
A. Please contact the Circulation Desk for assistance. There are several actions that can be taken to try and find the item you need.
Q. How can I request items the Libraries don’t own?
A. We have two options. If you need an item, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan (or ILL) services. You can also send us a request to purchase the item for our collections. Both students and faculty/staff can request items for purchase.
Q. Can I request articles through Interlibrary Loan (ILL)? Or just books? What about movies?
A. Yes – to all of the above. Interlibrary loan can always, at the very least, request an item (or items) for you and will do their best to find an institution willing to loan that item to you.
Q. How do I request/renew Interlibrary Loan items?
A. Please use our online form to submit your request for an interlibrary loan item. Books, book chapters, journal articles, dissertations/theses, and other items may be requested through this form.
For information on ILL procedures for pick up/delivery, drop-off, and more, please refer to the question "Where can I pick up items on hold or Interlibrary Loan items?" above, under the Directional section.
Regarding renewals, lending libraries determine any conditions regarding the use of their materials. Limitations such as "No renewal", "No photocopying" and "In-library use only" must be honored.
Q. I’d like to know more about InterLibrary Loan. Can you share some important details?
A. Sure. InterLibrary Loan what we often when we do not own or otherwise provide access to a text or article or other material. Here’s what you need to know:
- It’s free!
- It’s not just for books – you can request chapters or other book portions, articles, theses and dissertations, and items from the Center for Research Libraries.
- You can request items for ILL online.
- The length of the loan is dependent upon the loaning institution.
- While we can fulfill many, even most, ILL requests, occasionally we cannot obtain an item for you. If this happens, you may wish to consult with a librarian to talk about your information needs and possible alternatives.
Library Catalog-related Questions:
Q. How do I use the Find It! search box?
A. The Find It! search box is designed to be a one-stop shopping for locating many different types of items. You can search the Grinnell College Libraries' Catalog for books, authors, subjects, keywords, music scores, films, and much more. The Reserves search tab will aid you in locating items put on reserve by course number or by professor.
The JournalFinder does just that -- helps you find what journals we subscribe to, and the holdings and availability of those journals, through various title and ISSN search options. WorldCat conveniently lets you search a wealth of library catalogs, both public and academic, for items of interest.
Our Subject Guides tab features a handy drop down menu containing all the topics for which the Libraries have developed guides, often broken out by major -- use the Course Guides link from this tab to locate the guides we've created for individual courses, from Tutorials right up through Seminars!
Our Archives tab permits the searching of our College archives and our CRL tab allows you to search the Center for Research Libraries collections.
Q. Can I access electronic resources from off-campus?
A. Yes. Our Databases A-Z list has special “off-campus access” links you can use to authenticate your network user name and corresponding network password to access restricted resources.
You can also use the LibX toolbar to obtain easier remote access to our resources.
If you’re struggling with off-campus access or LibX installation, please see our page with more detailed information oremail the Libraries.
Q. Can I search the Special Collections and Archives online?
A. Yes. You can search these collections through the Archives tab of the Find It! search box, or through the Special Collections and Archives information page.
Q. How do I find/What is a call number?
A. A call number is a unique identifier for a material -- including books, journals, and media items -- and we use them to help organize the Grinnell College Libraries. Typically, the call number is located on the spine of the item; it is also listed in the information within the Catalog entry.
Reserve-related Questions:
Q. How do I access my course reserves?
A. Using the Find It! search box, you can simply select the tab for Reserves and search by your professor or by course number to see the items on reserve for your course. Your results will also detail whether an item is currently available and how long the loan period is for an item.
Print reserve are located at the Circulation Desk and are organized by their call number.
You can also access your course reserves information by logging into Pioneer Web and going to the Library Resources section of the course page for your class. Please contact the Circulation Desk at Burling, or your instructor, if you are encountering issues in accessing your reserves.
Q. I’m faculty. How do I view my course reserves?
A. Using the Find It! search box, you can simply select the tab for Reserves and search by your name (as the professor) or by course number to see the items on reserve for your course. Your results will also detail whether an item is currently available and how long the loan period is for an item.
Q. I’m faculty. How do I get things put on reserve for my class?
A. Books, AV materials, journal articles, electronic resources, instructional equipment and other non-book items are often requested to be put on reserve for specific courses. Our faculty and staff services webpage for Course Reserves details our policies and includes links to Copyright, Books and Journals, and Electronic Reserves course reserve policies.
Research Questions:
Q. How do I use the Find It! search box?
A. The Find It! search box is designed to be a one-stop shopping for locating many different types of items. You can search the Grinnell College Libraries' Catalog for books, authors, subjects, keywords, music scores, films, and much more. The Reserves search tab will aid you in locating items put on reserve by course number or by professor.
The JournalFinder does just that -- helps you find what journals we subscribe to, and the holdings and availability of those journals, through various title and ISSN search options. WorldCat conveniently lets you search a wealth of library catalogs, both public and academic, for items of interest.
Our Subject Guides tab features a handy drop down menu containing all the topics for which the Libraries have developed guides, often broken out by major -- use the Course Guides link from this tab to locate the guides we've created for individual courses, from Tutorials right up through Seminars!
Our Archives tab permits the searching of our College archives and our CRL tab allows you to search the Center for Research Libraries collections.
Q. How do I go about searching for books?
A. We have 3 major resources for searching for and locating books: the Grinnell College Libraries catalog, WorldCat, and the Center for Research Libraries catalog. Conveniently, you can also use our Find It! search box to select which catalog you’d like to search and retrieve your results.
Q. How should I go about searching for articles?
A. As a starting point, we would recommend using resources selected and listed on an appropriate Subject or Course guide for your major or topic.
If you know the name of the database or journal you want to search, try looking at our Databases A-Z and Journal Finder pages.
If you’re not sure where to start, by database or by journal, you may want to consider using ResearchPro and/or GoogleScholar to search a wealth of resources all at once.
And don’t be shy – consulting librarians are available to assist you with your information needs. Request a Library Lab today.
Q. An article I need is only available through pay-per-view. How do I get it?
A. If you need to access an article within our pay-per-view service, please e-mail, text/chat, or visit our Reference Desk. We can assist you with obtaining your item quickly.
Q. I think I am supposed to have access to an article in Wiley and/or Elsevier ScienceDirect, but I can’t seem to access it. Why is this?
A. This may be due to the Libraries’ pay-per-view access to the item. As we expand our electronic access to articles and chapters in books, journals, and reference works, the Grinnell College Libraries offers access to some items on an item-by-item basis.
If you need access to an article within our pay-per-view service, please e-mail, text/chat, or visit our Research Desk. We can assist you with obtaining your item.
Q. I have a citation for something I want, how can I get a copy of it?
A. There are several steps you can try to locate a full-text copy of an item:
- If it’s a book, try searching out catalog. If we don’t own it, you may want to consider a search in WorldCat or completing an Interlibrary Loan request.
- If it’s an article, try searching Journal Finder for our holdings of the journal in which the article is located. If we do not provide access to that journal, you may want to fill out an Interlibrary Loan request for the item.
- If you’re having trouble deciphering what kind of format the item is (e.g.: book, book chapter, journal article, newspaper article, etc.), please e-mail, chat/text, visit us, or explore our Doing Research page for assistance.
Q. Can I access electronic resources from off-campus?
A. Yes. Our Databases A-Z list has special “off-campus access” links you can use to authenticate your network user name and corresponding network password to access restricted resources.
You can also use the LibX toolbar to obtain easier remote access to our resources.
If you’re struggling with off-campus access or LibX installation, please see our page with more detailed information oremail the Libraries.
Q. Do the librarians have any tips on doing research?
A. Yes. In fact, we’ve developed a whole webpage, Doing Research, to aid students in the process of conducting their research. It’s broken out into different stages of the research process and also holds information and links regarding contacting librarians, scheduling a Library Lab, and evaluating your resources.
Q. How can I get in touch with a librarian?
A. You can reach a librarian through chat, e-mail, text, and in-person visits. We look forward to hearing from you.
Q. I'm faculty and I’m getting ready to research for an article/book. Do the librarians have any tips on doing research?
A. We have developed a webpage, Doing Research, to aid patrons in all areas of the research process at Grinnell College.
However, given the depth, intensity, and unique research needs that faculty often have, we also recommend contacting your department’s consulting librarian to discuss resources, options, tools, and avenues of support for your specific research needs. We are at your service!
Other Information:
Q. What are the Libraries hours?
A. Our Libraries’ hours differ by time of year and by library and resource – please use our Hours webpage for the most detailed information on Burling’s, Kistle’s, the Iowa Room’s and the Reference Desk’s hours.
Q. What is a Library Lab?
A. A library lab is a one-on-one, or small group, session with a consulting librarian. These meetings typically range from 30 to 60 minutes. They’re a great way to flesh out your topic, get advice and assistance with all levels and types of research, and get a helping hand with library resources you’ll need to use. Use our online Library Lab request form – or stop by the reference desk at Burling Library!
Q. I’ve heard each department has it’s own librarian – how do I find out which one works with my major?
A. Our list of consulting librarians has all our librarians with their consulting areas detailed on it, along with their contact information. You can also come to the Burling Library Reference Desk (Burling Library, 1st floor), email, orchat or text us for this information. We are at your service!
Q. Can I request a session in the library or with a librarian for my course?
A. Yes. We recommend approaching your consulting librarian or contacting the libraries in-person, via e-mail, chat or text message, or using our information literacy instruction webpage to get a sense of how the Libraries and our librarians can best support your course(s).
Q. What is a “consulting librarian” and how do I find mine?
A. A consulting librarian is the librarian assigned to work with your department or course. Our list of consulting librarians has all our librarians with their consulting areas detailed on it, along with their contact information.
Q. Do either of the Libraries have a fax machine for public use?
A. No. Students have access to a fax machine in the Mail Services (JRC). In some offices, the fax and copier are combined into one machine. If you are faculty, you can ask your Admin/Academic Support for operating instructions regarding your area fax machine.
Q. How do I print/copy/scan in the Libraries? What do they cost?
A. B&W printing is free – no quotas, and no cost! Color printing is $0.25 per side per page on campus. Please see our information on using our PaperCut Client printing for detailed information.
Scanners are available in the Libraries, also free of charge. There is one on the Computer Cluster on the first floor and one located in the Interactive Instructional Facility on the ground floor, both in Burling.
Q. I heard I could have posters printed in the Libraries. Is that true?
A. Yes. Details and tips on poster printing can be found on the Libraries’ poster printing webpage for your convenience.
Q. Where can I find out about getting a job at the Libraries?
A. If you’re a Grinnell College student, please find the student employment application available through the Grinnell College Libraries' Employment webpage.
If you are looking for a staff or faculty position within the Libraries, please see the Grinnell College Office of Human Resources webpage.
