Introduction and Table of Contents
Our mission is to support the teaching and learning process of the Western Oregon University community by providing information resources and services and by promoting their integration into the educational experience. This guide describes the services, print and electronic collections, facilities, and policies of Library and Media Services. The staff is always available to assist you; we welcome your questions, suggestions, and comments.
Services
Reference and Instructional Services Reference librarians and staff are trained to help library users identify topics, find and use appropriate resources for research, and evaluate information. Professional research assistance is available at all hours and through multiple modes of communication.
Web Site
Library and Media Services' Web site serves as a gateway to the catalog, Summit,
electronic indexes and other databases, plus Internet search engines, directories
and subject-related material from the World Wide Web. Information about services
and policies, staff, and events is available here. You may also reserve study
rooms and media equipment through online calendars.
The Catalog and Summit
Use the catalog to find books, periodical
titles, audiovisual materials, government documents, and other materials in
our library. You can search by keyword, author, title, journal title, and subject.
The catalog also connects to Summit,
a combined catalog of Oregon and Washington academic libraries.
Electronic Databases
Databases of journal, magazine and newspaper articles, many with full text, and others with abstracts, plus a variety of other electronic resources are available online at library workstations as well as on and off campus.
Off-Campus Access
Most electronic resources on the library’s Web site are available throughout campus and off campus. The catalog’s direct internet address is http://library.wou.edu , and Summit can be reached through the catalog or by accessing http://summit.worldcat.org . Other databases are only available to current students, faculty, and staff and must be entered into via the library's Web site.
Instruction
The Research Coach is an online collection of learning tools relating to conducting bibliographic-based research. Our online tutorial, Hamersly TILT, incorporates interactivity to teach fundamental information concepts such as selecting appropriate sources, searching effectively, and evaluating materials. Online subject guides are available to help you learn how to locate and use materials. The librarians teach library and research skills and specialized workshops on an individual basis and in group sessions. To schedule a class session or individual assistance call 503-838-8892.
Distance Education Services
Students taking WOU courses at an off-campus site or via the Internet are eligible for the same library services as on-campus students. Among these services are delivery of books, articles and documents to the student, interlibrary loan, access to databases and full-text articles, reference help and other services described in this guide. The special concerns of these students is addressed in the Distance Ed Services section of the Web site.
Circulation Services & Policies
Borrowing Materials
All Western students, faculty, and staff may check out circulating materials from WOU's Hamersly Library and borrow materials from other libraries. Your validated WOU ID card serves as a library card.
Reserve Materials
Reserve materials for classes are available online (eReserves) or are held in
the reserve area behind the Checkout Desk. All reserve materials are listed
in the catalog. Print reserve items circulate for two hours, one day or three
days as determined by the faculty. eReserves are available online anytime.
Summit Borrowing
This service allows you to place your own requests for books and some other materials found in the Summit catalog. (Periodicals and reference books are not loaned.) You can place your requests from any computer that can access Summit. Materials usually arrive at WOU’s Checkout Desk in 2-3 business days. This service is available to current students, faculty and staff at Western.
Renewals
Borrowers may renew most items themselves, online through My
Library in the catalog. Materials may be renewed by phone at 503-838-8902
or in person at the Checkout Desk. If another borrower has requested the item,
the renewal is blocked. Two renewals are allowed without the need to bring the
books back to the library. Summit materials may be renewed only once. Renewals
for Interlibrary Loan items must be requested from the loaning institution;
please call 503-838-8884 or email ilibloan@wou.edu
at least three days before the item is due so that we may request your renewal.
Returns
Return materials to the book drops, or, if you want a receipt, return the materials to a Checkout Desk staff member. Book drops are located near the Checkout Desk and outside near both main entrances to the library. Please return Reserves materials directly to the Checkout Desk.
Please refer to our Circulation Policies for loan periods for various materials.
Interlibrary Loan Services
Interlibrary loan is a method used to request journal articles and other library materials not available in the WOU Library and not available through Summit. Our library borrows from and lends to many other libraries throughout the country. This service is for WOU students, current and emeritus faculty, and staff and is a service subsidized by the library. Most articles arrive within three to five days, most books within two weeks. We deliver journal articles to you electronically.
Increasingly, databases integrate interlibrary loan request abilities into
their systems. Several of our vendors offer this service: FirstSearch (including WorldCat, ERIC, Medline, GeoRef, ArticleFirst and many other databases), EbscoHost (Academic Search Premier, ERIC, and other databases), and CSA (the Biological Sciences Collection of databases). Look for buttons or links that read “ILL” or “Interlibrary Loan” (usually at the individual item level rather than the list level). For article requests not found through one of these databases, the library’s Web site has a request form.
Services to Community Users
While the students, faculty and staff of Western Oregon University are the library's primary constituency, Library and Media Services staff serve members of the general public as well. Some of the available services are outlined here.
Reference
Reference librarians can direct an information search and assist in using materials
available in an academic library. Reference and Instructional Services
Reference librarians and staff are trained to help library users identify topics,
find and use appropriate resources for research, and evaluate information. Professional
research assistance is available at all hours and through multiple modes
of communication.
Circulation
A special borrower's card enables members of the community to check out books
from Hamersly Library. Those who qualify for this card include adult residents
of the local area; WOU alumni; emeritus faculty; spouses and domestic partners
of WOU faculty; Oregon Military Academy participants; faculty, staff and students
of Summit institutions. Ask at the Checkout Desk for details.
Summit and Interlibrary Loan
We regret that we cannot extend Summit borrowing and interlibrary loan services to our community users. However, public libraries ususally offer interlibrary loan services to their patrons and can borrow from other public libraries as well as academic libraries.
Computer Use
Community members and special borrowers may use the library workstations for
educational purposes, but only during hours of low use when workstations are
still available to primary users. Local high school students whose instructor
schedules a class or who consult with a librarian themselves may also use the
workstations under the same conditions. All community users must sign in at
the Information Desk.
Facilities
Community users are welcome to use the other facilties of Hamersly Library. The library's primary users may take precedence with certain facilities, such as group study rooms.
Print and electronic collections
| Collections | Floor |
| New Books | 1 |
| Reference Materials | 1 |
| Reserve Materials | 1 |
| Books: L.C. Call Numbers A-F | 2 |
| Books: L.C. Call Numbers G-Z | 3 |
| Periodicals: Titles A-J | 1 |
| Periodicals: Titles K-Z | 2 |
| Newspapers | 1 |
| Microforms | 1 |
| Government Documents | 2 |
| Juvenile Collection | 2 |
| Maps | 1 |
| Archives (by appointment at the reference desk) | 3 |
| Audiovisual Materials | 2 |
| K-12 Curriculum and State-Adopted Textbooks | 2 |
Books
Circulating books are shelved in Library of Congress call number order on the
2nd and 3rd floors. The call numbers help arrange the books according to broad
subject areas. While you are welcome to browse the shelves according to
these call numbers, related materials may be in other subject areas. You can
conduct a more complete subject search through the
catalog.
Reference Collections
Electronic reference resources include many general and specialized indexes and abstracts of periodicals, newspapers, and books on all topics. Some contain full-text articles. World Wide Web access is also provided for reference and research purposes. Print reference resources are located in the reference area. These include general and specialized encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, directories, dictionaries, statistics, literary criticism, brief biographies, telephone books, Oregon college catalogs, maps, and some print indexes and abstracts. Librarians have collected these multiple formats into reference guides.
Reserve Collection
Some reserve materials are available electronically, while others, in print format, are shelved behind the Checkout Desk. All reserve materials are listed in the catalog. In addition to materials placed on reserve by faculty for specific courses, the reserve collection includes previous
master's comps and publications by and about Western Oregon University (history, culture, governance, plans and policies, etc.).
| Library of Congress Call Number Areas see more detailed listing |
|
| A | General Works, Encyclopedias |
| B | Psychology. Philosophy, Religion |
| C | Civilization. Biography |
| D | History of Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania |
| E-F | History of U. S., Latin America, Canada |
| G | Geography, Anthropology, Folklore, Sports, Dance |
| H | Social Sciences, Business. Statistics, Criminology |
| J | Political Science |
| K | Law |
| L | Education |
| M | Music |
| N | Fine Arts |
| P | Languages, Literatures |
| Q | Science, Math |
| R | Medicine |
| S | Agriculture, Forestry |
| T | Engineering, Technology, photography, Home Economics |
| U-V | Military Science |
| Z | Bibliographies, Library Science |
Periodicals and Newspapers
All periodicals and newspapers are shelved alphabetically by title on the 1st
and 2nd floors. Microfilm and microfiche copies of some older issues are found
in the microforms area, also on the 1st floor. Additionally, about 10,000 journal
and newspaper titles are held electronically through various databases. Search
the Journal Title Search
for the library’s holdings in all formats.
Government Documents
Hamersly Library is a complete depository for current Oregon documents issued
by various state agencies. These are separated from the book collection and
are housed on the 2nd floor north. They are arranged by agency and their call
numbers are found in the catalog. The library has a limited collection of U.S.
documents selected on the basis of WOU's institutional strengths. Most of these
materials are integrated with the regular book collection, but some are housed
on the second floor north near the Oregon Documents. Increasingly, both state
and federal government documents are available in full text online. Web pages
exist to help you find these documents, and additional help is available at
the Reference Desk.
Juvenile Collection
The library has a collection of children's and young adult literature located on the north end of the second floor. It includes picture books, fiction and nonfiction titles and Newbery, Caldecott and other award winners.
K-12 Curricular materials and State-Adopted Textbooks
Various publishers' K-12 textbooks, kits, and other curricular materials on all subjects, as well as state-adopted textbooks for Oregon elementary and secondary schools and other curriculum materials, are located on the 2nd floor.
Microforms
Microfiche and microfilm collections, along with readers, scanners and printers, are housed on the first floor. In addition to back issues of newspapers and periodicals, microforms collections include ERIC documents, criminal justice microfiche and government documents.
Audiovisual Materials
Videos and other non-print materials are located in the northeast corner of
the 2nd floor. The materials are searchable in the catalog and are arranged
in call number order on the shelf.
University Archives
and Robert W. Straub Archives
The archives
holds a collection of historical materials produced by or about the university,
as well as materials concerning the career of Governor Robert Straub. Staff
are available to help locate information and photographs about past and present
student life, university activities, history of campus buildings, and biographical
information about former faculty and alumni.
Facilities
The Wayne and Lynn Hamersly Library, opened September 2000, is a three-story brick building which incorporates architectural features of historic campus buildings. The driving factors in the design of the building were to allow more seating for students, more collection space, and better student access to computers and other multimedia equipment. The total area is 74,697 square feet, nearly tripling the amount of library space from the former library building. There are over 700 seats, seventeen group study rooms, numerous dataports for laptops, and more than sixty computer workstations. The total project cost $14 million, raised from state funds, bonds, and private donations, and took two years to build.
Access for Persons with Disabilities
The Hamersly Library and its collections are fully accessible. Services are listed below, and the library staff can address additional needs as they arise.
- a telecommunication device (TYY) for the hearing impaired at 503-838-8418
- instant messaging/chat
- ADA workstations in the reference area and in room 108 with ZoomText (enlarging software with speech capabilities)
- an Optilec visual magnifier (CCTV)
- audio-visual equipment on portable carts and in group study room
- portable listening device for the hearing impaired for classes, meetings, or public events
- handicapped parking in the east lot
Reference and Instruction computing
The library has about eighty desktop computers in three areas: the reference
area on the first floor, the computer alcove in the southwest corner of the
second floor, and in room 108. These desktops have the full range of campus
computer lab software. Room 108, which has twenty-five workstations, is the
library's computer classroom. This room is often scheduled for library instruction.
When not in use as a classroom, 108 is available as a computer lab. The schedule
for this room from the online
calendar is posted near the door each morning. The library also accepts
reservations for the 2nd
floor Computer Alcove, which has nine computers set up in double-wide study
carrels.
Network Connections and Laptops
Students, faculty, and staff may connect laptops to the campus network within the building. For wired connections, active ports are mapped and are individually marked; they are generally located on the west side of the first and second floors in study and conference rooms, in the student lounge and in study carrels. Network cables are available at the Checkout Desk. Students must register their personal laptops with University Computing before plugging into these connections.
For wireless connection, please see www.wou.edu/wireless . You will need to login to access their options.
Netbooks are also available at the Checkout Desk for use within the library.
Media Equipment
TV monitors, VCRs, DVD, CD, and cassette players are available in all group study rooms and in study carrels near the audiovisual collection.
Printing
Black & white printers and color printers are in the reference area. Room 108 (the classroom/computer lab) and the 2nd floor Computer Alcove also have black & white printers. Laptops using the campus network also print to the library printers.
Scanning
Scanners are located in 108 (the classroom/computer lab) and in the reference
area near the copy center.
Photocopying
Copiers are located on the first floor (west of the Checkout Desk) and on the second floor (east of the exhibits area). Copying is available with cash or a Vendacard. The campus Print Shop provides a full range of copying services.
Microfiche and Microfilm
Three readers/printers are located on the first floor near the copy machines. You can print directly from the microform or can scan and save to the campus network or other storage area.
Vendacard and Change Machine
Vendacards, a debit card for the library's copy machines, may be purchased for one dollar through a vending machine in the first floor copy center. Once a card is purchased, any dollar amount may be credited to it. Cost per copy is $.05 when using a card, compared to $.10 when using cash. The change machine in the first floor copy center distributes coins only. Larger bills may be exchanged at the Checkout Desk.
Group Study Rooms
The Hamersly Library is well suited to small group work with 17 study rooms, seating four, six, or 8-10 people. In addition, there are many areas throughout the building that offer study space. All study rooms may be reserved in advance through online calendars or by calling the Information Desk at 503-838-8418. The Room Use policy describes usage priorities.
Student Lounge
The student lounge is near the Monmouth Avenue entrance. Eating and drinking are allowed in this area. There are vending machines and a microwave here, along with a message board, two televisions, two desktop computers and data ports to plug in laptops.
Quiet Floor
The third floor is designated as a quiet area. Note: The first floor is an instructional area and is likely to be active and relatively noisy.
Restrooms
Restrooms are located on each floor in the hallway close to the elevator. The student lounge also has a restroom.
Phones
Phones to dial on campus and locally are located in the hallways near the restrooms and outside the student lounge. These phones also place credit card calls. Pay phones are outside both entrances to the building. A TTY machine is available at the Reference Desk.
Conference Rooms
Conference rooms of various sizes are available. To schedule them, use the online
calendars or call the Information Desk at 503-838-8418.
Lockers
Students may use the lockers located in the first floor hallway across from the restrooms. Keys are available at the Checkout Desk.
Vending
Vending machines for drinks and snacks are in the student lounge. A microwave is available for student use.
Book Drops
A drive-up book drop is near the east entrance. You may also return books in the drops outside the west entrance and near the Checkout Desk.
Exhibits
The library sponsors exhibits of art and other materials throughout the year in the second and third floor lobby and gallery areas.
New Books
Selected new acquisitions of the Hamersly Library are on display in the first
floor lobby area and are available to check out. Our featured lists
in the catalog include our new acquisitions.
Floor plans
First Floor (PDF)
click on map for more detail
Second Floor (PDF)
click on map for more detail
Third Floor (PDF)
click on map for more detail
