By Bob Belletzkie, Reference Librarian
Fall 2009. Welcome to all! This rundown is mostly for the newcomers to campus but a reminder for everyone of what the Peterson Library has and can do for the UNH community. Get connected with us at www.newhaven.edu/library or click on ‘Library’ at the top of the University homepage at www.newhaven.edu to review our resources and services.
Materials: Use the ‘Catalog’ link to explore thousands of volumes, both new titles and old classics. The catalog also includes government documents, audio items, special collections, and hundreds of videos, both Hollywood and instructional. Click on the URL boxes or on the ‘Linked Resources’ bar for access to the many materials that are available online.
Databases: We have nearly 100 electronic resources, most available online 24/7, to support our academic programs in all areas. From ‘Databases’ on the home page, click on ‘Subject Listing’ to see what we have in topical areas like business, health, psychology, and other fields. Access with your UNH email login and password.
Government Documents: We have been a federal depository since 1971. All the documents we receive now are listed in the library catalog but we have older ones as well. Many current documents are online and accessible from there via URL link or the ‘Linked Resources’ tab. Most are also available in the library in physical formats.
Journals: Use the ‘Journals’ link on our homepage for one-stop shopping to access our 17,000-plus journal , magazine, and newspaper titles. Most are available online 24/7 with the remainder in the print and microform collection on the lower level. Don’t miss the historical Hartford Courant (back to 1764) and The New York Times (back to 1851) in the Newspapers category in our databases.
Interlibrary Loan: If we don’t have what you need, let us get it for you from another library. Our resourceful and experienced ILL team can get almost anything from anywhere, often at no cost to you. Check out the guidelines via the ‘Interlibrary Loan’ link on our homepage and use the online forms or fill out them out in paper at the Information Desk.
Library Instruction: We offer everything from tightly focused classes for EN 105 students to broadly specialized sessions for upper level classes. Also available are individual appointments with librarians who will work one-on-one with you for research projects. After-hours, use infoAnytime, via the ‘Ask a Librarian’ link on our homepage.
Library Guides: Check out the ‘Guides’ link on the homepage. These range from those on specific subjects like chemistry, education, and management, to ones on research methods for finding biographical or statistical information, to style guides to help with citing your references properly.
Computers: We have nearly 100 computers in the Library, including the 54 PC workstations and 6 iMacs in the Library Commons area on the entry level, plus 36 laptops for wireless use anywhere in the building. All our computers connect to three high-speed printers. Get a laptop at the Circulation Desk with your UNH ID card. Have your own laptop? Bring it in and use it in our UNH Wi-fi zone.
Reserve Materials: Come to the Circulation Desk to request the books and photocopies that your professor has put here for your class. These are searchable with drop-down menus for academic department, course number, or instructor name in the Library catalog under the ‘Course Reserve’ tab. Check these out with your UNH ID for use in the building or for any circulation period allowed.
Audio and Visual Assistance: Need to enhance the visuals or get audio for items that are difficult to read. The Library has a ZoomText 9.1 Magnifier/Reader that can help. Current Microsoft and Adobe products are also installed. Come to one of the service desks to ask for this valuable assistive device.
University Archives: The Library is the trusted custodian of the UNH’s historical record. Materials include student newspapers, yearbooks, faculty publications, photographs, and much, much more. It is best to call ahead so that materials can be indentified and pulled in advance. For a peek at the photos, go to Flickr.com, click on People, and type in unhctlibrary to get to our photostream.
Library Café: Yes, you can eat and study at the same time! Just do it the cafe. We have comfortable chairs, a beautiful view of the Quad, and the café is now serving Starbucks coffees, along with lattes, espressos, sodas, pastries, chips, and more, from 8:30 to 5:00 on weekdays.
Extended Hours: The Library now opens at 7:00 in the morning Monday-Friday and closes at 12:00 midnight Sunday through Thursday, in response to student input. Get a jump on your assignments before that morning class or stay and finish up the night before. Extra weekend hours during finals. Check under ‘General Information’ on our homepage.
Service Desks: The Information Desk, diagonally to the left as you come in on the entry level, is where to come for help with the Library catalog, ILL forms, government document requests, and all reference questions. The Circulation Desk, directly to the left of the entrance, is where you check out books, ask for reserve materials, make study-room reservations, or get your laptops.
Questions or comments? Come to the Information Desk, call us there at 203-932-7189, or email us at [email protected]. The Library staff tries hard to make this a respectful and productive space that encourages educational success and fosters student camaraderie at the same time. We invite you to join us here in this endeavor and we look forward to welcoming and working with the entire UNH community in the coming academic year.
