Frequently Asked Questions


For General Users

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Library Policies and Procedures / General Questions

  • When is the library open?
    See this month's schedule or call (508) 531-1749 for the most current information.

  • Who may use the library?
    The Library is open to the public. Free borrowing privileges are extended to students, faculty, and staff of Bridgewater State College; BSU alumni; Bridgewater town residents; students and faculty of other Massachusetts State institutes of higher education as well as those from Stonehill and Wheaton; and teachers from southeastern Massachusetts. Other Massachusetts residents may purchase a library card. For further information on borrowing privileges, see the Circulation Department

  • How do I obtain a username and password?
    Bridgewater State University students can go to https://www.bridgew.edu/services/claimaccount/ to claim their accounts online.
    Faculty and Staff must fill out the form found at http://www.bridgew.edu/Depts/AcAffairs/IT_account_request.cfm and submit it to the Information Technology Department in Boyden Hall.
    Those not affiliated with the College may request a guest password at the Reference desk on the first floor of Maxwell Library. Guest accounts expire at the end of the day they are issued and may be used on any public workstation in the building. Please be aware that guest accounts are available for your use 15 minutes after the Library opens. The Library stops distributing guest accounts 30 minutes before closing.

  • May guests obtain wireless access?
    For guest wireless access please visits the BSU Wireless Guest Access.

  • Where is the library's catalog?
    Webster, Maxwell Library's online catalog, contains the holdings of Maxwell Library's collections. It is accessible from any computer with web access, either on or off campus. The URL of Webster is http://webster.bridgew.edu/vwebv/searchBasic.

  • How can I get a copy card?
    Your BSU Connect Card functions as a copy card. You can add value to it at the Campus Center, the East Campus Commons, or the Library.

  • How can I get a library card?
    See "Borrowing Privileges" listed under the Circulation Department.

  • The book that I need is checked out. How can I get it?
    If a book is already charged out to a patron, you may place a "hold" on it by using Webster, Maxwell Library's online catalog. From the search screen, once the book you want is displayed, choose the Patron button and enter your library barcode number (or social security number), and PIN number to log in. Once logged in, you can place a hold on that book. Upon its return, you will be notified, and the book will be held at the Circulation Desk for you. . Additionally, you can search the Virtual catalog. Look for the button on the top right of the Webster screen. Enter your Connect card number to search. The Virtual catalog will indicate which libraries in the area have the book you need and allow you to request it online.

  • According to Webster, the book I want has been checked out since 1999. How can I get this book?
    First, notify the Circulation Department, so that effort can be made to locate it. Next, your best bet is to see Inter/library Loan/Document Delivery Services so that the book you want can be requested from another library.

  • Webster says that the book I want is available, but it's not on the shelf. How can I find it?
    A patron may request that a "trace" be placed on material designated as "available" in Webster but not found in the stacks; ask at the Circulation Desk for details.

  • My professor has books on reserve. How do I get them?
    Certain library materials in frequent demand are placed on reserve at the Circulation Desk for restricted circulation. Consult the Reserves page for further information.

  • What are microfilm and microfiche? Can I print them out?
    Microfilm and microfiche are forms of publication also called microform. They are available for machine reading in room L124 and can be printed out.

  • Can I suggest books I think the library should buy?
    Yes. You can fill out the online Library Book/Video Request form at http://www.bridgew.edu/library/acqform.cfm.

Locating Materials and Conducting Research

  • Where are the encyclopedias?
    Some encyclopedias are available online. From the Library Home Page, under Research Help, click Research Tools, then click the encyclopedia you wish to access. Print encyclopedias are located at the beginning of the Reference Shelves, first floor. More specialized subject encyclopedias are usually shelved by call number elsewhere on the Reference Shelves; do subject keywords search on Webster to see current holdings.

  • Where are the dictionaries?
    The Oxford English Dictionary is available online. From the Library Home Page, Under Research Help, click Research Tools, then click the dictionary to access it. Most print dictionaries are kept in the Reference area, first floor. English-language dictionaries are also available on dictionary stands on the second and third floors. Consult Webster for locations of specific dictionaries.

  • What floor is this book on?
    Books are shelved according to their call number; see the following location guide for more details.

  • Where are your handouts on writing bibliographies in MLA style (or APA, or Turabian)?
    These are available online via our web page.

  • How can I find information about a particular company?
    You may begin by using one of the following database sources on the Library Home page.

  • Where would I find information on colleges or graduate schools?
    The electronic database, College Source Online, contains the complete text of many college catalogs. It is accessible from the Library Home Page, under Research Tools.

  • How can I find literary criticism?
    If you're looking for criticism on a specific author, try doing a subject keyword search in Webster under the author's name (be sure to enter the author's last name first); this will help you find books the library owns which contain criticism of that author's works. Under Find Articles on the Library Home Page search the MLA International Bibliography. Under Research Tools – English on the Library Home Page try Literature Criticism Online,and/or Literary Reference Center. You may also wish to consult the book indexes Books in Print with Book Reviews or Book Review Digest Plus, 1983- under Research Tools. If this doesn't provide useful results, Reference Librarians will be able to help you locate volumes on the Reference shelves which contain literary criticism.

Locating Places in the Library

  • Where is the Center for International Engagement?
    The Center for International Engagement is located on the third floor of the library, Room 330. It includes the Director of Global Studies, Study Abroad, International Programs, and International Relations.
  • Where is the International Programs office?
    The office is located on the third floor in the Center for International Engagement.
  • Where are the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Dean of the School of Science and Math?
    The offices are located on the first floor, near the main entrance. See the the floor plan for further details.
  • Where is a photocopier I can use?
    First floor: Copy Center and Printing (around the corner from the staircase). The one on the left operates with a Connect Card only. The one on the right accepts coins, bills, or Connect Card.
  • Where is the Heritage Room / MDR Room?
    Both are located on the first floor, Maxwell Library. See the floor plan for further details.

  • Where is the Library Lecture Hall?
    Ground floor of Maxwell Library.

  • My professor has an office in the library, but I don't know where it is.

  • Where is a pay phone I can use?
    Ground floor of the library: adjacent to the entrance of the Achievement Center, as well as opposite the Library Lecture Hall.

  • Where are the offices for the Graduate School?
    Ground floor, adjacent to the Park Avenue entrance. From inside the library, go into the lobby, turn right at the first corridor, and turn right at the end of the hall. The Graduate School offices should be right in front of you.

  • Where are the restrooms?
    Restrooms are located opposite the elevators on the second and third floors. On the ground floor, restrooms can be found behind the Starbucks Coffee stand, as well as adjacent to the Library Lecture Hall. There are no public restrooms on the first floor.

Periodicals

  • Where are the periodicals kept?
    Current and bound periodicals - scholarly journals, magazines, newsletters, and others - are shelved alphabetically by title on the first floor.

  • Can I check periodicals out?
    Periodicals do not circulate: they cannot be checked out.

  • What are scholarly journals? How do I find a scholarly journal article on my topic?
    Scholarly journals can be distinguished from other periodicals in that:
    1. Articles are usually written by faculty members or other academicians, discussing topics of recent research;
    2. The journals themselves are usually edited by faculty members or other academicians;
    3. Most likely, the articles provide footnotes and/or bibliographic citations;
    4. The journals are normally printed on regular (not glossy) paper.
    If you have questions on whether a periodical fits the title of "scholarly journal," consult a Reference Librarian.

  • I can't get this article through Document Delivery because the library has it in "full text." What does that mean?
    Several databases available via computers in the library's research area contain the full text of articles from periodicals. If the article you're looking for appears in one of these periodicals, you will be able to print out a copy of the article on the library's laser printer. On the Library Home page, please click Find Journals/Periodicals by Title and type in the journal title in the box to see which database has the journal you want available in full-text format.


Electronic Databases and Library Technology

  • Why am I having trouble logging in from off-campus with my BSU username and password?
    Be sure to log in before attempting to use the databases. Go to the Use the Library From Home page, enter your BSU username and password in the spaces provided and click "submit". You should return to the library database page with access to all the databases.

  • How can I get help with the computers in the library?
    For help, please see a Reference Librarian. For some technical issues, they may redirect you to the IT Help Desk.

  • I'm doing a subject search in Webster, but I can't find anything. Does this mean the library has nothing on my topic?
    Not necessarily. Some hints on finding material on a given topic:
    1. First, check your spelling, and leave out all punctuation.
    2. If you are doing a boolean keyword of more than one term, make sure you separate the terms with the word and.
    3. If you are doing a subject search, consult the Library of Congress Subject Headings (four large red volumes, located at the Reference Desk on the first floor) to see synonyms of terms to use for your subject.
    4. Occasionally, doing a title search on terms used to describe your topic will provide useful results when a subject search does not help. The regular title search in Webster is actually a title phrase keyword search. To search for a specific title do a Title (Left-anchored) search.
    5. If you are doing an advanced search or more than one term make sure to choose the "and" radio button.
    6. Remember, Webster will tell you what books and periodicals the library has on a given topic, but will not say anything about whether the library has periodical articles on a topic. Periodical articles may be more relevant for your topic than books; consult a Reference Librarian for assistance.

  • I got this printout from the database. How do I find the articles? (Does the library subscribe to all of the periodicals listed on my printout from the database)
    Some hints:
    Some databases will note whether or not Maxwell Library has the title, if not, your database printout will indicate what source your article comes from. Look for the abbreviations "SO:" or "JN:", which indicate the source or journal title, respectively. Once you find the source of your article, you'll then have to check whether Maxwell Library subscribes to that particular title. Go to the link from the Library home page that says "Find Articles in Journals". Select the tab that says "Search" and type the name of the journal you need. The database will indicate if Maxwell Library subscribes to the journal, and the format (print, microfilm, or electronic). The library doesn't subscribe to all of the periodicals you may find listed on your database printout, so you may request items not available at the Maxwell Library via Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Services. Login is required. Many databases also provide links to the article if available in another database. Look for the Linksource icon or the note "Find full-text" on your citation for more information.

    Also note: Sometimes your printouts from Maxwell Library's databases will refer you to books, book chapters, and dissertations in addition to periodical articles. To see whether Maxwell Library owns a book or book chapter, check Webster for the book title (NOT the chapter title). For dissertations (other than masters' theses from BSU), consult Document Delivery.
  • Where can I access the ERIC database?
    The ERIC database can be accessed from computers anywhere on or off-campus.

  • Where in the library can I type my paper? Read e-mail?
    PCs in the First Floor and the second floor of the library have word processing and telecommunications software installed as well as other software applications.

Last Modified: April 20, 2011