Library and Information Resources

Saint Mary’s University School of Graduate and Professional Programs uses a variety of information resources. A key element in the university’s educational philosophy is the facilitation of individual approaches to learning with an emphasis on addressing the needs of adult students. The research skills of critical reading, analysis, investigation, and both written and verbal communication are emphasized in all university programs. In order to develop these skills and to make available information resources, the campus offers a multifaceted approach to information retrieval.

The library and information services used by the university include formal agreements with many libraries. Appropriate public facilities are also available to all members of the Saint Mary’s University community. Also, interlibrary loan is used extensively to obtain material from other libraries. To help ensure an understanding of the resources and services that are available, orientations are provided each semester. Specific programs may use some resources more than others. Students and faculty will be directed to these resources during orientations.

Twin Cities Campus Library

The library facilitates access to various sources of information resources. The staff includes librarians and other professionals. The library maintains a collection of electronic and print resources selected to match the needs of students and faculty.

Questions and comments regarding available library and information resources, or assistance with specific research questions should be directed to a librarian at:

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Twin Cities Campus Library
2500 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: 612-728-5108 or toll-free 866-437-2788 ext. 108
E-mail: tc-librarian@smumn.edu
Web address: www2.smumn.edu/deptpages/~tclibrary

Orientations
Orientations to the library are offered every semester and on an appointment basis. Faculty may arrange to bring classes to campus or a librarian may travel to a site for a customized library orientation. This demonstration of available resources can be tailored to a particular course assignment, or it can be a general overview of resources in a particular area. Furthermore, the demonstration may include hands-on experience for the students, if facilities are available.  Sessions are particularly helpful for students unfamiliar with online searching and retrieval, and those in thesis or research courses. Orientations for faculty are also offered during new faculty orientation and as part of faculty development events. Individual orientation sessions are available for both students and faculty by appointment.

Electronic Resources
Students, faculty, and staff have access to various electronic resources from the library.  The electronic resources include online periodical indexes for finding journal articles, library catalogs for locating books and other material, and subject-specific databases.  An Internet connection is required to access these resources.  On campus, these resources can be accessed in the computer labs.  Students, faculty, and staff with current Saint Mary’s University Library cards can also access most of these databases from off campus.  For further questions regarding use or access to these databases, contact a librarian.

On-Campus Resources
Library holdings include a circulating collection of approximately 700 volumes, dissertations, videos, and psychological assessment tests.  The library also has reference works, journals, and ERIC microfiche which may be used in the library.  Other resources include program-specific summaries of information resources, reserve materials for courses, and syllabi.

Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan is a system of borrowing and lending between libraries. This service includes the loaning of books and photocopying of journal articles. To use ILL, students must have a valid library card. The card allows for borrowing materials from the library, for using reserve materials, and for accessing indexes and other electronic reference sources on the library’s web page from off-campus.  Students can also check out books directly from other libraries in our consortium, PALS.

Up to ten items may be requested per calendar month.  Students should analyze the relevance of bibliographic citations prior to initiation of an interlibrary loan request as this is an important part of the research process.  If a student has over ten requests per month, he or she may be referred to libraries that own the journal or book needed.  If a student requests an article from a journal owned by the library or Allina Library Services at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, the student must photocopy the article.  The library will not request videos through interlibrary loan.  The library does not lend videos; therefore, it cannot obtain them through ILL from any library other than the Fitzgerald Library on Saint Mary’s Winona Campus.

Most items requested via interlibrary loan are provided at no charge. However, in the event there is a charge imposed from the lending library or copyright limit, the librarian will check with the student before proceeding with the request.  The library will absorb up to $10 per item in costs for copyright fees and ILL charges.  If the charges are above $10 per item, the patron will be notified of the additional charges before the request is made, and the patron will be responsible for any expenses over $10.  The patron will also be provided with additional options for obtaining the material. 

Journal articles obtained through interlibrary loan do not need to be returned but are subject to copyright regulations.  Books must be returned to the library on or before the due date.  Overdue fines are accessed for interlibrary loan material.  See the section on overdues for more information.

Services to Off-Campus Instructional Sites
The library makes every effort to provide services to distance learners in accordance with the Association of College and Research Libraries Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services, which states, “Members of the distance learning community are entitled to library services and resources equivalent to those provided for students and faculty in traditional campus settings.”

Saint Mary’s University students who take classes off-campus may utilize interlibrary loan services through the Twin Cities campus. See previous section on interlibrary loan.

Students may use public libraries or public educational institutions for the materials needed. Students may want to check with the institution before using the facilities.  If there is uncertainty about services offered to non-students, a library staff member can check for available local resources.

Librarians at the public libraries may be able to assist with an occasional question, however, basic instruction in using resources should be provided by librarians from the institution that is collecting tuition for a course. Students who need instruction in using resources should contact the library for assistance at the numbers listed above. Faculty at off-campus sites may also arrange for a librarian to come to their site for a library orientation customized to meet the needs of their course.

Circulation of Books
Reference books, journals, and microfiche do not circulate.

1. Who may check out:
- Current students at the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota with a valid library card. 
- Current Project for Automated Library Systems (PALS) consortium students with appropriate library card.

2. Loan Period:
Three-week checkout period, may renew up to two more times with each renewal period being three weeks.

3. Renewals:
Students may renew borrowed materials if the items have not been recalled or placed on hold for another patron.  Renewals may be made in person, by phone, or via e-mail.  Students should contact the library before the due date in order to renew a book.  The barcode numbers for the student and for the book(s) are needed in order to renew.

Circulation of Videos
Students may only check out certain videos from the library.  Any video that is not marked for student use must be viewed on campus.  The following policies apply to those videos that may be checked out by students.   In addition, library staff will not request videos from other libraries through interlibrary loan.

1. Who may check out:
Current students at the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota with a valid library card.

2. Loan Period:
Two-week checkout period with no renewals

3. Renewals
No renewals

Overdues
Patrons are responsible for the timely return of all materials, whether or not, they receive any reminder or overdue notice from the Library.  An overdue notice will be printed one week after the due date.  The library may notify the student by phone, e-mail, or mail.  Two weeks after the due date, library and student records will be blocked if the item (s) has not been returned.  Three weeks after the due date, the student will be billed a $100.00 lost item fee and a $10.00 nonrefundable overdue fine.  The fee and fine are charged for each item that is overdue.  If an item is returned in good condition, the $100.00 charge will be removed from the student's account, but the $10.00 overdue fine will be billed.

Lost or damaged material:
If an item is lost or damaged, the student will pay a lost item fee of $100.00 and a $10.00 overdue fine.  This fee and fine apply to each item that is lost or damaged.

Library Cards
Library cards distributed from Saint Mary’s University can be used at this institution and at any institution belonging to the Project for Automated Libraries (PALS) consortium. 

Students, faculty, and staff who need a library card can fill out a Library Card Request form, which is available in the library and on the library’s Web site, or by calling the library.  

After processing, cards will be mailed.

There is no charge for the first card.  The replacement fee for lost, stolen, or damaged cards is $20.

AV Equipment
Each classroom at Saint Mary’s University Twin Cities Campus is outfitted with a TV/VCR and an overhead projector.

Saint Mary’s also has flip charts, video cameras, slide projectors, cassette recorder, CD players, PC laptop computers, and LCD projectors.

Blank video and cassette tapes are available at the bookstore for purchase.  Please reserve equipment as early as possible by coming to the library and scheduling the needed machine.   There is a limited amount of equipment, which is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.  Students must come and pick up equipment in the library, unless otherwise arranged. *(The exception is flip charts, which will be placed in the classroom if requested in a timely fashion.)  It is the responsibility of the student to test compatibility of their hardware or software before checking out the equipment.  Equipment—again excepting flip charts, which may remain in the room at the end of class—must also be returned to the library.  If the library is closed, it should be left with security.  Students are responsible for equipment that is in their possession until it is returned in proper order.  Students may not remove equipment from the campus for any reason and are not authorized for overnight checkout.  Any problems with the equipment should be reported to the library staff.

Psychological Assessment Test Collection
Assessment tests in blue folders are for use by students currently enrolled in the Counseling and Psychological Services program.  Tests in yellow folders are for use by students currently enrolled in the Certificate of Advanced Study in Marriage and Family Therapy program.  Red folders are for use at Saint Mary’s University only.   Students not enrolled in the Counseling and Psychological Services program or in the Certificate of Advanced Study in Marriage and Family Therapy program may view test manuals in the Library, but may not check out tests.

Tests are available for check-out during library hours.  Students must have a valid library card to check out tests.  A student's academic program will be verified at the time a test is checked out.

The checkout period for tests is one week.  Students may have up to two tests checked out at a time.  There is no renewal of the tests.  If a test is checked out, students may request to be put on a waiting list for the test.  After the test has been returned, the library will hold the test for up to five days for the student.

Tests should be returned either to the library or to Karla's or Gretchen's mailbox on the first floor.  If a student loses, fails to return, or significantly damages a test, the replacement cost of the test will be billed to the student's account and the student may lose future borrowing privileges.

Allina Library Services at Abbott Northwestern Hospital

The Twin Cities campus has arrangements with Allina Library Services at Abbott Northwestern Hospital to provide limited services to Saint Mary’s University students, faculty and staff. The holdings include approximately 7,000 titles (they may be searched at the library website at www.allina.com/library) and approximately 850 journal titles, nine of which are provided by Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. In addition to a heavy emphasis in clinical medicine and nursing, other journal holdings represent the subject areas of psychology and health and human services administration.

Location and Hours
Allina Library Services at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is located in the basement of the Education Building of Abbott Northwestern Hospital. The Education Building is a low brick building on 26th Street South just east of Chicago Avenue and west of 10th Avenue South (about 2 blocks from the Twin Cities campus). It is a separate building from the rest of the hospital campus buildings; look for the satellite dish on the roof. The library is available for use by all Saint Mary’s University students, faculty, and staff.  Hours are posted on the Allina Library Services Web.  Because of occasional changes due to holidays, it is best to call ahead to check on library hours, especially if assistance from staff is needed.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital Library Services
800 East 28th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: 612-863-4312
E-mail: library.services@allina.com
Web address: www.allina.com/ahs/libmedia.nsf/page/l_resources

Reference Services
On site basic reference and research assistance is available.

Electronic Resources
There is access to several online databases and indexes in the subject areas of health and medicine.  Saint Mary’s students must go to the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Library in order to search these resources.

Orientations
Faculty may arrange to bring their class to the library for an orientation session. The session lasts approximately 45 minutes and provides students with an introduction to the available services. Contact the library at 612-728-5108; toll-free 866-437-2788 ext. 108; or email a librarian to arrange an orientation.

Winona Campus--Fitzgerald Library

Students attending classes in Winona or other sites in the area may use the services of the Fitzgerald Library. Using their Saint Mary’s University I.D. they may use electronic resources both on and off campus, check out books and use interlibrary loan. Librarians can provide research/instruction assistance in using available resources. Please check their web site or contact a librarian for further information.

Saint Mary's University
Fitzgerald Library
700 Terrace Heights #26
Winona, MN 55987-1399
Phone: 507-457-1562
Web address: www2.smumn.edu/deptpages/~library/

University Center Rochester

Rochester Community and Technical College
851 30th Avenue SE
Rochester, MN 55904
Phone: 507-285-7233
Web address: www.roch.edu/library/

Saint Mary’s University contracts with the Goddard Library to provide library services to students attending classes at the Rochester center. It has more than 65,000 volumes and over 600 periodical titles in its collection. Reference/instruction and interlibrary loan services are available. Library staff can also provide individual class orientations (upon request), in addition to an overview of services. Orientation is offered each semester (see current course schedule for date and time). Students in the Rochester area also have access to electronic resources provided by the Twin Cities campus library, (see Electronic Resources in this section.)