Libraries FAQ
Have a research question? Ask a Librarian. The following frequently asked questions (FAQ) about The College of Wooster Libraries are answered below:
- Arrangement of library materials?
- Beginning research?
- Campus phones?
- Checking out library materials?
- Computers?
- CONSORT library catalog?
- Copying/Printing?
- ILLiad?
- Off-campus access?
- OhioLINK resources?
- Reserve items?
- Staff Members?
- Typewriters?
Arrangement of library materials?
Library materials in The College of Wooster Libraries are arranged alphabetically and numerically using the Library of Congress Classification system or, in the case of U.S. government documents, the SuDocs Classification system.
Call number and material locations can be found on the Gault & Andrews Libraries Map Directory or the Science Library Floor Plans pages.
Beginning research?
If you are not sure where to begin your research, contact the Reference Desk on the first floor of Andrews Library (330/263-2096 or ext. 2096 on campus) or Timken Science Library (330/263-2079 or ext. 2079 on campus). You can also refer to the Reference Services page in order to find contact information for the librarians or schedule a Reference Consultation.
Each librarian has several areas of specialization. If you are a first-year student, you have a librarian that has chosen your first-year seminar (FYS) as a particular area of interest. You can locate your librarian on the FYS Librarians page (http://www3.wooster.edu/library/services/instruction/fyslibrarians.php). To learn which librarian specializes in research on a particular subject, see the Library Liaisons to College Departments page (http://www3.wooster.edu/library/about/liaisons.php).
You may also want to refer to the Subject Guides pages that list specific resources available for beginning research.
Campus phones?
Publicly accessible phones allowing calls on campus are in the following library locations:
| Andrews Lower2 | far back wall near the books classified in the Ms |
| Andrews Lower1 | just past the entrance to Collection Services Dept. |
| Andrews 2 | on post at the top of the stairs |
| Andrews 3 | on post at the top of the stairs |
| Gault 3 | near stairwell going up to the upper level IS carrels |
| Timken | in the printer/copier room |
Checking out library materials?
Your C.O.W. card is your library card, allowing you to check out books and other circulating materials from the libraries. You may check out (and return) circulating items at any one of the libraries’ three circulation desks: Andrews1, Gault 1, or Timken Science Library. Items that may not be checked out of the library include Reference books, periodicals (magazines, journals, and newspapers) and media such as DVDs and videos. The latter may be checked out by C.O.W. faculty for preview and in-class use.
You can learn more about checking out materials, including check-out periods, on the Circulation Services page. Also feel free to contact any library circulation desk:
| Andrews | 330/263-2493 or ext. 2493 on campus |
| Gault | 330/263-2442 or ext. 2442 on campus |
| Timken | 330/263-2079 or ext. 2079 on campus |
| Media Library | 330/263-2385 or ext. 2385 on campus |
Computers?
Computers with Internet access are located throughout the libraries, but are clustered in four areas: the McCoy Computer Lab (Andrews Lower2), the McCreight Learning Lab (Gault Lower1), the Timken Science Computer Lab, and the first floor of Andrews Library near the entrance. The McCoy, McCreight, and Timken Science labs are often reserved for class instruction, but when unscheduled, are open for College of Wooster faculty, staff, and student use.
In addition, the libraries are part of the ScotZone, the campus wireless computer network. For information on how to configure your computer for the campus wireless network see the Wireless Set-up Documentation page. You can also call ext. 2312 on campus for ScotZone assistance.
CONSORT library catalog?
CONSORT is the combined online library catalog of The College of Wooster, Denison University, Kenyon College, and Ohio Wesleyan University libraries. You may use this catalog to determine what items are owned by each of these libraries and to electronically request that circulating items not available in your institution’s library, but available elsewhere in CONSORT, be sent to you free of charge, usually within three working days. Items sent to you from other libraries may be picked up at the Gault Library circulation desk.
Additionally, CONSORT provides library users access to their own library records so they may monitor the progress of requests, check due dates, and perform online renewal of checked-out items. You may also create "Preferred Searches" which are run automatically on a regular basis with results emailed to you.
Copying/Printing?
The College of Wooster Libraries have several printers and copiers. You may print a document on the copier/printers located on Andrews 1 or the Timken Science copier/printers. You may make copies on the Andrews 1 copier/printer, Andrews 2 copier, or the Timken Science library copier/printers. Whether printing or copying, the cost is five cents per page, charged to your C.O.W. card, or if applicable, your departmental account. At the beginning of each school year, C.O.W. students will have money preallocated to their C.O.W. card to offset the costs of printing/copying. The amount is based on your class year.
Color printing is available at Office Services located in Lowry Center, the Wired Scot, and in the Timken Science Library. There is an additional charge associated with using each of these printers.
ILLiad?
ILLiad is the Libraries' online interlibrary loan (ILL) system. It is used to request articles not available at Wooster, or books and other materials that are not available via CONSORT or OhioLINK. The first time you access ILLiad you will be prompted to fill out a new registration form (only the first time). You will use that account information to access the system for subsequent use. After logging in, you will then proceed to choose the type of item to be requested (article, book, etc.) and then subsequently be provided the appropriate form to fill out. When you are finished, remember to logout of ILLiad. Contact David Wiebe for further information or assistance (ext. 2137).
Off-campus access?
Access instructions may be found on the Accessing Resources Off-Campus page.
OhioLINK Resources?
OhioLINK is a consortium of college and research libraries across the State of Ohio. This consortium has a shared library catalog, the OhioLINK Library Catalog, that not only allows you to determine which library owns an item, but also to electronically request that a circulating item, not available in CONSORT, be sent to you at the College of Wooster Libraries free of charge, usually within five working days. Items sent to you from other libraries may be picked up at the Gault Library circulation desk.
The College of Wooster Libraries membership in the OhioLINK consortium also allows us to purchase access to more than 100 electronic databases and thousands of electronic journals at a reduced rate. For more information on the OhioLINK network, see the OhioLINK home page.
Reserve Items?
Faculty may place items on Reserve in the libraries for use by students in their courses, either as actual print copy or in electronic format. You may find what a faculty member has placed on reserve for a course by searching the CONSORT library catalog “Search Course Reserves by” link using either the professor's name, course name, or in the case of electronic reserves, the ERes connection.
Items on print reserve (location of WOO Reserves or WOO Science Reserves) require you present their call number to the staff member at the Gault Reserves (Andrews 1) or Timken Science Circulation desk to obtain the item.
Items on media reserve (location of WOO Media Reserves) require you present the title of the item to the staff member at the Media Library circulation desk (Gault Lower1) to obtain the item. Media reserve items must be used/viewed in the library.
Items on electronic reserve are available online upon presentation of the professor-provided course password. If you have questions about Reserve materials, contact David Wiebe (ext. 2137) for items listed as WOO Reserves, or Gwen Short (ext. 2275) for items listed as WOO Science Reserves, or Patti McVay Gorrell (ext. 2285) for items listed as WOO Media Reserves.
Staff Members?
Contact information for the Libraries is available on the Libraries Staff page.
Typewriters?
Publicly accessible typewriters available in the Assistive Technology Workroom on Andrews 1.
