So you’re new here and you’re supposed to write your first paper, make a presentation or just want to know something in greater detail. If so, this article is for you.
A disturbingly large number of second, third and possibly fifth-year students have never set foot inside the library at the University of Calgary. Well, I shouldn’t say that, because everyone uses the main floor of the library for the five seconds of thawing (by November you will know what I mean) on their way to Science and other buildings that lie in its shadow.
As the name MacKimmie Library Tower indicates, there is more than the main floor to this building and if you take the escalator to the second floor, you are one step closer to knowledge. As a rule–not only for your survival in the library, but in the U of C–the most important thing to know is where to ask for assistance. Why ask? Because the people on the second floor of the library, the Information Commons, are very helpful and knowledgeable. These people can explain everything a book or journal search entails. They even search for whatever you need, come up with ten more titles to accompany it, show you search engines that enable you to find journal articles and take their time to make sure you understand everything. It worked well for me and I’m thankful for the folks there, because back-up literature really makes your life easier and your paper better.
If you belong to the group of people who have problems asking for assistance, here is a list of where’s, why’s and how’s for you:
• Searching for a book: go to the library’s website at www.ucalgary.ca/library, and click on "Catalogue" (if you are searching for books or whole journals) or on "article indexes" (if you are searching for journal articles). "Search Library Catalogue" opens and you can either type in keywords, or click on "power search" to search for a certain book or journal on which you have more specific information. Whatever you search for, you will get results with a location code which you should write down, because it leads you to the desired object.
• Where is the book? That depends on the code you have. If you click on a certain book to find out more about it, scroll down to the bottom of the page. The location is noted there as something like 10 LT, which indicates the tenth floor of the library tower, or 2 LB, which indicates the library block.
• So, where is my book? In the list of results for your search, or on the page with specific information about your book, a combination of letters and numbers is given above the book title, for example "PS8553.A7288 E35 2002." This gives specific information about the whereabouts of your book.
• To get to a higher floor, take the elevators located on the main level (or the second level) of the tower. Higher floors of the block are only accessible through the Information Commons. Once you are on the floor, you will see numerous shelves, which will have little signs on them. The first ones you run into might not necessarily be the ones you are searching for, however, provided you are on the right floor, you should be able to find a shelf with a sign, for example, "PS8350–PS8700." And there you are–the book you are looking for is on that shelf. If not, it has been taken out, stolen or the library worker bees on that floor have been in dire straits trying to stack books.
• Taking out a book: Go to the main floor to the people behind the counters, ready to scan your student id, and to let you know when to return the book.
That’s it–you are now ready to take out a book. Moreover, the library offers tutorials on the web and at their facility for your pleasure. You can learn, for example, how to order books from other universities, or participate in courses for Microsoft Office or the Internet.
Courses to get you started are:
Library Introduction: Wed., Sept.25 at 11–12 a.m. and Wed., Oct. 2 at 1–2 p.m.
Internet Intro: Tue. Oct. 8 at 11–12 a.m. and Mon. Oct. 21 at 1–2 p.m.
Effective research skills: Wed., Oct. 16 at 11–12:30 a.m. and Mon., Nov. 4 at 1–2:30 p.m.