2nd
& 3rd Floor South
2nd
Floor South
2nd
Floor South
Catalog
and Indexes
The Libraries?
- University Library--north of the Student Center
- Biomedical Library--next to the College of Medicine
- Medical Center Library on the first floor of the Mastin Building behind the Medical Center
- Children's & Women's Hospital Library
- Dauphin Island Sealab--affiliated, but not USA
- University Archives on Springhill Ave.--Old Providence Hospital
- USA Baldwin County, Fairhope
What's in the Library?
- books--reference books and "circulating" books (books you can check out)
- journals--scholarly, academic "magazines"
- magazines,
- newspapers
- audio-visuals, media --videos, cds, records, etc.
- government documents
- microfilm
- microfiche--like microfilm, but a card, not a reel
- computer databases
- Internet access
Where Do I find these things?
- 4 South --Books with Call Numbers N to Z
- 4 North --Books with Call Numbers HC to M
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- 3 South --Bound Journals by Call Number
- 3 North --Books with Call Numbers A to HB
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- 2 South --Current Journals, Newspapers, Government Documents, Microforms, Law Collection
- 2 North --Reference Books and Desk, Interlibrary Loan, Computers for research
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-
1 South --Circulation, Reserve
-
1 South --Technical Services
- 1
South
--Dean's Office
- 1 North --PETAL & IMC
- 1 North --Auditorium & Room 128 classroom
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- 4, 3, 2 & 1 North --Group study rooms
- Restrooms on all floors
- -----------------------------------------------------
- Most medical, nursing and allied health materials are in the Biomedical Library or the Medical Center Library
What we don't have:
- No computer lab or wordprocessing programs
- No computer speakers-bring your own earphones
- No current textbooks--go to the bookstore
- Some, but few, books for subjects NOT taught at this university
- No school curriculum materials--check with the Education Dept.
- Some juvenile literature-- just starting a juvenile collection in the IMC
- Very few popular print magazines--ask about magazine databases at the ref desk
- Very few how-to books--go to public library
- Very few self-help books -- go to public library
How is the Information Organized?
- Current Periodicals -- Alphabetical order by title of magazine
- Older, bound periodicals -- (Library of Congress Numbers)
- Microfilm -- Alphabetical by title of itemBooks -- LC call numbers (Library of Congress Numbers)
- Audiovisuals -- Library of Congress Numbers
- Government Documents -- SUDOC numbers (Superintendent of Documents Number by department or agency)
What tools do I use to find information?
- Catalog --a locally-made online database which tells you what the USA Libraries own--books, films, documents and which magazines, newspapers and journals we subscribe to--and where they are. The catalog also has "links" to information that exists online, for example some government documents and a collection of electronic books to which we subscribe.
- Articles, Indexes, Databases -- purchased online databases which tell you what exists in periodical literature (and sometimes in books), but not always owned by USA. Often the full-text of an article is included in or linked from the index. Often you need to take another step to find out of the journal is in another database or if we own it in a print copy.
- Bibliographies --focused lists of both books, journals and even websites. They can be at the end of a book/article OR complete books/articles/sheets of their own.
- Librarians -- excellent personal guides to the above.
- Professors --experts on a topic.
- Internet -- often supplementary, unpublished, and unverified & disorganized information--though sometimes a great source of information. Use Advanced searches and specialized credible sites for best results.