International Students:
Welcome to the
Syracuse University LibraryWe hope that this page will help you discover the wealth of information and services at Syracuse
University Library. If you have questions, please ask at any Library Reference Desk.
Library Information and ServicesBooks
Journals and Articles
Language Dictionaries and Resources
Library Instruction Sessions***
Refworks Classes
Introducing RefWorks Handout
Library 101 Presentation (PowerPoint)
Evaluating Resources (PowerPoint)
How To Avoid Plagairism (PowerPoint)
Circulation
Reserves
Renewals
Reference
Subject Specialists
Other Services
Helpful Hints for Library Research
Access to Newpapers in Many Languages
Library Locations
Where are the libraries located and can I use all of them?
Syracuse University Library includes a main library (E.S. Bird Library), the Science and Technology Library and its two branches, Geology and Math, the Architecture Reading Room, and the Belfer Audio Laboratory and Archive.
Students with a valid SU I.D. card are also permitted to borrow materials from
the following libraries:
· F. Franklin Moon Library, SUNY College of Environmental Science and
Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive
· H. Douglas Barclay Law Library, Syracuse University College of Law, E.I.
White Hall
· Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Syracuse University Department
of African American Studies, Sims Hall, room 231
· University Archives, E.S. Bird Library, 6th floorSyracuse University students may also visit the Health Science Center Library at SUNY Upstate Medical University, 766 Irving Avenue. Undergraduate students can borrow materials with a letter from their professor. Graduate students may borrow materials with their SU I.D. card.
For locations of these libraries, see the Campus Map.
Is there an online tour of the Syracuse University Library?
Click here to see a tour of the Library and its branches.
Locating Materials
How are materials organized in the Library?Materials are organized by the Library of Congress system which follows a subject organization format. Here is an explanation of the Library of Congress Call Number System from Honolulu Community College Library.
How do the Library of Congress numbers work?
The Library of Congress system is a a series of letters and numbers. This chart will demonstrate how it works.
Use the SUMMIT Catalog to find specific books or materials and their locations.
Can I browse the books on the shelves in the Library?
You are free to browse most materials in the Library.
Books
How do I find books?
Use SUMMIT, the Syracuse University Library Catalog to determine whether or not the Library has a particular book and where it is located. See Finding Books in the SU Library for additional help.
Can I access SUMMIT from home or my dorm room?
Yes, you can access SUMMIT from home or your dorm. If you are connecting from off campus you will need to login to access some materials. See Instructions for Remote Access to Electronic Resources.
Do you have books on TOEFL and GRE?
Yes, we do have books on TOEFL and GRE. Check on SUMMIT to find the call number and location. Recent editions are kept in the Reference section in E.S. Bird Library.
Do you have e-books?
Yes, Syracuse University Library subscribes to a number of e-books across many subject disciplines from chemistry, computers, and engineering to literature and philosophy. Click on the e-book link to get to the databases that contain these books.
Does the Library have textbooks for my classes?
The Library does not generally purchase textbooks. However, faculty sometimes place textbooks on Course Reserve at the circulation desk. You can search Course Reserves through the SUMMIT catalog.
Journals and Articles
How do I find journal articles?
You can use either online databases or print indexes to find journal articles by subject. See Finding Articles in the SU Library. Databases are arranged by subject. You can access these databases from off campus through the proxy server.
How do I find electronic journals with full text available?
Use the E-Journal Locator or SUMMIT to identify electronic journals.
How do I print and photocopy journal articles?
Photocopies can be made on the Library copy machines for fifteen cents a page. Copy cards may be purchased for use in printers or photocopiers. Networked printing is also available using a NETID login and password to print (using student quotas) from NETID computers, which are located in E.S. Bird Library and the Science & Technology Library.
Is there a copyright policy for the University regarding printing and duplicating materials?
You must print journal articles and materials in compliance with the Syracuse University Copyright Policy.
Language Dictionaries and Resources
How do I find language dictionaries?
To find language dictionaries, go to SUMMIT and search:
Keyword search: (Language) dictionary
[Example: japanese dictionary]
OR
Subject heading search: (Your language) language - Dictionaries
[Example: french language - dictionaries]To find dictionaries in two languages :
Under subject heading search: (Your language) language - Dictionaries - (Other language)
[Example: spanish language dictionaries - English]Are there international newspapers in E.S. Bird Library?
Newspapers from around the world are found on the second floor in the current periodicals section.
Are there books or journals in my language?
The Library has books and materials in many languages. In the SUMMIT catalog you can check by doing a "limits search" Make sure to set the limits before you search.
- In SUMMIT, go to basic search.
- Click on the Apply Limits box in the lower right corner of the page.
- Find the Language box and highlight the language you are interested in.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Apply Limits box.
- You are now back to the SUMMIT search page. Put in the terms you wish to search.
- Click search to get your results.
Library Services
Circulation
How do I borrow materials?
Your SU I.D. is your library card. Take your I.D. and the items to the person at the circulation desk who will check them out for you. You are responsible for all materials signed out to you and you must return them on time or you will be charged a fine for late returns.
How many books can I take out?
Undergraduate students can take out 100 books at a time, and graduate students may take out 250 books. You are responsible for all the books you have checked out. Renew them or bring them back on time or you will be charged a fine. When someone else requests the book or recalls a book, please bring it back as soon as possible. The Library's circulation policy is explained in detail at Circulation and Access.
How long can I keep a book?
- Undergraduate loan is 28 days.
- Graduate loan is 16 weeks.
- Faculty loan is one year.
What if the Library does not have the book or article that I need?
If the book or journal article is not in our collection, you may request the item through ILLIAD, our interlibrary loan service. The service is free and you may have up to 40 active requests at one time. In addition, library staff at any reference service point can help you find alternate sources of information.
\
Reserves
The book I need is on reserve. What does that mean?
Course Reserves allows course instructors to hold materials at the circulation desk or make them available online for students to use. Digital reserve items are available on the web and require authentication for access from off-campus. Not all instructors place materials on reserve. The Course Reserves section of SUMMIT lists the available reserve materials.
The books and other materials placed on reserve are available at the circulation desks in E.S. Bird Library, Science and Technology Library, and the Geology, Math and Physics Libraries.
Where can I find material my professor has placed in the Library for my class?
Materials are listed by the instructor's name and are placed on Course Reserve.They may be borrowed from the circulation desk. Additional materials are available online and may be found by Searching Course Reserves.
Renewals
Can I renew books without coming into the Library?
You can extend the borrowing time of books, or renew them, online by going to SUMMIT, clicking patron information and renewing them. You can extend the borrowing time online if it is before the due date. You can not renew books over the phone.
Reference
How do I get research help in the library?
Go to any reference desk and library staff will be happy to help you. You can also call any reference desk, or use e-mail or IM.
Subject SpecialistsIs there someone in the Library who specializes in my subject?
Yes, there are subject librarians in many areas who can provide research assistance.
Can I use the Internet? Is it free? Is there a time limit?
Other ServicesYes, you can use the Internet on any public computer in the Library, and it is FREE. You can use it for educational purpose for any length of time. If another student is waiting to use SUMMIT, and you are not doing academic research, you may be asked to end what you are doing. There are computer clusters on campus that provide Internet access as well.
Is Microsoft Office available on all the computers?
Microsoft Office as well as a host of other software packages is available on NETID computers. You can access these computers using your Syracuse University NETID login. At Bird Library, these NETID computers are located on the first, third and fourth floors. NETID computers are also available at the Science and Technology Library (located in Carnegie).
ITS provides a complete list of available software on NETID computers @ http://its.syr.edu/labs/labsoftware.pdf
Are there any computer clusters near the Library?
There are computer clusters in the Schine Student Center, Link Hall, Physics Building and Kimmel Hall.
Check here for locations of all computer labs.
1. Have a clear research topic. Make certain that you understand your research topic. If you are not clear, go back to your course instructor and ask for further clarification of the topic.
2. Ask for help. We understand that the Syracuse University Library system may be different from libraries you are used to. Library staff are here to help. If you find it confusing and difficult to conduct research in the Library, please ask for help at a reference desk or use Instant Messaging or telephone Reference.3. Begin your research early. If you start your research too close to your assignment due date, books and journals may not be available as they may be checked out by other students. Plan extra time, as you may need to recall a book or order it through interlibrary loan.
4. Keep track of citations. As you do your research, write down the complete citation for each book or journal article you use. Trying to trace it back later may be a very difficult task. The important things to keep track of are author, title, publisher, copyright date, and location of publication. For journal articles, you will need the volume number, issue number, and pages of the article as well as title and author. You will need this information for your bibliography at the end of your paper to document your sources.
See the following links for definitions of library terms:
- Library Terminology: A Guide for International Students
- Library Terms in Various Languages
- Glossary of Library Terms
Translation Tools
(from the CYBRARY at University of Queensland )Here is a site that has a list of translation tools to help you understand your library:
http://www.library.uq.edu.au/nott/subject_vr.php?id=TT
This page was created by the Working Group For International Students of the Syracuse University Library.
The members are: Mary DeCarlo, Maryjane Poulin, Charulata Chawan and Susan Miller
Welcome to our new committee members Carol Schwartz and Gurnek Singh.
If you have questions or comments regarding this page, please e-mail smmiller@syr.edu.
8/30/05 smm
