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FAQ - USP Library |
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Internet access is available to USP students and staff in the ITS Labs on Level B. There are three labs at the USP Library.
Please also see the ITS Lab Rules.
There is a Discussion Room on Level C available for quiet group discussion. Bookings are made at the Main Issue Desk for an hour at a time. Multiple back to back bookings by individuals in the same group are not allowed. For example if one person in the group books the room from 1.00-2.00 pm, a second person can't book it from 2.00-3.00 pm, a third from 3.00-4.00 pm etc.
All monetary transactions occur at the Main Issue Desk.
The After-Hours Book Return allows customers to return books when the Library is closed. It is located in the Library window opposite the footpath which runs between the upper and lower rara, facing the Administration Building. The service is provided for users to return books after the Main Issue Desk closes, which is half an hour before the Library building closes. Books are cleared and returned through the Library's circulation system the next working day. Users should note that a book returned via the After-Hours Book Return on the day that it is due will incur an overdue fine when processed by the Library on the next working day.
Lost and found items may be turned in or retrieved at the Main Issue Desk, 323 2322. Items found in the Library are kept with the Reader Services Librarian. Unclaimed items are forwarded to the Provost's Office every Friday.
The Postgraduate Study Room on Level C is for postgraduate students only. The room has 30 study tables and chairs. The room is accessible with a key during Library opening hours.
To ensure that the room is used fairly and efficiently, the following regulations apply:
All postgraduate students wishing to use the room should obtain a key from the Main Issue Desk. Students are expected to keep the room locked at all times.
The Library will issue a key for a period of a day on the presentation of a student ID card. A day is equivalent to the opening hours of the Library for that day i.e. all keys are returned 30 minutes before closing time.
Fines of F$1.00 for the first hour and F$0.50 per hour thereafter will apply for keys not returned.
The replacement cost for a lost key is F$25.00
The room is reserved for postgraduate students ONLY. Friends, other students and family members are NOT PERMITTED in this room.
Newspapers, magazines, journals etc. are kept in several locations:
Map of the Library
Textbooks in the Reserve collection
All textbooks placed on 2 hour reserve are listed in the Library Catalogue. You may search the catalog for the title of the textbook or do a KEYWORD search on the course number, ie UU204, EC100. The title and author of your textbook should also be listed on your class syllabus.
All members of the USP community with valid ID cards are eligible to use the services offered by the Library. Students Form 7 and under are not allowed to use the Library, except in the case of Augmented Foundation or DFL Foundation and Preliminary students. Infants and children are not allowed in the Library.
Responsible adults from the general public may become External Borrowers.
Members of local and overseas institutions with which USP has a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are eligible to use Library services.
Current students are usually automatically registered as borrowers at the beginning of semester, and may borrow items upon presenting their USP ID card. Items are issued to the owner of the card only. No loan is allowed until a customer is registered.
USP members (e.g. staff) who are not automatically registered, and members of the general public who wish to become external borrowers must register at the Main Issue Desk. Present a valid ID card, USP ID, driver's license etc. and complete an application form. Fees may apply.
If a staff member holds two ID cards (Staff and Student cards), the Library will allow the bearer to use the STAFF ID card only.
If the staff member is both full-time and DFL student, the full-time ID card will be accepted.
Permanent staff members with valid ID cards are registered until 31 December of every year. Contractual staff members are registered until the expiry date of their contract.
Undergraduate and DFL students are not considered registered between semesters, and may not borrow items during those times.
Items are issued at the Main Issue Desk. You must present a valid University ID or external borrower card. Items can only be issued to the owner of the ID card. Users with overdue books will be prevented from borrowing until the overdue item is returned and the fine cleared.
If an item is out on loan, a borrower may place a Reservation on that item through the Library Catalogue as follows:
A renewal extends the amount of time that a borrower can keep a Library item on loan.
One renewal per item is allowed, except in the case of Reserve Collection items. An item may be renewed provided no one has placed a reservation on it.
Borrowers must bring items to the Main Issue Desk for renewal. Academic staff and postgraduates may renew loans by email. The borrower must provide his/her borrower barcode number and the accession number of the book. The borrower is then given the new due date by email and is asked to write it in on the date due label.
How do I use the Catalogue to check my borrower record?
Wireless for students is available in the Library, and provides access to network functions including email and Internet. Setup and configuration details are available from Information Technology Services.
How do I use the Pacific Collection?
Pacific materials may only be used:
All borrowers must be in possession of a valid USP Library borrower's card (student, staff, external borrower, visitor). Non-USP visitors may obtain a ten day pass to use the Pacific Collection at a fee of F$25.00. Please apply for visitor passes at the Information Desk on Level B.
Only one item will be issued at a time. Each request should be filled out on a green issue slip, available at the Pacific Collection desk. The green slip should then be given to the staff at the Pacific Collection desk, who will retrieve the item from the Collection.
Items are issued for a 3 hour period and may be renewed.
Pacific Collection holdings are listed in the Library Catalogue and are identifiable by the location symbol PAC.
In the interests of preservation and conservation, users are encouraged to use second copies of Pacific material held in other collections of the Library.
Printing in the Library from the ITS Labs on Level B is the same as in other ITS labs. The printer is located by the windows adjacent to the lift. You must have money in your student account. There is no cash printing.
Fines are payable at the Main Issue Desk.
Overdue Fines
All borrowers are liable for fines if Library materials are not returned to the Main Issue or Pacific Collection desks by the date or time due, and formally cancelled. Users with overdue books will be prevented from borrowing until the overdue item is returned and the fine cleared. A fine for an overdue item cannot be paid until the item is returned.
Fines are calculated as follows:
Students (General Books): first day F$1.00, 50 cents per day/per item thereafter. For example, if you return a book 11 days overdue the fine is F$6.00.
Staff (General Books): first day F$3.00, $1.00 per day/per item thereafter.
Students and Staff (Reserve and Pacific Collection item): F$1.00 initially plus F$1.00 each hour thereafter or part thereof. For example, if an item is returned two hours two minutes overdue the fine is F$3.00.
Note: Library regulations state that the Library "shall be under no obligation to notify borrowers when books or other items held by the Library are overdue".
Noise Fine
Talking
If a Library user is found talking the following penalties apply:
1st offence - F$40.00 (No Warning)
2nd offence - F$70.00
3rd offence - barred from Library for 30 days
Borrowing privileges are withdrawn until the fine is paid.
Mobile Telephones
Users must switch off their telephones before entering the Library. Owners of mobile telephones that ring whilst in the Library will be fined F$40.00.
Other Penalties
Unattended Baggage/Personal Belongings: A fine of F$5.00 will be charged to any Library user leaving unattended baggage or personal belongings in the Library foyer or near the entrance. Library staff will confiscate baggage, and the fine must be paid to retrieve it.
Borrowing privileges are suspended if a user has unpaid fines and/or has overdue books. Privileges are restored once the user pays the fine and/or returns all overdue books.
Exam results are withheld if outstanding fines have not been paid, or if books have not been returned to the Library by the end of semester.
Mutilation of Library materials is an offence, e.g. underlining, marking, highlighting, cutting out pictures, cutting out pages.
Persons caught defacing or damaging Library property will be prosecuted to the full extent of USP Rules & Regulations.
For students, this can mean expulsion from the University.
Replacement costs are:
Students and staff of USP: F$25.00 - the USP Academic Office processes the card.
External borrowers: F$5.00 plus a passport size photo.
Lost books will incur replacement costs plus a F$30.00 processing fee, instead of the overdue fine accrued. If the item is found within 30 days and returned to the Library, a refund will be made for the replacement costs but not for the processing fee or overdue fine. After 30 days, there will be no refunds.
If replacement costs cannot be ascertained then the charge will be F$135.00 for social science or humanities books and F$165.00 for science books.
Materials in heavy demand are kept in the Reserve Collection located at the Main Issue Desk. This includes books, videotapes, and photocopies of articles recommended by faculty for course readings.
Reserve items are checked out one at a time, and can be kept for two hours. They can be used in the Library only, although some items are allowed out on overnight loan one hour before the Library closes. These latter must be returned within 15 minutes of the Library opening the next day.
Cite a book, journal article, website, etc.
APA format (in-depth): http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
Harvard format (in-depth): http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/cite/harvard_dis/
MLA format (in-depth): http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html
APA, MLA, Turabian, Chicago formats, grammar guides, etc.: http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/citations.html
Top-up cards can be purchased from the USP Library and the USP Book Center. Printing and Internet cards are sold separately at $2 each. Once you purchase a card, log in to USP's PaperCut page to add the card's value to your account.
How do I find a book in the Catalogue?
You can search for a book in the Catalogue five different ways:
Keywords (from Quickfind menu).
- Enter one or more words that have relevance to your topic in the white box,
e.g. name, part of a title, or possible subject.
Separate each word by a space (no punctuation).- Leave the default option Anywhere in the search box on the right.
Click on OK when ready to search.- Mark your selections and click on Display Selections to view full records.
- If no item is selected, enter new words to search.
- Click on the blue Title button.
- Enter keywords from the title in any order, in the space provided.
Click on Keywords underneath. Click on OK when ready to search.- Mark your selections and click on Display Selections to view full records.
Useful Tip
The asterisk (*) is a truncation symbol that can be entered after beginnings of keywords to find all variant endings, e.g. medic* retrieves:
- medical
- medicinal
- Click on the blue Author button.
- If you only know part of the author's name, enter keywords from that name (in any order) in the space provided.
Click on Keywords underneath. Click on OK when ready to search.- If you know the author's full name, choose Browse and enter the author's name, surname first.
Click on OK to view the browsing screen, then Mark your selections and click on Display Selections to view full records.
- Do a keyword (Anywhere) search first.
- Browse records retrieved from keyword search, check subject headings. Subject headings allow you to do a precise, comprehensive search. They look something like this: Atmospheric methane -- Fiji -- Measurements.
- If you find subject headings that exactly match your topic, click on them to find a complete listing of the Library's holdings on that subject.
- Alternatively you can go to Subject Search and enter subject keywords in the space provided. If you know the exact subject heading, click on Browse or Exact Match, instead of Keywords.
- Note that Browse is most useful when you wish to view subjects with similar headings. Enter just the beginning of a subject heading, click on OK, then view the browsing screen.
Useful Tip
Try the Advanced Search button to combine author, title and subject keywords.
- Click on the blue Title button.
- If you know the exact title, enter it in the space provided.
Click on either Browse or Exact Title underneath. Click on OK when ready to search.- Mark your selections and click on Display Selections to view full records.
- Note that Browse is more useful if you are unsure of the exact title.
Enter the first words in the title, click on OK, and view the browsing screen for similar titles.
How do I find a serial title in the Catalogue?
How do I find a book or serial on the shelf by its call number?
Call numbers are alphanumeric. Read the first line as a whole number, the second line as a decimal. See also Missing Items.
If you can't find an item on the shelf listed as "Available" in the Catalogue, make sure you have read the call number correctly; otherwise enquire at the Information Desk. If the item still can't be found you have the option of filling out a missing book card, and a Library attendant will check the shelves for it for the next three days. If the item is found it is held at the Main Issue Desk for you. If the item cannot be found within a year's time, it is deemed lost.
You also have the option of requesting that the Library try to obtain the item for you through Interlibrary Loan for free.
If you need an item that's listed as "In Process" in the Catalogue, fill out an In Process request form at the Main Issue Desk. Turnaround time is within five working days. When the item becomes available it is held at the Main Issue Desk for you.
The Library seeks to maintain a pool of qualified applicants for Library Assistant (Diploma) and Library Attendant (Certificate) positions, and especially encourages students in the Library Studies programmes to apply.
Library Assistant and Attendant positions range from full to part time, and include evening, weekend, and public holiday shifts. Acceptance into the pool of applicants is only a preliminary, and does not guarantee employment.
Can I bring bags into the Library?
One bag per user to be brought into the Library, as per the 'Bags in Library Policy', ie:
One (1) bag per user up to 24" x 17" x 10" is allowed into the USP libraries under the following conditions. (Note: No bags with wheels and No bags are permitted into the Pacific Collection).
Library users are also kindly asked to note the following:
Procedures for Missing Items : Items (including bags, pencil cases, phones, wallets, etc.) that go missing in the Library shall be reported to University Security (not the Library) by the user.
Queues: may form at both ends as checking of bags may entail more time.
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Can I use my laptop in the Library?
Yes, though you may not plug into the power sources used by the workstations as it results in overloads on the existing power supply.
Can I access library catalogues off-campus?
Yes.
For Laucala: http://www.library.usp.ac.fj/
For Alafua: http://144.120.42.7/athcgi/athweb.pl
For Emalus: http://cow.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/athcgi/athweb.pl
Can I access online databases off-campus?
Yes - You will be required to authenticate your USP status by providing username or student ID and password in the popup box that appears once you have clicked on the database. For some databases you will also need the database password which can be obtained from the Information Desk. For a full list of databases go to http://www.usp.ac.fj/library/e_resources/database.htm.
Serials can only be used within the Library.
Categories of External Borrowers
The application must be approved by the Reader Services Librarian or the Librarian on duty.
Steps in registration of external borrowers
CROP (Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific) Members: Library Use Policy
Two USP Library borrower cards will be issued at no cost to the librarian or other duly designated person of each CROP member, who will coordinate its use by staff for work-related purposes.
This card must be produced by CROP personnel using the USP Library and the Pacific and Reserve Collections. Existing rules for borrowing apply.
CROP personnel who wish to borrow books from the General Collection are required to register as external borrowers by paying an annual fee. Rules for external borrowers apply.
Alternatively, the USP Library offers an Interlibrary Loan service between libraries under the Library's Interlibrary Loan Policy.
Access to the Library's Online Catalogue is free.
Access to electronic databases is dependent on licensing agreements.
Print serials are accessible on-site only.
What are these blue clickable links and/or Web addresses interspersed throughout the reply I got back from Ask A Librarian?
Anywhere you see a blue hyperlink like this embedded in the text of an Ask A Librarian email, you can click on that link to find more information on whatever is being referred to. For example if "11 results in the Library Catalogue" is mentioned, there is a clickable link that takes you straight to the records for those ten items in the Catalogue.
Alternatively (depending on your email program) the link might be displayed as a clickable Web address; if it isn't clickable you can highlight, copy and paste the address into the address box of your browser and press Enter to accomplish the same thing.
Sometimes the clickable addresses are incomplete or broken up e.g.
...in which case you will need to highlight, copy and paste the whole address into the address box of your browser and press Enter, per above.
The Information Desk is located on the main floor (Level B) of the Library and is staffed by Library personnel ready to help you:
