General Information
What are the library hours?
Who may use the library?
Can I get change for a $20/$10/$5 bill to make copies?
What services are available for people with disabilities?
Are food and beverages available?
How do I cite something in APA (or MLA or Turabian or CBE, etc.)?
Computers/Printers/Copiers
Where are the computers located in the library?
Can I use my laptop in the library?
Is there a scanner in the library?
What software does the library offer?
Where can I get help with computer/printing problems?
How do I print?
Is there a color printer in the library?
Where are the copiers?
Finding and Checking out Books/DVDs/Videos/Audiobooks
How do I find books?
What are call numbers and what do they mean?
Does the library have textbooks for MTSU courses?
How many books can I check out?
How do I renew books?
Where can I find videos/DVDs?
Reserve/E-Reserve
What does it mean if a reading is "on reserve"?
How do I find a reserve or e-reserve readings?
Finding Articles in Journals/Newspapers/Magazines
How do I find an article?
How do I get the full text of an article?
What are scholarly (or peer-reviewed) journals?
How do I find a specific journal/newspaper/magazine?
How do a I link to an article I found in a database?
Off-campus Access/Distance Learning
Can I access the library resources off-campus?
How do RODP students access library resources off-campus?
As a distance student, can I have books or articles mailed to me?
If I live far away, can I use another library near me?
Who may use the library? [Top]
Anyone may enter the library building to use the print collections and online resources. Research assistance is also available to anyone at the Reference Desk on the first floor. Current students, staff, and faculty members may check out materials with an MTSU ID and may use online resources off-campus with a Pipeline username and password. In addition, alumni of MTSU and residents of Tennessee who are at least 18 years of age and out of high school may apply at the Circulation desk for a borrower card that will allow them to check out a limited number of books. See Circulation Policies for more details.
Can I get change for a $20/$10/$5 bill to make copies? [Top]
Change machines in the copy center on the first floor of the library will give coins for $1 and $5 bills. Library staff will not make change for any bills or coins. Desperate to break a $20? Try buying something small in the library cafe.
What services are available for people with disabilities? [Top]
The Disabled Student Services offices operates the Adaptive Technology Center on the first
floor of the library in Room 174. The ATC offers a host of information technology resources for students with a
variety of disabilites. Students who need assistance retrieving items from the shelves may ask for help at any
service desk.
Are food and beverages available? [Top]
The library cafe features Starbucks coffee, soft drinks and bottled water, and assorted pastries and sandwiches. It is located just inside the front doors and to the left, before you enter the second set of doors into the library atrium. Beverages in covered containers are permitted on a trial basis. Food is NOT allowed in the library.
How do I cite something in APA (or MLA or Turabian or CBE, etc)? [Top ]
A variety of style manuals are available at the Reference desk for in-library use. A Citation Style Guide includes help for help citing print and online resources.
Where are the computers located in the library? [Top]
Public access computers are available on the first floor next to the Reference area and on the 2nd, 3rd, and
4th floors in front of the book stacks. Loaner laptops are also available at the Reserves desk on the
first floor for a checkout period of four hours.
Is there a scanner in the library? [Top]
There is one document scanner located in the Reference area on the first floor. The computer with the scanner is called Wouk. There are five more scanners on the second floor. For more information on scanning in the library, see Scanning.
What software does the library offer? [Top]
All of the library computers (except for the standing computers in the bookstack areas) are equipped with Microsoft office products. A few computers in the
Reference area also feature special research-focused software. A complete list of available software is located at the Software in the Library page.
Where can I get help with computer/printing problems? [Top]
A lab assistant is usually available in the 1st floor computer area near the printers. On the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors, use the
telephone by the elevators to call for computer or printing help. If you are not in the library and are
having problems using the online library resources, call 898-2817 (option #3). If you are having problems with your
Pipeline account, call the ITD 24-hour help line at 898-5345.
How do I print? [Top]
When you print from a computer in the library, you must release it from the print system before you can retrieve it.
Also see the Printing page. Please note that the printers automatically delete jobs of 50 pages or more. If you must print a document this large, you will need to break it up into two or more jobs of 49 pages or less. At this time, printing is free in the library. Free printing is supported primarily by the Technology Access Fees students pay. Please print wisely.
Is there a color printer in the library? [Top]
No, there is not a color printer in the library. The BAS computer lab has a color printer.
Where are the copiers? [Top]
There is a copy center on the first floor near the periodicals area. From the library atrium, go past the elevators and take a left.
The copy center is down a short hallway and on the right. Copy machines are also located on the upper floors in a small room near the elevators. Copies cost 10 cents ( 7 cents with Raider funds on an MTSU ID ).
How do I find books? [Top]
Go to the Find Books page and search Voyager Catalog for books and some e-books. Other E-books not accessible through Voyager can be searched from the Find Books page, as well.
Consult the Voyager: Common Questions guide for more information about searching for books.
What are call numbers and what do they mean? [Top]
Each book in the library has a call number, which designates its location in the library.
Here is an example of a call number:
823.92 B93n
A call number indicates what the book is about, and similar books are usually grouped together by call number. The call number system that the Walker Library uses is called the Dewey Decimal system, and the numbers range from 000-999. When looking at a book record in the Voyager catalog, you will see the call number and the floor on which the book is located. Number ranges are posted on the ends of the book shelves. Consult the Call Number Locations in Walker Library guide for detailed information about which call numbers and subjects are located on different floors.
Does the library have textbooks for MTSU courses? [Top]
The library does not order copies of every book used in every class. You may check to see if the library owns the book you need by
searching the Voyager Catalog. The most likely place to find textbooks in the library is through the Reserves system.
How many books can I check out? [Top]
Checkout privileges vary by status (undergraduate, faculty, etc.) See Circulation Policies for details.
How do I renew books? [Top]
If a book is not yet overdue, you may renew it online by logging in to My Library Account. If a book is already overdue, you must bring it to the library Circulation desk to renew.
Where can I find videos/DVDs/audiobooks? [Top]
Audiovisual materials are housed at the Instructional Media Resource Center (IMRC) in the Learning Resource Center (LRC), which
is located between the KUC and BAS. Audiovisuals may be searched in the Voyager catalog by setting a Quick Limit to Instructional Media (for audiobooks, videos, and DVDs) or Videorecording (for DVDs and videotapes, only).
Audiobooks can be checked out by students, staff, or faculty. Videos and DVDs can only be checked out by faculty, but students must watch them
in the IMRC.
What does it mean if a reading is "on reserve"? [Top]
Instructors place books, articles, lecture notes, copies of exams, and other class materials on reserve in a central location
so that all students can have access to them. If the reserve items are in print, they are located at the Reserves desk on the first floor
of the library. Electronic reserve (e-reserve) items can be accessed online through the Course Reserve system.
How do I find a reserve or e-reserve reading? [Top]
Go to the Course Reserve system and select your instructor’s name from the drop down box. If your instructor is not listed, try searching by department and course number. Copyright restrictions require the library to password protect many materials
placed on e-reserve. If you are prompted for a password (for off-campus access,
this would be after you enter your Pipeline account information) please ask your
instructor for access information. If you cannot reach your instructor, call the
Reserves desk at 898-2650.
How do I find an article? [Top]
To find an article, start at the Research Gateway. Under Find Articles, click on one of the databases listed as Starting Points. Search by keywords to find articles on your topic. Or, search a specialized article database at the Research Guides by Subject page.
How do I get the full text of an article? [Top]
When you find an article in a database, you may see
a link to HTML Full Text, PDF Full Text, or something similar. If there is no link to full text, you may be able to find it in another database or in the library. To find the full text, look for a graphic or a link called Article Linker. Article Linker will locate the full text of an article if it is available in another database. If not, click Voyager to see if the journal or magazine is available in the library in print. If the article is not available at all, you may request it from another library through the interlibrary loan system, ILLIAD.
What are scholarly (or peer-reviewed) journals? [Top]
Scholarly journals, as opposed to popular magazines, contain articles written by experts for other experts or
scholars. Articles in scholarly magazines often report the findings of original research and include lengthy bibliographies. Scholarly journals, as opposed to magazines, do not often have very many glossy pictures or advertisements.
Peer-reviewed journals are a subset of scholarly journals, in which each article is subjected to a thorough critique by subject specialists. In other magazines and journals, only the editorial staff is responsible for what gets published. Many of the library databases allow you to limit your search results to peer-reviewed journals.
How do I find a specific journal/newspaper/magazine? [Top]
Go to the Journal Locator and search by the title of the periodical. If the periodical is available in print at the
MTSU Library, there will be a link for Walker Library Print Holdings. Click on this link to see the issues
available and their location(s) within the library. If the journal, newspaper, or magazine is available online, there
will be links to one or more article databases. Please note the years of availability for online sources. If you do not find
the periodical you need through the Journal Locator, you may request an article through Interlibrary Loan.
How do I link to an article from a database? [Top]
To link to an article in a database, you first have to find its persistent URL (one that doesn't change). This is usually NOT the URL in the address bar of your browser. Look in the long record of the article (what you see when you click on the title) to find the persistent link. But wait, you're not finished! After you find it, you need to add this to the beginning of it:
http://ezproxy.mtsu.edu/login?url=
Adding this prefix to the beginning of the URL will allow you to access the article from off campus with your Pipeline username and password. Some databases may not provide persistent links to articles.Can I access the library resources off-campus? [Top]
Most of the library resources available through the Research Gateway can be accessed off campus using your Pipeline username and password. If you have difficulty, please call the Reference Desk at 898-2817. Depending on the nature of your problem, we may need to refer you to the ITD help desk.
How do RODP students access library resources off-campus? [Top]
RODP students have access to library resources at each of their instructors' campuses. To locate the
username and password required to access resources off-campus, click on the Virtual Library link in your
WebCT course. If the login information is not displayed, contact your instructor or the library.
Usernames and passwords change each semester.
If I live far away, can I use another library near me? [Top]
Through the TALC agreement, public colleges and universities across the state have agreed to allow students and faculty from any of the participating schools to borrow materials at any location. If you live close to one of these schools, you may wish to use its library. Your home school must issue the card. Contact the Distance Education Librarian (ayork@mtsu.edu) to receive a TALC card.
James E. Walker Library
Middle Tennessee State University
Box 13
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
(615) 898-2817
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