Library Services for Distance Education Students

Research Assistance | Circulation Policies | Interlibrary Loan
Electronic Resources | Other Libraries | Questions and Suggestions

At Syracuse University Library we recognize that distance education students may need to access Library services in a different manner than traditional on-campus students. The Library recognizes distance education students as those who are either enrolled in the Independent Studies Degree Program (ISDP), or in other distance education programs at Syracuse University.

The information below outlines the policies and services we provide specifically for students enrolled in distance education programs. Along with other SU Library users, distance education students are expected to comply with Syracuse University Library policies unless otherwise stated here. Paper copies of the Library's policies for distance education students are available from E.S. Bird Library, and the Science and Technology Library.

The following policies refer to books borrowed from E.S. Bird and the Science and Technology Libraries. Borrowing privileges at the Barclay Law Library, the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, and Moon Library at the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry will differ. Please refer to these libraries for their borrowing privileges.

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Research Assistance

The Library's Instruction page lists a number of guides to using the SUMMIT catalog, databases, and other electronic resources. If you are in need of assistance in using any of the Library's resources or services you are welcome to contact us via e-mail, chat or phone, or you can request assistance from any of our Library Subject Specialists.

Borrowing Library Materials While On Campus

The loan period for distance education students is 28 weeks, although some exceptions may apply depending on the type of library material. Materials may be renewed up to three times per material. Please bring your SU I.D. card to the Circulation Desk, along with the materials you wish to check out. In order to receive the 28 week loan period, you must inform the circulation assistant that you are an ISDP or distance education student. Be sure to double-check the due date before leaving the circulation desk. You are responsible for all books charged out to you until they have been received at the library and discharged.

Borrowing Library Materials While Off Campus

Access to SU Library Materials
You may borrow SU Library books using the ISDP Book Request Form available through the SU Library's home page. Library books will be mailed from the Library to addresses within the United States and Canada only.

We regret that the following items cannot be retrieved or mailed to distance education students:

• Items that have restricted use such as reference books or whole issues or volumes of magazines or journals;
• Library materials from the following libraries: Syracuse University Law Library, Martin Luther King (MLK) Library, SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry's ESF Moon Library, books belonging to other institutions.

Returning Books

You are responsible for books charged out to you until they are checked in again at the Library. To avoid fines, mail the books in time to be received by the Library on or before the due date. Please insure the books you mail back to the Library, in order to help track any lost materials. The Library recommends that residents of the United States return items via UPS because the company provides automatic tracking and $100 insurance per package. If you are mailing more than one book, please insure for more than $100. Wrap or box the books securely, and mail them to:

Circulation Desk E.S. Bird Library 222 Waverly Ave. Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 Phone number: 315-443-2415

Book Renewals

Instructions for Online Book Renewals

Recalls

You may request a book that is charged to another Library user. All books are subject to recall. You can recall a book from the SUMMIT catalog by clicking on the "Request" link at the top of the page. Type in your SU ID number (all ten digits, adding a zero at the end of the nine digit SU ID number, if need be) and your last name at the prompt and follow the instructions.

When a book you have charged out is requested by another user or for a class assignment, you will be notified by e-mail to return it. This notification will include a new due date. Please mail the book to the library from which you borrowed it before the new due date. For students with addresses in Canada, please use airmail.

Interlibrary Loan

The Library will mail or e-mail copies of journal articles to you, whether they are from the SU collection or obtained through Interlibrary Loan. To request articles, students should use ILLIAD, the Library's Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Service.

If you are requesting an article that the Library does own, when submitting your article request through ILLIAD, please be sure to indicate in the notes field: "ISDP - SU owns journal".

Interlibrary Loan will deliver articles electronically to international distance education students, whether they are from the SU collection or obtained through Interlibrary Loan. The articles may be sent electronically directly from the borrowing library, or the articles may be scanned and sent via their email accounts. For that reason, international students should specify that they want electronic delivery when they register for ILLIAD.

Syracuse University Library does not obtain or loan books from other institutions to distance education students. If you need books that the Syracuse University Library does not own, please check with Interlibrary Loan services at a public library near you.

Access to Electronic Resources

Electronic resources such as SUMMIT and its databases are available to off-campus library users through the Library's proxy server. Please refer to the Instructions for Remote Access to Electronic Resources.

Access to Other Libraries

Locating nearby library services can be instrumental to your success as an distance education student. State institutions of higher education often extend privileges to in-state residents. On the other hand, while many academic libraries welcome unaffiliated visitors and offer services to them, they often have service restrictions, including restrictions on borrowing privileges. Some may charge user fees, and a few may deny access altogether. A letter of introduction from the SU Library can be helpful in some instances. We are happy to furnish letters of introduction, which you may request in person from the Business Services office (Room 014) at E.S. Bird Library or by completing the e-mail reference form.

Questions?

If you have any further questions or inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail, LibChat or phone. AskUs!

New Book Requests

You can suggest that the Library purchase a book that is not part of the collection by using the electronic form, New Book Request.

How are we doing?

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions regarding services at Syracuse University Library in general, or the Library's service to distance education students in particular, please do not hesitate to complete the Library's suggestion form.