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RELI 505 - Library Orientation: 4. Getting Books

Things to Know

Ways to get books and other physical materials:

Search for books in Primo Library Search, login to place a hold and see request and pickup options. Place a local hold request for books owned by Foley Library, or select Request via Summit to get a book through one of our consortia partners. If you live more than 35 miles from campus books can be mailed to you.

See our Summit Guide for more information on how to request books and other materials via Summit.

Materials unavailable through Foley or our Summit partners can be requested through Interlibrary Loan.

 

Getting & returning library materials

  • Books from Foley Library's General Collection are checked out to graduate students until the end of the semester. A book may be renewed three times, with a one year maximum checkout period.  Renewals may not be allowed if someone else has requested the item.
  • Interlibrary loan books have due dates set by the lending library. Renewals are possible, but not guaranteed.
  • If you live 35+ miles from campus and are enrolled in an online program, books you request from the library's collection will be automatically checked out and mailed to you.  You are responsible for return postage for books mailed to your home.
  • If you are coming to Spokane, we can hold materials here until you arrive. Just let us know when you will be on campus by sending an e-mail to ill@gonzaga.edu.
  • Library policies regarding lost/damaged book replacement charges apply to all library users.
  • Overdue on arrival? It happens sometimes. If a library book arrives on your doorstep and it's already past the due date, notify us immediately at ill@gonzaga.edu. We'll give you additional time with the book.

Books from Foley

If you are looking for a particular book, the fastest way to find it is with a title browse search.

1. On the library homepage, select Browse Search.

Image of the Foley search box with the "Browse Search" button circled

2. Select a List to Browse from the drop down menu, select Title.

3. Type the beginning of the title of the book and hit enter.

A browse search is not quite like a normal search. It will pull up the exact result and anything near it alphabetically in the browse list. What it won't do is show you search results that are close to, but not quite, what you searched for. The best method for finding a title is to type the first three or four words of the title exactly and see what comes up.

A note about articles (the grammar kind, not the journal kind!):

If your title starts with A, AN, or THE, leave the article off and start with the next word. For instance, instead of The Lord of the Rings search for Lord of the Rings.

THIS and THAT are always included in the title, i.e. That Hideous Strength would be found by searching for That Hideous Strength, not Hideous Strength.

On campus returns:
  • Books can be dropped off at the circulation desk, the book drop inside or outside the building, or the return box in the basement of College Hall.
Mailing books for distance learners:
  • If you are unable to come to campus, you are responsible for return postage.
  • Package books to avoid damage - If you received the book via mail, use the same box or envelope they came in if it's in good condition.
  • If the book you are returning is an ILL and the due date is close, send an email to ill@gonzaga.edu to let us know the books are on their way.
  • If you know you will be coming to campus and would prefer to return the books at that time, let us know:
  • A yellow return address label is included when we send the books to you. You can also print the label provided here.

Finding eBooks at Foley Library

  • Search for a book title or keyword from the main "Books and More" search box on the Foley Homepage
  • On the right hand navigation in your results select Availability > Full Text Online  and select Format > Book

Other E-book Resources

You can also manually search our eBook databases:

Getting Books from Other Libraries

When to use Interlibrary Loan (ILL):

  • Foley Library doesn't have a book you need for your research
  • Foley Library can't supply an article you need and you have already checked for the journal/issue/date in Periodicals@Foley.
  • You are a faculty member or graduate student and the article you need is in the print collection in the library.

To Request Books From Other Libraries:

  • Go to the library homepage
  • Select WorldCat and search for the item(s).
  • Use the Request via Interlibrary Loan option within a book's record to place a request.

Interlibrary Loan link in a WorldCat Record

ILL Facts and Tips

ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME - Ordering a book through Interlibrary Loan is not an option for "last minute" research. The lending library mails the book to Foley Library and then we check it out to you. That takes time.

BE VERY SELECTIVE - Please limit your interlibrary loan requests to items you can truly use in your research. The library is happy to provide this service free of charge to current students, but it can be expensive for us, so please use it judiciously. 

LENDING LIBRARIES CALL THE SHOTS - Books we get for you through interlibrary loan (ILL) are subject to the policies of the lending institution.  While most ILL books come with a 4-week loan period, the loan periods may be shorter and renewals are always at the discretion of the lending library. Please give "ILL books" your immediate attention when they arrive so you will be prepared to return them on time.  Overdue charges and lost/damaged fees do apply.

IF A BOOK ARRIVES IN THE MAIL ON (OR AFTER) THE DUE DATE -  This does happen on occasion. Contact us immediately if it happens to you! We will renew the book and do our best to get you more time from the lending library.  Phone numbers: 509-313-3824 / 800-498-5941 or e-mail ill@gonzaga.edu

ILL HOMEPAGE: researchguides.gonzaga.edu/ILL

Get Your Hands Dirty!

  1. Use Library Search to find a book (a physical book, not an eBook) in the Foley Library Collection. Sign in and go through the steps to request it (just stop before you hit that final Request button).
  2. Use Library Search to locate a full-text ebook. Can you check out the book? Can you download the book or a chapter?
  3. Find a book in WorldCat and click on Request via Interlibrary Loan (don't worry, the final request takes another step to send.) Notice how the information for the book is already in the request form. If you actually want the book, submit the request. Otherwise, cancel it.
  4. Optional: Find an audio book that can be downloaded to a device.

Quiz Yourself!

Subjects: Course Guides, Religion