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Peer Reference Information

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we access newspapers such as Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, or New York Times? Each of these newspapers can be accessed directly through their respective ProQuest databases located on the Databases A-Z page. They can also be accessed indirectly through the ProQuest database U.S. Major Dailies, an aggregator of these newspapers along with other newspapers of record, such as Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times.
Is anyone allowed in the computer labs (e.g., Abell 116)? Classrooms such as Abell 116 are currently locked except for regularly scheduled classes that meet there. Exceptions can be made for students needing to use the lab to access specific software (such as SPSS) only available on the classroom computers. Please refer them to the circulation desk for assistance.
Are there charging ports? Yes - there is one charging port station; it is the small black table near the Research Help Desk (next to the first study table). 
Should I leave the desk to help patrons find books? No - please write down the the book's information (call number, title, author, etc.) and direct them to the circulation desk for assistance locating the book in the stacks.
Item Locations

Items that can be checked out are located as follows:

  • Circulating Books - 2nd floor
  • Juvenile Collection - 2nd floor
  • New Books - 1st floor (right next to the front doors!)
  • Leisure Reading - 1st floor (NE corner, next to current periodicals)
  • Media (DVD/BluRay/VHS) - 1st floor

Items that do not check out are located as follows:

  • Reference Books - 1st floor
  • Bound Periodicals/Journals - 1st floor
  • Honors Theses - 1st floor (along the wall near the elevator)
Is there a catalog computer for looking up books anywhere in the library? Yes - there is one located on the 2nd floor, just to the right of the stairwell.
Does the library have newspapers?

Yes - we only subscribe to two newspapers in print: the Sherman Herald-Democrat and the Dallas Morning News.

Newspaper articles can be found through a variety of our databases (click the All Database Types dropdown, and select from the options)

Can we print articles for patrons from the Research Help Desk? The only way to do this is by using WebPrint. If you are helping another student and they wish to print something, they should use their own WebPrint account. (You should never use your own account unless you are comfortable doing so.) For community patrons, there are no printing capabilities for them through WebPrint.
Does the library have a children's book section? Yes - the Juvenile Collection is located on the 2nd floor. Some young adult literature may also be found in the Leisure Reading Collection, located on the 1st floor.
Does the library have Audiobooks?

No - please refer patrons looking for audiobooks to the Sherman Public Library or Denison Public Library

Public Library Catalog LinksShermanDenison

How do Guest Patrons connect to WiFi? Please refer them to the Circulation Desk; they will be provided with guest wifi login credentials there.
What are Course Reserves, and where are they located? Course Reserves are items (books, DVDs, etc.) that professors will reserve for their courses during a semester so their students have priority access to those items. These are located behind the circulation desk, and may be checked out for limited times. More info.
Is there a way to look up Honors Theses?

Yes - the best way to do this: in WorldCat Discovery type "austin college" (using the quotes!) in the keyword field, hit 'search,' then select "Thesis/Dissertation" from the Format limiter on the left side menu of the screen. (If known, you may also search by title and/or author.)

Link to Search Results in WorldCat Discovery (1,100 as of 7/14/25)

What if a patron is specifically looking for Primary Sources? Please refer them to a librarian. Contact the librarian on duty through GroupMe; or, if outside of regular librarian service hours, please direct them to contact Farren directly.
What if a patron is specifically looking for Secondary Sources? Please refer them to a librarian. Contact the librarian on duty through GroupMe; or, if outside of regular librarian service hours, please direct them to contact Andrew directly.
How do I find newspaper articles specifically? There are a couple of ways: 1) find databases that specialize in newspaper article indexing (click the All Database Types dropdown, click "Newspapers & Magazines" and search within a few select databases); 2) many databases will contain a wide variety of materials, including scholarly journal articles, trade publication articles, magazine articles, newspaper articles, etc. - in most databases there is a feature where you can filter by source/material type, allowing you to narrow by newspaper, magazine, etc.
How do we access newspapers such as Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, or New York Times? Each of these newspapers can be accessed directly through their respective ProQuest databases located on the Databases A-Z page. They can also be accessed indirectly through the ProQuest database U.S. Major Dailies, an aggregator of these newspapers along with other newspapers of record, such as Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times.
If someone wants to browse for books... Help them locate one or two books within WorldCat Discovery (limiting by 'Format -> Book,' provide them with the call number and shelving location, and recommend they look in the area where those books are located. Materials on the same (or similar) topic will typically be shelved in the same call number range.
How do I find periodical articles within a certain date range? Most, if not all, databases will have a feature where you can limit by publication date range. Contact the librarian on duty if you have trouble locating this feature in a given database.
Does NexisUNI (fka LexixNexis) provide citation information when you email articles? No - citations may only be generated and copied/pasted into a document or email, etc.; STEPS: 1) select article(s) by placing a check in the box next to the article in a search result list; 2) click the Export Citations button (the icon is 3 small books) at the top of the search query (or near the top of the page within the article record) and select the style (MLA, APA, Chicago); then, 2) you may select from various options to either export the selected style or view it on the screen to copy/paste the citation into a document or email message.
How do I find periodical articles within a certain date range? Most, if not all, databases will have a feature where you can limit by publication date range. Contact the librarian on duty if you have trouble locating this feature.
Should I leave the desk to help patrons find books? No - please write down the the book's information (call number, title, author, etc.) and direct them to the circulation desk for assistance locating the book in the stacks.
Item Locations

Items that can be checked out are located as follows:

  • Circulating Books - 2nd floor
  • Juvenile Collection - 2nd floor
  • New Books - 1st floor (right next to the front doors!)
  • Leisure Reading - 1st floor (NE corner, next to current periodicals)
  • Media (DVD/BluRay/VHS) - 1st floor

Items that do not check out are located as follows:

  • Reference Books - 1st floor
  • Bound Periodicals/Journals - 1st floor
  • Honors Theses - 1st floor (along the wall near the elevator)
If someone wants to browse for books... Help them locate one or two books within WorldCat Discovery (limiting by 'Format -> Book,' provide them with the call number and shelving location, and recommend they look in the area where those books are located. Materials on the same (or similar) topic will typically be shelved in the same call number range.
Does the library have a children's book section? Yes - the Juvenile Collection is located on the second floor. Some young adult literature may also be found in the Leisure Reading Collection, located on the first floor.
Is there a way to look up Honors Theses?

Yes - the best way to do this: in WorldCat Discovery type "austin college" (using the quotes!) in the keyword field, hit 'search,' then select "Thesis/Dissertation" from the Format limiter on the left side menu of the screen. (If known, you may also search by title and/or author.)

Link to Search Results in WorldCat Discovery (1,100 as of 7/14/25)

How do we access newspapers such as Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, or New York Times? Each of these newspapers can be accessed directly through their respective ProQuest databases located on the Databases A-Z page. They can also be accessed indirectly through the ProQuest database U.S. Major Dailies, an aggregator of these newspapers along with other newspapers of record, such as Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times.
Is anyone allowed in the computer labs (e.g., Abell 116)? Classrooms such as Abell 116 are currently locked except for regularly scheduled classes that meet there. Exceptions can be made for students needing to use the lab to access specific software (such as SPSS) only available on the classroom computers. Please refer them to the circulation desk for assistance.
   
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