Reference:FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

From LfolksWiki

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

FREQUENTLY ASKED REFERENCE QUESTIONS

Policies

[#checkout I am not a student at SDSU but would like to check out a book. How may I do this?]

[#course Can I get a copy of a course description for a class I took as a student?]

I am not a student at SDSU but would like to check out a book. How may I do this?

Community members must purchase a community membership at the SDSU Library before they can borrow materials. However, you are certainly free to use this book here in the library and make photocopies of selected sections if you wish. An alternative is to go to your local public library and request this book on interlibrary loan.

See http://infodome.sdsu.edu/about/depts/circulation/borrowing.shtml for more information.

How can I find a particular test in the Library?

There are a number of places that you will need to look, including:

  1. The reference desk has many full text test compilations to browse through.
  2. Online index to complete tests is at http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~Emstover/tests/
  3. PsycInfo, Mental Measurements, and other test databases. See http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/databases/testmeas.shtml You may need to adjust your terminology (try different terms) when you search these databases.

Please note that most tests are not available electronically. Some are on microfiche, some are in books, some are included in journal articles, and some are only available from commercial test publishers. Please let me know if you need further assistance.

How can I find information about businesses?

We have several good business directories that would give you company information, such as Ward's Business Directory. Most of these directories are located at the Reference Desk.

You could also look up the annual reports or 10-K reports of these companies, at http://edgar.sec.gov/cgi-bin/srch-edgar or in Lexis-Nexis.

You could also look in the business literature. You can find current articles on business topics in the following databases: Business and Industry Database ABI/Inform Lexis/Nexis You can find these databases at http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/databases/databases.shtml

How can I find a peer-reviewed journal article?

Many peer reviewed journals are available online, if you are a student here at SDSU. Two of our best full text databases that would include these types of journals are Ebsco and ProQuest. Be sure to click on the box that says peer reviewed when you are searching these databases. A link to these databases is available on this page: http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/databases/databases.shtml.

For the differences between scholarly journal articles and popular magazine articles see http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/evaluate/percompchart.shtml.

Additional suggestions are available on the "Find an Article" page: http://infodome.sdsu.edu/howto/article.shtml

How do I know if the SDSU Library has a particular journal?

Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Library Catalog (the PAC) at http://libpac.sdsu.edu/
  2. Select Periodical title Search
  3. Type in the name of the journal (not the name of the article) that you are looking for.
  4. If we carry this journal online, you will be given one or more links to the database that contains the journal.
  5. If we carry this journal in print, you will be given a link that says "SDSU Holdings." Follow this link to get the location and call number for the journal.

If we do not have the journal you are looking for, you can order it on interlibrary loan. See http://infodome.sdsu.edu/about/depts/ill/ill.shtml

Additional suggestions are available on the "Find a peridoical" page: htttp://infodome.sdsu.edu/howto/findperiodicals.shtml for more information.

How do I find a thesis in the SDSU Library?

Almost all masters theses are kept in the SDSU Library, in both print (circulating) and microfiche format. (But remember that some masters projects, especially in certain departments like education, are not always considered "theses" and thus may not be in the Library).

To look for theses by subject, go to the PAC at http://libpac.sdsu.edu/ click on LC Subject. Then type in the SDSU Theses and then the name of the Department. For example, "SDSU Theses Psychology". Alternatively, you could go to the "Word" search and type in Theses and a Keyword to try to find a thesis on a particular topic.

SDSU theses may be borrowed through interlibrary loan, either in paper format or in microfiche format. We are not able to copy entire works such as theses or books. Unfortunately, we can only loan materials directly to another Interlibrary Loan Department at a recognized library (not directly to individuals). Any library to which you belong can place an interlibrary loan request to borrow items from us.

Please contact your library and they will forward the request to us according to interlibrary loan procedures.

You may search our library catalog from our home page at http://infodome.sdsu.edu . To search a larger collection of California libraries, try http://www.cdlib.org/collections/

How do I search for videos in the SDSU Library?

There are three ways to search for Videocassettes or DVDs in the PAC:

  1. You can go to the PAC at http://libpac.sdsu.edu and click on "Word" search. Then type in a keyword and limit by Material Type = Videocassette (or DVD).
  2. The second method is to go to the PAC and click on "Call Numbers." Then type in VTC in the "Alternative Call Number" field and click on Search. The resulting list will be almost every video in the Media Center. (You can also do this with DVDs. Just use DVD instead of VTC).
  3. The third method can be used to find all records of a particular format, location, or language. Click on the "Word" search in the PAC, then type [fill in with patron's query] in the search box and select the format, etc. you wish to retrieve. For example: [fill in with patron's query] with format Videocassette will find all the videocassettes the library owns.

Also see the ITS Media Catalog at http://itsnet.sdsu.edu/ and the Media Center Web page at http://infodome.sdsu.edu/about/depts/media/

Can I get a copy of a course description for a class I took as a student?

Check to see if the year needed is available online: http://coursecat.sdsu.edu/catalogs/index.html If the catalog is not available for the year they need, the following is sent:

The University Archives does have course descriptions going back as far as the Normal School Days (if you search the PAC for General catalog and announcement of courses, you will find it), and will be happy to supply you with photocopies of these descriptions. If you will provide an address, the copies can be sent to you by mail. We charge ten cents per photocopied page, plus an additional $2.50 for shipping and handling. If you are able to pick up your copies in person, there is no additional charge beyond those of photocopying. We can also send it to you by fax at a cost of $1.00 per page. See http://infodome.sdsu.edu/about/depts/spcollections/repro.shtml for more details.

We accept payment in cash or by check (made payable to The Campanile Foundation) in advance.


CB

5/06

Retrieved from "http://lfolkswiki.sdsu.edu/index.php/Reference:FREQUENTLY_ASKED_QUESTIONS"