Information for PSC Students
FAQ's
Who can use the Prairie State College Library?
Any one can use the resources in the Library. Current faculty, students and staff can use reserve materials and borrow books, magazines, videos and telecourse tapes with a current PSC ID (Library card). District 515 residents and area residents who have a valid Metropolitan Library System card may borrow books from Prairie State College.
Where do I get a current PSC ID to use as a library card?
PSC students are issued (or updated) a picture ID at registration. At all other times ID cards are issued by the Campus and Public Safety Office near the Main door.
Can someone else borrow library materials for me?
Students should never allow someone else to use their ID card. The owner of the ID card is responsible for all materials borrowed against it.
What happens if my card is lost?
Report your lost card the Circulation Supervisor so that your card can be stopped and no materials can be charged against you.. Replace you ID at the Campus and Public Safety Office. There is a charge for replacing a lost ID.
Where do I check out materials?
All library materials are checked out at the Circulation Desk in the front of the library using a valid PSC ID.
How long can I keep library materials?
Most books may be checked out to students for two weeks. Some materials classed as Reserve may have shorter loan periods. Reference books, some videos and other books may be for use in the Library only.
Where do I return materials?
When the Library is open, please bring your materials to the Circulation Desk to return them. After hours please return materials to the Book Drop located next to the Main Library Door in the Atrium. Do not put Reserve or Vertical File materials in the Book Drop.
May I renew library materials?
Books are renewable once for two weeks, providing there has not been another request for the material. Students should bring the books to the Circulation Desk to renew them. Reserve materials, videos and telecourse tapes may not be renewed.
What happens if I return my materials late?
For new subscriptions, please contact Susan Bayer at 708-709-3556.
Overdue notices will be automatically sent to you if you do not return your materials in a timely manner. Books, magazines and vertical file materials are $.10 a day for each day the book is overdue. Reserve materials are $.50 a day and Telecourse tapes are $2.00 a day. If the material is not returned you will be charged the overdue fine, the cost of replacement and an $8.00 service fee for each item. At the end of the semester students with outstanding fines or long overdue materials, may be placed on computer hold to prevent future registrations, grades and transcripts from being issued.
What does it mean when my Professor says there are things on Reserve in the Library?
Books, videos and articles that may be heavily used in a specific course are kept on Reserve at the Circulation Desk. These materials are shelved under the Professor's name or the Course name and number. Most Reserve materials are for Library Use only. Some materials will circulate for two days, some for one week.
Social issue, photography and psychology journal Reserve materials are shelved in the Reading Room for your convenience. The Online catalog will list their location as Prairie State Display. You may check out up to two of these Reserve materials at the Circulation Desk. An orange date due slip means the material can be checked out to 2 days, green means a week. Reserve materials checked out on Friday are due back on the following Monday. Reserve materials may not be renewed.
How do I find a book at PSC?
Prairie State College has an online catalog and is a part of the Metropolitan Library System OPAC called SWAN along with 77 other suburban libraries. You may search the SWAN catalog from this home page by clicking on SWAN Online Catalog. Choose the location of Prairie State College (or All if you wish to search over 7 million records) and then you can select to search by Subject, Keyword, Author or Title to look for what you need.
PSC classifies books according the Library of Congress System, which uses a combination of letters and numbers to organize materials into subject areas.
I cannot find what I want at PSC, how to I get it?
Anyone with a current PSC ID card can request an InterLibrary Loan (ILL). Your request can be a book, video or an article from a magazine or journal.
How do I get a book on ILL?
f you have the Title and Author (If there is one), fill out a request form at the Circulation Desk. Be sure to include your name, phone or e-mail and the bar code number from your ID beginning with 2 2783 000_ _ _ _ _ _. Leave your request with the ILL Clerk or give it to the Reference Librarian.
If you are requesting a book from one of the other libraries in SWAN, you may order it yourself by following the directions on the request screen. Your item will be sent here to PSC and you can pick it up at the Circulation Desk 2 to 3 days after you request it.
Please remember that not everything may be borrowed on ILL. Reference materials, rare and special collections and entire volumes of periodicals may not be available.
How do I get an article on ILL?
First be certain that article you want cannot be found on one of the Electronic Periodical databases here on the web site. LexisNexis Academic, EBSCOhost's Academic Search Elite and other databases, NewsBank, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center and the FirstSearch databases all have many magazines and journals available full-text for you to print, download to disk, or e-mail. If you can only find the citation and or abstract of the article, bring that information to the ILL Clerk or the Reference Librarian and they will order the article for you.
What is a citation?
A citation is the Title and Author, if known, of the article, the Name of the Magazine or Journal, Date, Volume and number, and pages of the article.
What is an abstract?
An Abstract is a paragraph summarizing the article or study listing key terms and methods of research. It may be written by the author and is usually included in scholarly (Referred, Emperical) journals.
How long will it take to get an ILL?
Books that are in MLS generally take a week or less, within the state of Illinois ten days to two weeks, beyond that it can take three weeks or more. Articles that can be faxed come in 2 to 3 days, hard copies take a week or longer.
Does ILL cost me anything?
We make every effort to get materials free of charge. If obtaining the item would incur a service fee (usually $5 to $20), please indicate when you are requesting the ILL what you would be willing to pay.
How do I sign up for workshops on instructional technology?
Unless you ordered yourself through SWAN, you will be called or an e-mail sent to you when your materials have arrived. You may pick them up at the Circulation Desk.
How can I access the online databases from home?
Instructions for accessing PSC databases from off campus.