University of Wisconsin - Stout

Welcome

Welcome to the University of Wisconsin-Stout University Library. We realize international students come from many cultures and countries. Some have libraries like ours; others are quite different. This page will introduce American libraries and briefly explain the services and rules of our library.

Getting Acquainted

The University Library is operated on the self-help principle. Library users find and use their own material. Librarians assist in finding information and learning to use the library. Ask for this help at the Reference Desk, which is to the left as you enter the library.

The Building. The University Library has five floors. The Main Collection, with both books and audiovisual material, occupies the top three floors. Print and microformat magazines and newspapers are on 2nd floor. The Reference Collection, and several special collections of microforms are on 1st floor. There is an instruction lab in room 111, which is open for student use whenever a library instruction class is not scheduled.

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries. Encyclopedias and dictionaries provide familiarity with American customs and words. They are kept in the Reference Room. General encyclopedias have call numbers beginning REF/AE; English language dictionaries' call numbers begin with REF/PE. Online encyclopedias and dictionaries are also available from the library home page.

Tours and Orientation

New International Students' Tour. The Office of International Student Services organizes one or more days of orientation. In that time, a librarian will provide a tour of the University Library. Both new and returning students may attend; check with the Office of International Student Services or at the University Library's Reference Desk for date and time. Classroom instructors may also arrange for library tours and instruction specific to their course needs.

Audio Tours. An audio tour of the University Library can be checked out from the Circulation Desk. This is a self-guided building orientation on audio tape cassette for use with a battery-operated cassette player and map. The same tour is available as a printed script. A Virtual Library Tour is also available on the web.

Library Web Pages and Printed Guides. The library staff produces many guides to the library and to sources of information. Some printed guides are displayed in the first floor lobby and near the Reference Desk. Use these or feel free to take a copy. Choose Subject Guides to find electronic and printed resources on a wide selection of subjects.  The link to E-Reference Resources leads to many electronic reference works.

Area Research Center/University Archives (ARC). Many students are interested in UW-Stout's history. The archivist is available for individual assistance on the third floor of the library.

Finding Information

Catalog. Use the Stout Library Catalog to search for books, audiovisual material, and thesis resources. Library material is listed by author, by title, by subject, and by keyword.

Periodicals. Magazines, journals, and newspapers are kept in alphabetic order on 2nd floor. Many periodicals are also available online. These titles and available issues can be identified by using the Periodicals Holdings List. To find articles on a specific subject, use Indexes and Databases.

World Wide Web. Much information is contained in electronic format, as well as books, audiovisual materials, and periodicals. Use Searching the Web to select from several search engines.

References Resources. Some information is brief or can be summarized in an encyclopedia, a handbook, manual, or a directory. Much of this material is kept in the Reference Collection.

Call Numbers. Books and audiovisual materials in the collections are arranged on the shelves by call number. The Library of Congress system is used.   All call numbers begin with one or more letters followed by numbers (Example: LC1130 .T25). All call numbers beginning with the same letter are placed together on the shelves. Material in each letter group is then arranged in order by the number following the letter. Because a call number corresponds to a subject or topic, items on the same topic are found together on the same book shelf.

Help When You Need It

Reference and Information. The Reference Desk, located to the left on the library's main floor, is the place to go for help. Librarians there will help locate information and explain the use of resources. They can provide direction to campus information. They can be contacted using Ask a Librarian.

Periodical Information. Get assistance identifying useful periodical articles at the Reference Desk. A library assistant on second floor in the Periodicals Area will help locate print/paper, microfiche, or microfilm copies.

Library Skills and Research Methods. Many guides to library use and research exist in the library collection. Identify them in the Stout Library Catalog using keyword searches for RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGY or the phrase, REPORT WRITING or ask a librarian to help. On the web, choose Research Tutorial for more information.

Help Phones. Telephones linked directly to the Circulation Desk and Reference Desks are in the lobbies of floors 2 through 5. Use these to request library help when having difficulty locating library material in the stacks.

Tutoring. Individual tutoring for undergraduate students in most subjects is available in the Advisement Center in Bowman Hall.

Consultations. Students working on a research paper or thesis may request an appointment with a librarian for research guidance. Consultations on the use of electronic resources are also available. Inquire at the Reference Desk; send a message by using Ask a Librarian; or submit a Consultation Request.

Equipment Use. Equipment found in the library such as laser printers, copy machines, and microform printers have instructions near each unit. Use the nearest lobby Circulation Help Phone for assistance with any of the library equipment.

Computer Assistance. The Access to Learning Desk (ALD) in the first floor Reference Area is staffed by student assistants who can help with computer technology questions such as how to use e-mail, Microsoft Office applications, or printing.

Customs and Rules

Checkout. All borrowed library material must be checked out at the Circulation Desk, which is to the right inside the main building entrance. The campus student identification card is required for material check out. The loan period varies from 3 to 28 days. Some materials such as reference books and periodicals are used only in the library.

Theft and Security. Both the University Library and Instructional Resources have security systems that all persons must pass as they leave. An alarm will ring when anyone passes with library material that is not checked out. On occasion, it may accidentally ring. If this should happen, do not worry . The Circulation Desk Supervisor will discover the cause of the alarm.

Personal belongings are each student's responsibility. Please do not leave books, backpacks, laptops, etc. unattended. Use the public lockers in the lobby if personal belongings need to be left in the library.

Courtesy. Conversation in study areas disturbs other students. Please confine discussions with friends to other locations. Group study rooms are available for groups of two or more persons who need to study together. If loud conversation is disturbing, ask the Circulation Desk Supervisor (1st floor) to help. On the other hand, please cooperate if asked to be more quiet.

Giving Credit. Instructors expect original work when papers , speeches, or projects are assigned. To do this, combine personal ideas and and information from other sources. Credit needs to be given when using another person's work by identifying the source of the work. There are specific ways to do this and the library has many guides to writing papers which are very helpful, such as citing resources.

Other Services

Circulation Desk. Stop at the Circulation Desk to check out all library material to be borrowed. Laptop computers and digital equipment may be checked out. Staff at this desk can also answer questions about the length of loans, renewals, and fines.

Printing. All computer workstations in the library are networked to laser printers located in the Reference Area. Laptops can also be networked to library printers. The charge for printer use is $0.10 per page for black and white and $0.20 per page for color copies. Printing is activated by the student ID card. Money can be put into an account on the card at the Value Transfer Station in the first floor library lobby.

Copy Machines. Self-service copy machines on all floors provide a copy from a paper original for 10 cents a page. Paper copies made from microfiche or microfilm on 2nd floor also cost 10 cents a page.

Microfiche Reproduction. The library contains several large collections on microfiche; for example, the old Stout thesis collection. A microfiche copy can be produced of any of these that are not copyrighted for a small fee. Inquire at the Circulation or Reference Desks.

Interlibrary Loan. No library can own all books and magazines. When a book or a journal article is needed that our library does not have, ask at the Reference Desk about interlibrary loan (ILL) and universal borrowing (UB) from other libraries.

Disability. Several Services for Library Users with Disabilities are available. Inquire at the Circulation Desk or Reference Desk.

Instructional Resources Service (IRS). This is the source for textbooks and other required classroom resources. The rules for checkout and security are the same as in the library. Call 715-232-2492 for more details; Instructional Resources Service is located in 201 Robert S. Swanson Learning Center.

Glossary of Library Terms

abstract
A summary of a journal article or a book.
alphabetic
Arranged in the order of the English alphabet; a,b,c…
bound volume
  1. Several periodicals encased together in one hardcover volume.
  2. A book with hard covers.
call number
A combination of letters and numbers assigned to library books and AV material. Each book or AV item has a different call number. Library material is arranged in the stacks by call number.
catalog
The Stout Library Catalog is a computer based list of the books and AV material in the library. See the Stout Library Catalog.
check out or check in
To borrow (check out or charge) library material or to return it (check in or discharge).
Circulation Desk
The circulation desk is located on 1st floor, this is where library material is checked out and checked in.
due date
The day when charged material must be returned to the library.
fine
An amount of money charged for library material that is damaged or lost.
 
hold (a book)
An item currently checked out will be held upon its return for a patron requesting the Hold. Holds may be placed on items that are checked out using the Stout Library Catalog (click on the Request button) or at the Circulation Desk.
index
  1. Periodical index: A database that identifies articles in periodicals on specific subjects.
  2. Book index: An alphabetic list at the end of a book that identifies names and subjects contained in the book.
journal
A periodical; particularly one published by a society, institution, or professional association containing reports of research in a particular field.
loan period
The length of time (for example: 7 days, 28 days) for which library material may be borrowed.
magazine
A periodical that is general or popular in scope.
Main Stacks
The area where the Main Collection (books and audiovisual materials) is located. The Main Stacks are located on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors.
media
An information source that is not printed on paper, such as video recordings, CDs or DVDs
microfiche
A sheet of film, about 4 inches by 6 inches, that contains 40 or more photographically reduced pages of printed material or illustrations.
microfilm
A roll of film containing photographically reduced pages of printed material or illustrations.
microform
Either microfiche or microfilm.
overdue
Library material that has been kept past the due date.
periodical
A publication issued at regular intervals--weekly, monthly, etc--such as a magazine, journal or newspaper.
Reference Desk
A service desk on 1st floor, west wing, where librarians are available to help find information resources.
Reference Area
The Reference Area houses the Reference Collection (non-circulating materials) located on 1st floor. It also includes centralized laser printing.
renew
To extend the length of time a borrowed book may be kept by assigning a new due date at the Circulation Desk or on the Stout Library Catalog (click on Patron Info to login).
Reserve (Collection)
A separate collection of library material kept in the 1st floor Reference Area which can be used only in the building or overnight.
search (a book)
An item that has been reported as missing can be looked for by library staff. Ask at the Circulation Desk for this service.
stacks
The shelves upon which library resources are stored; for example, 4th floor stacks, or the periodical stacks on 2nd floor.
Stout Library Catalog
A system that records the circulation of library material and provides a catalog of the books and AV materials owned by the library. Other UW system library catalogs can be searched by clicking on the Other Catalogs button.
volume, issue
Terms used in describing periodicals. An issue is a single copy of a periodical; for example, the May issue of Time magazine. A volume is a series of issues of a periodical, usually covering one calendar year; for example, volume 12 would be the January-December 2005 issues of a periodical.

Last Updated: 03/07/2008 and Last Revised: 08/25/06

Contact Denise Madland for more information or help on this topic.