Services for Faculty
Assistance in using Library facilities, services, and resources is available at the Olin Library Help Desk (935-5410) and at all departmental and school libraries.
- Important note on faculty access to library services
- What information resources are available online?
- What library services are available online?
- What special support does the library provide for courses?
- Teaching & Technology, a guide for new Arts & Sciences faculty
- Information about faculty carrels in Olin Library
- Scholarly communication issues: what faculty can do
Important note: Many library services require you to have a library record and enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN). To select a PIN, go to My Catalog and follow the directions. If you find you are not already entered into the patron file, please show your ID and fill out a paper application form, available in all campus libraries. If you have problems setting up a PIN or if you forget your PIN, contact Olin Library Circulation (935-5420).
What information resources are available online?
The Libraries' website offers an organized approach to a wide variety of resources:
- Catalogs of the Washington University Libraries: http://catalog.wustl.edu
- Catalog of the Mobius consortium that includes the libraries of Saint Louis University, the four campuses of the University of Missouri, and most of the other academic libraries in Missouri, in addition to all WU libraries except Medicine. Through the WU and Mobius catalogs, you can submit requests for materials from any of these libraries. Items are delivered to the WU library you designate.
- Subject-based guides to electronic, print, and other resources, in Resources by Subject
- Journal article and other databases
- Full-text electronic journals and other full-text sources
- General reference resources including WorldCat, Global Books in Print, and Britannica Online
What library services are available online?
- Obtain information about library collections and services including library hours.
- Request delivery of materials from one WU library to a more convenient library. Search for the item in the Catalog and use the REQUEST button.
- Contact the Subject Librarian for your department. Every academic department and program is assigned a Subject Librarian whose responsibilities include assuring that your information needs are met and answering your questions about library services, collections, and policies.
- Check what books are charged out to you and when they are due, and request renewals. See what is on the hold shelf for you. To do this, login to My Catalog.
- Recommend a book, journal, video, etc., for purchase by sending an email to your Subject Librarian or by using the online form.
- Submit requests for materials not available in WU libraries via Mobius. Begin by entering a search in the WU Libraries' Catalog. If the response is "No matches found", click on the button labeled "Mobius Union Catalog" to transfer your search to the Mobius catalog, which includes holdings of many academic libraries in Missouri. If you find the item you want, click on the line indicating "Mobius libraries have this item" to be sure the item you want is AVAILABLE, then on "REQUEST THIS ITEM." You will be asked to identify your institution - WASHU - and enter your name, ID number, and preferred pickup location. Submit the request and it will be forwarded to a library with an available copy.
- Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery uses ILLiad, an online system that receives and processes requests. For information on making requests go to the ILL homepage or call (314) 935-5442.
- Take advantage of the IngentaConnect Alerting Services, which delivers the tables-of-contents for new issues of journals to your email address. You can also set up search strategies by keyword or author against the 28,000+ journal ingenta database, and have the citations sent to your email address weekly. For assistance in setting up your IngentaConnect profile, contact the Subject Librarian for your department.
- Check with your Subject Librarian to see if there are subject-specific document delivery or other services.
- EndNote: if you use this software, you can find information about using EndNote with the Library Catalog and other databases.
What special support does the library provide for courses?
- Course-integrated library instruction is available in several modes, all initiated by collaboration between a faculty member and Subject Librarian. Content can be tailored to the needs of your particular course. It could include how to use online catalogs, periodical indexes and other databases or discussions about bibliographies, biographical information, Internet resources, or searching strategies. We can arrange in-class presentations, web pages you could link to from your own course pages, or simply tours orienting students to available resources in the library. We can also work with you on creating successful library assignments for your students.
- The Libraries join with the Teaching Center in courses for faculty on Using Web Resources in Teaching.
- Assistance using the library facilities, services, and resources is available to students and faculty at the Help Desk at Olin Library (314-935-5410) and at all departmental and school libraries.
- Course reserve collections are created in all the libraries when instructors request them. Increasingly they contain electronic resources in addition to books, audiovisuals, and photocopies. There is a Course Reserve Request online form. The ERes system is used for electronic reserves. ERes can also be used to create basic course websites. Class information, announcements and links to online readings are available and can be managed by the instructor. For more information, email eres@wumail.wustl.edu.
- User education, library classes, tours and handouts are available in all libraries.