Galileo: We have access to a group of databases through the University System of Georgia called Galileo. This can be found and searched through under the 'Discover' tab on the library's website. Galileo is best for journal articles.
GIL-find: This is the name of the search function for our locally owned library items. You can also use it to find books from other schools in the system or textbooks on reserve. On the Odum website, it is labeled 'Books and Journals".
Database: An organized collection of articles within a field of study or topic that can be searched through electronic means. While database searches may look similar to Google or other online searches, it is important that you understand they work differently and cannot understand full phrases. Reference librarians can help you translate your ideas into search terms.
Research Guides (also known as LibGuides): We keep guides on resources for students of different fields and even some for specific classes. Look at these guides for help finding field-specific databases and help with writing or citing within your field of study. What you are looking at right now is considered a research guide.
Call Number: Odum uses an organization system created by the Library of Congress to organize their books. The code for each book is called a call number which consists of a mix of letters and numbers. The first letter combination tells you the major subject of the book. You can always ask a circulation or reference person for help finding books or understanding the call number.
Circulation: The department of the library responsible for placing books on your account and returning them to their place. There are two service desks in the library where you can talk to a circulation person, both near the library entrances.
Reference: This is the department that can best help you find sources and cite them. They can also teach you a little bit of how to get the search to give you what you are looking for. You can contact them through the online chat, at the desk, or even schedule one on one help sessions to find sources for a project. The desk is located near the second floor stairs on the Fine Arts facing side of the library.
Call numbers tell you where the book is located in the library. In GIL-find the call number is displayed inside parentheses next to the floor of the library you should look for it on. We use the Library of Congress classification system, which may be unfamiliar to you if your school and public library used the Dewey Decimal system instead. Stop by a desk if you are having trouble finding a book. Sometimes it has gone missing, and we appreciate it if you let us know!
Books check out for 28 days and renew twice automatically unless someone requests them. If someone has a book that you want checked out, you can put in a request to be sent an email when they turn it in. Your library card is your VSU ID, also known as your 1Card.
The new and highly requested books are kept in the popular section on the second floor. There is a monthly themed display also on the second floor with an associated guide if you are looking for fun reading from all over the library within the month's theme. Typically we keep the following themes
For a more detailed overview of checking out, check out our circulation policy pages or you could try our Using the Library Guide for more tutorials and directions.
There are two ways to get books from another library if we do not have them. GIL Express and Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
If another school in the University of Georgia system has the book, then you can request it be sent to you through GIL Express. For a tutorial with screenshots on how to make a request, try the Using the Library Guide's page on GIL Express.
If no one in our system has the book then you can ask for it through Interlibrary Loan. These books usually take longer to arrive because the books could come from anywhere. The first time that you make a request you will be asked to create your account by filling out a form about where you would like to pick up your loans before you can fill out a request form.
For a more in-depth tutorial on requesting ILL books and articles try the Using the Library Guide's page on ILL. To go directly to the ILL department login, go to ILL/Odum Express
