![[La Sierra University Library]](Library_General_Information.gif){kind=small}
Support for Distance Learning Students
LIBRARY COLLECTIONS
Off-Campus Access
The La Sierra University Library collections include a large number of electronic resources, many of them full-text. All electronic databases may be searched from off-campus using the Off-Campus Access link.
Go to www.lasierra.edu/library, click on Off-Campus Access, and log in with your La Sierra e-mail username and password. If you have any questions or difficulties accessing the databases, please contact the reference desk at (951) 785-2382; we are here to help you.
Journal Articles
To find journal articles, you will need to use a journal index. Most of the Library journal indexes are electronic and can be found on the Databases & Encyclopedias section of the Library web page. The full-text databases are identified by a red F.T. next to the database name. A list of full-text journal titles is available on the Library web page. You will need to be logged in to the campus proxy server to use the Library databases.
Electronic Books
ebrary is a collection of more than 13,000 titles and growing. To search the Library’s ebrary books, you must access ebrary through the campus proxy server. For instructions to log into the campus proxy server, see the Off-Campus Access link on the Library web page. Once you have logged into the proxy server, go to the Online Databases section of the Library web page and click on the ebrary link.
A collection of nearly 2000 electronic books is available through the La Sierra University e-Book Collection at netLibrary. To search the LSU e-Book Collection, you must access netLibrary through the campus proxy server. For instructions to log into the campus proxy server, see the Off-Campus Access link on the Library web page. Once you have logged into the proxy server, go to the Databases & Encyclopedias section of the Library web page and click on the netLibrary link. To use the netLibrary e-books, you will need to set up an account with netLibrary as a La Sierra University student. Information on setting up an account with netLibrary can be obtained from netLibrary’s Customer Support Center.
Books and Articles By Mail
Students currently enrolled in a distance learning class that does not have an on-campus component may request that books or articles from the Library print collections be sent to them through the U.S. Mail.
To request a book, first make sure that the library has the desired book by searching the online catalog, then using the Book Request Form.
To request a journal article, first make sure that the library has the desired issue of the journal by checking the journal name in the library catalog's Title Search. Look at the "LIB. HAS" line in the record to see which dates/issues are avaialable. Then use the Article Request Form.
Usual Library policies regarding borrowing periods and fines apply. Please note that books from Reference, the Heritage Room, or the vault cannot be borrowed.
REFERENCE HELP
The Library offers reference services by telephone during all hours the library is open, with the exception of 12-1 p.m., 5-6 p.m., and 10 p.m.-midnight. Reference service is designed to assist you with whatever difficulties you may be having in accessing or using library resources, whether basic or complex. Please do not hesitate to contact us with whatever question you may have. Call us at 951-785-2396, or fill out the Ask Us a Question form on the Library web page. You should receive a response to your e-mail question within 24 hours, although requests made over the weekend or on holidays may take a bit longer. Library hours are here.
USING OTHER LIBRARIES
Link+ Libraries
La Sierra University is a member of the Link+ network. This membership allows our students to borrow books from other Link+ member libraries. Students may have the book sent to La Sierra University Library where they can pick it up personally, or the student may go to any LINK+ library and check books out with their La Sierra ID card. Link+ libraries are scattered throughout the state of California.
A list of participating LINK+ libraries can be found at http://4.20.101.239/screens/libinfo.html#Where.
Libraries in Your Area
Your local public library may also be a good source of information. You should be eligible for borrowing privileges, and the public library may also provide services such as Interlibrary Loan, or even access to online databases.
Academic libraries other than IEALC libraries may also allow some form of access. Many academic libraries allow anyone to use materials in-house. Libraries rarely check out magazines and journals anyway, so whatever library is most convenient to you is often your best source for journal articles. Academic libraries may also allow you to purchase a courtesy card in order to obtain borrowing privileges. Check with the library for which you would like borrowing privileges to find out their policies and fees.
Many libraries in the Southern California area are linked on the Other Libraries section of the La Sierra University Library web page. If you need assistance locating a library in your area, contact the La Sierra University Library reference desk for a list of libraries located in your city.
INTERNET RESOURCES
Internet resources are a popular and potentially very useful source of information for students. Caution, however, is strongly advised when using Internet resources. Remember that there is no quality control imposed on the Internet; individual web sites must provide their own quality control. It is up to you, the user, to determine which web sites have exercised quality control over the information they post, and which web sites are best avoided for academic purposes.
Internet Detective provides a helpful tutorial to review the techniques for evaluating and choosing web sites for academic use. Other web sites useful for learning to evaluate web sites are:
- Evaluating Internet Research Sources by Robert Harris of Southern California College
- Evaluating Web Sites by the librarians at Lake Forest College
Using sources of web sites selected by librarians, instead of the usual Internet search engines such as Google and Alta Vista, can help you focus on pre-evaluated web sites of higher quality. You still need to exercise your own judgment to make sure the site is appropriate for the way in which you intend to use it, but these sources will make your job somewhat easier. Some good web sites are listed on the Internet Resources sections of the various subject pages of the Library Databases & Encyclopedias pages. Additional sources of Librarian reviewed web pages are: