Library

Duns Scotus Library

Providing services to students, faculty, staff, the Sisters of St. Francis, and the local community

Library

Library Services

The Duns Scotus Library provides services to students, faculty, staff of the institution, Sisters of St. Francis, and the local community, and strives to help the institution fulfill its Mission by complementing all programs with resources and services. The library staff carefully studies needs assessment to improve services, further staff development, budget wisely, and continue collection development of print and electronic resources in an effort to support the curriculum and information needs of the campus community. The staff also teaches skills and strategies to evaluate the profusion of sources to promote independent learning.

The Collection

Books and audio-visual are classified according to the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Audio-visual materials are stored in the room closest to the Circulation/Reference Desk.

Franciscana is a special collection of Franciscan titles that are located in the first room on the right of the Main Reading Room.

The library also houses very unique and valuable material. Foreign language Bibles, books dating back to 1500 and beautiful facsimiles are among the works that are kept in special areas. Likewise, there are 350 cataloged pieces of art that decorate the interior walls of the library.

Periodicals

The current issue of journals and magazines are shelved in the main reading room. All other issues within the last year are shelved in the AV Room on the 1st floor. A Lourdes ID or a driver’s license is left with staff in order to take items from the AV Room. All journals and magazines are used in the library only or taken to the copy machine near the circulation desk.

Reserve Materials

The reserve section is located at the Circulation/Reference Desk. Instructors place books and other materials on reserve for restrictive use. Reserve material is used in the library only or taken to the copy machine. To use reserve material a picture ID, a driver’s license, or a Lourdes ID is left at the circulation desk with the signed reserve card. Reserved articles can also be viewed online through course reserves found on the catalog page.

Personal Services

Personal assistance is available at the Circulation/Reference Desk.

Full time and part time librarians provide services for learning how to access the library catalog and databases to find books, periodicals, multimedia and other resources.
Computer workstations are available for the on-line catalog, journal databases, and Internet. All computers are equipped with Microsoft Office.
In the main reading room, tables are equipped and wired for laptop computers.
A TV/VCR and a DVD player are available for individual student use to view videos for assignments. An ID must be presented at Circulation Desk.
A laser printer at the Circulation Desk costs 10 cents per sheet after 20 free sheets per day.
Color printing is available for 50 cents per sheet.
Two small study rooms are available for group work.
Library group instruction classes are available upon the request of faculty.

Reference Services

The goal of Reference Services is to facilitate access to the library collection and support instructional programs by providing formal and informal bibliographic instruction. Assistance to users should provide guidance in pursuing information rather than providing the information itself. Librarians on duty will exercise judgment in determining application of this policy rather than favoritism to any one patron. The needs of the patron shall be regarded with utmost respect and on a professional level.

Services are available for individual patrons and for groups needing library instruction. Group instruction sessions are scheduled ahead by instructors.

The reference desk service is available at the hours that the library is open. The staff rotates desk duty devised by the library director. During slack periods, staff may engage in special assignments, read professional literature, examine new reference material and on-line databases.

The reference desk attendant:

Answers questions about using the library catalog.
Guides with OPAL/OhioLINK book searching and requesting items.
Guides searching for journal article citations on databases.

To request an item from OhioLINK, the librarian points out the importance of searching FIRST the Lourdes catalog. A Lourdes University ID barcode is used to successfully complete the request process. Within 3-4 working days the item usually arrives at the circulation desk. An email will be sent through the Lourdes email account when the item has arrived.

Lourdes does not subscribe to all journal databases listed on the OhioLINK databases. Likewise, there are selective amounts of information accessible and appear as citation, abstract or full text. For journals not subscribed to by Lourdes, an extra service called Inter library Loan is used if needed. Requests for such service are available at the Circulation Desk with a possible fee. Printed copies from computer workstations costs 10 cent per sheet.