What are the library hours?
You can find library hours here. Because of breaks and holidays, please check the schedule or call ext. 3090 before coming to campus.
Does the Library have a drinking fountain, and where are the rest rooms?
No, the Library does not have a drinking fountain, but the nearest one is next door and downstairs or in the theater lobby at the end of this building.
The rest rooms are downstairs and to the right.
Can I eat my sandwich here?
No. No food is allowed in the Library, though you may have a drink if it has a cover, but not near the computers.
How do I send the library staff a suggestion?
The CUI Library staff is anxious to hear from you. An anonymous suggestion board is available in the lobby of the Library. Comments and questions are responded to often.
Can I use a Study/Conference Room?
These four are only available to CU students and faculty with a 2-hour limit. Leave your I.D. at the Circulation Desk and someone will open the door.
How do I find out if the library has a book?
All library materials are listed in the online Library Catalog. You may search by words or phrase, subject, title, author, etc. You may also do an advanced search with special limiters (see "Using the CU Library Resources"). Carefully write down the Call Number and note the location of the item.
Where are the STACKS?
The STACKS, also known as the Main Reading Room, hold most of the book Collection and are located downstairs. The Collection is organized by the Library of Congress (LC) Classification System, a series of letters and numbers. The ends of the shelves are labeled to help you search. See the Library Map to find where your book may be or ask for help at the Circulation or Reference Desk.
When are my books due?
The norm is 4 weeks for books, 2 weeks for media material. Check the 'date due' card or your receipt.
You can also check the status of your materials online. Click the 'My Account' link on the menu. Click the 'Review My Account' link. Type in your E# I.D. and PIN (password). A list will appear with all the books you have checked out and their due dates.
How do I renew books?
You can renew books one of two ways (see 'Using the CU Library Resources'):
- You can bring your ID card to the library and ask an employee at the main desk to renew your books.
- You can renew your books yourself online. Click the 'My Account' button at the top menu. Then, click the 'Renew My Materials' link. Type in your User E# ID and PIN (the last 4 digits of your E#). A list will appear with all the books you have checked out and their due dates. Click on "Renew" next to any item to renew it. There is only one renewal per item.
What do I do if you don't have a book I really need?
Click 'WorldCat First Search' or 'Interlibrary Loan' from the home page. Enter the title to find out what libraries may have the book. If it's a nearby Library, and you need it right away, you may be able to use it there. If you'd like to borrow the book, click on 'How to Get this Item" and fill out the form which will go directly to our ILL Librarian. It may take from 10 days to two weeks, and you'll be contacted. You must abide by the regulations of the lending institution.
How much are your overdue fines?
Books are 25¢/day. Reserve items are $5.00/ day.
Where is the copier/printer?
Provided you have money on your account, log in to any of the library workstations using your E# and password (same as Blackboard). Copying and printing costs $0.10/page. You can pick up your print job from the library copy room. If you are facing the circulation desk, the copy room is located behind the desk to the right. Please log out before leaving the computer to prevent any misuse of your account.
Where would the Masters Theses or 'Action Papers' be kept?
They are kept in date order in file cabinets in the Print/Copy Room. They are cataloged, but like reference books and journals, may not be removed from the Library, but they may be copied.
Does the library carry textbooks?
The library does not collect textbooks used in CUI classes.
Where do I find materials my professor has put on RESERVE?
They're kept behind the Circulation Desk. Ask for them by professor, then title. You'll need your I.D. card and to fill out a tall blue card which is kept until the item is returned. There are four different lending periods to borrow Reserve items: Library Use Only (LUO – can't take out), 3-Hour (can take out), Overnight (but due back by 10 am the next day), and 7-day which are determined by the professor. Overdue fines are $5.00/day.
How do I find out which journals the library has?
Click on Find a Journal on Library's home page. This alphabetical list of journals includes journals with full-text articles in electronic, print, and microfiche formats. You can also search the journals by subject category or discipline. If you need help using this resource, see Using the A-Z Journal Title List (See "Using the CU Library Resources").
Can I check out magazines or journals?
Print Periodicals, like Reference books are non-circulating; they cannot leave the library. Copy machines are available to photocopy articles.
How do I connect to electronic databases from off-campus?
Go to the Library homepage and click on the desired database. Enter your I.D # and your current password, and click 'Submit Request.'
My professor wants us to do research. What's the best way to learn how to use the Library?
There are several ways:
- First, your professor may arrange Library Instruction for the entire class which can be related to the subject, the assignment and/or level of the students. The Librarian can go to the class or have the class come to the Library, plus supply a Worksheet for practice.
- Second, the Library offers weekly half-hour INFO-SESSIONS in LA101 on basic search topics which anyone can attend.
- Third, you may ask at the Circulation Desk or Reference Desk and a Librarian will help you. You may also call to make an appointment for one-on-one help. You may also email your questions to librarian@cui.edu.
What tools can I use to search the Catalog and Databases?
Each has different tools but all use some basic features:
- BOOLEAN Operators: Search by using the terms AND, OR, and NOT.
- 'AND' expands by joining two or more terms and searching all, such as 'college' AND 'cost' AND 'financial aid.'
- 'OR' also expands the search so the results include at least one of the terms, such as 'Colleges' OR 'Universities.'
- 'NOT' limits the search by excluding some terms, such as 'pets' NOT 'cats' NOT 'dogs.'
- Quotation Marks: Putting terms in quotation marks indicates you want to search for those terms together - "red neck"
- Parentheses: Like quotation marks, these keep terms in groups to search only for the terms together (peace on earth)
- Wildcard (?) and Truncation (*): These symbols help your search by substituting for an unknown letter - (se?m brings up seam, seem, etc.) or finding other forms of a root word by including other word endings - (gentl* brings up gentle, gentlemen, gently, etc.)
- Proximity or nearby (N(ear) or W(ithin) + # of words): These search two or more terms which may be nearby each other. i.e. 'income N5 tax' searches for anywhere the words are within 5 words of each other (tax may be on income). 'Income W3 tax' finds results where the words are in the same order as typed (income-related tax, but not tax-related income).
Which Documentation Style should I use?
Your professor determines what style you must use to document sources for your papers. APA stands for the American Psychological Association and is usually used in the Social Sciences. See Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association www.apastyle.org. MLA stands for Modern Language Association and is preferred by the Arts and Humanities faculty. See MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers www.mla.org/style (both are in the CU Library). History and Theology usually prefer the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), also referred to as Turabian. Others to consider are the CSE, Council of Science Editors and COS, the Columbia Online Style.
Each has its own style or preference for how to give credit to sources used for support. There are helpful websites and handouts, but check the Writing Center in Theta or their website or call x1502 for further information.
My access to the Library databases password doesn't work or I forgot it; what should I do?
All registered students have access to library research databases and are given a password/PIN when they register. Logins and passwords for remote access are the same as your Concordia webmail logins (E#) and passwords. If you still can't access the databases call ITS at (949) 214-3175, or email at its@cui.edu.
How do I find my BannerWeb password?
BannerWeb passwords are distributed through the Registrar's Office. For more information, see the Student FAQs at the Registrar's site.
OTHER CU LIBRARY SERVICES:
- 4 Conference/Study Rooms: bring I.D. to Circulation Desk
- Inter-library Loan (ILL)
- New quiet study lounge downstairs
- Libronix Databases (CD-ROM)
- Copy/Print room with microfiche reader/printer
- Wireless Access
- 8 Research Stations
- Curriculum/Instruction Room
- Weekly Info-sessions for Library instruction
- Theses/Action Papers on file (can't be checked out)
- Reference Librarian x.3096
- A.V.-media listening/viewing stations