Subject Librarian
GSU Databases
Governors State University participates in a statewide consortium called IShare which includes 52 academic libraries. You will want to search IO to see what resources are available on your topic. When using IO, your library ID number is your 14-digit number (21611000??????) obtained from the Reference/ Technology Desk. Besides the online library catalog, IO includes a number of IBIS/OVID journal article indexes (Art Index, MLA Bibliography, Humanities Index, ERIC, Books In Print, Dissertation Abstracts). From home you will be prompted for your patron id which is your 14-digit library number (21611000??????). As a GSU student, you are entitled to make full use of these resources. You may access IO on the World Wide Web through the GSU Library Web page. A number of databases with full-text articles are accessible from the library web site, such as EBSCO, ProQuest and Project Muse. To reach these databases from home, go to http://proxy.govst.edu:2048/login? A dialogue box will appear. In the username box enter your 14-digit library number(21611000??????); your password is your PIN number which you use to register for classes at GSU. You will also be taken to this page by clicking on the off campus access link following the database annotations. Additionally, you are eligible to access OCLC FirstSearch databases (ERIC, WorldCat, Article1st, Contents1st, Periodical Abstracts, WilsonSelect, WilsonSelectPlus, NetFirst, ABI/INFORM, GPO and MEDLINE), as a GSU student. For FirstSearch access the GSU authorization number is 100-108-560, while the GSU password is soar2ages. A number of other citation and full-text databases are available on either the alphabetical list of databases web page or in your particular subject area web page.
Database Searching
When searching any of the databases, be sure to read the screen for proper commands. Many of the databases have User's Guides, which can be consulted. Unfortunately, the commands change depending on the database. Unless you are looking for a specific book or article and already know the title and author, I would begin searching with a title search using several keywords about the subject. If you do not pull up any titles, eliminate a keyword or try a synonym. Once you pull up a list of titles, take down the citation information (author, title, publisher, copyright date or author, title, name of journal, volume, number, date and pages) for any books or articles which look useful. Review the records to find a book or an article which is as close as possible to the subject which you seek. Then, find the subject headings on the record for the book or article. Next try a subject search using the subject headings which you identified to locate more titles on your subject.
Interlibrary Loan
If GSU University Library does not own a book or journal which you need, library staff can obtain the book or article for you through Interlibrary Loan. Before submitting an Interlibrary Loan form, consult the list of full-text journals http://www.govst.edu/library/fulltext.htm to make sure that we do not have the article online in full-text. An article which we hold online in full-text will not be ordered through Interlibrary Loan. Please fill out an interlibrary loan form located at the Reference Desk and return it there. Often it takes two to three weeks to receive materials through Interlibrary Loan, so you will want to start your research early to ensure you have plenty of time to obtain your information.
