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General Library Orientation

This is a short guide to using the library's resources.

Getting Books

The Primo Library Search box on the library homepage is like Google for the library. It searches across a wide variety of resources, including our physical catalog, electronic resources and many of our databases. Primo Library Search serves as the library catalog and the only way to search for books, eBooks, music, videos, and “things” like puzzles and board games.

Library Search is a great place to start looking for articles and books on a topic, but for powerful, targeted searches that use subject headings or a controlled vocabulary, try a database specific to your discipline or topic.

ALWAYS SIGN IN! Signing in gives you more complete results, the ability to request items, and the best access to available online resources. The yellow bar across the results screen is an hard-to-miss reminder to sign in.

 

Screnshot of library search box with instructions that are replicated on page.

Types of availability

  • Online access: Often a link to the full text of the article, eBook, or streaming video will be provided.
  • Available at Foley: Physical resource at Foley can be in the General Collection, popular, reference etc. Our building maps will help you find the physical locations.   Pay attention, books with locations at Chastek Library are available on campus at the Law school. Our catalog also lists books at the Gonzaga in Florence Library, in Italy.
  • Requesting options: If Foley doesn't own it, you can request physical items through Summit or Interlibrary Loan (ILL); articles can only be requested through ILL.
    • Summit is the borrowing system within the Orbis Cascade Library consortium, that we are a member of. This consortium includes libraries in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
    • ILL is a sharing system between libraries world wide. Articles and physical materials can be requested through ILL. Articles are sent electronically.

 

Searching instructions from graphic:

  1. Enter keywords in the search box on the library homepage. Keep it simple.
  2. Sign in to get complete results, request items and get access to online resources.
  3. Select options on the left (facets) to apply filters and refine your results.
  4. Search results can include articles, books, videos, and more!

Through our library partnerships, you can request physical materials from other libraries throughout the Pacific Northwest directly from the library catalog. 

First, make sure you are searching the entire catalog of materials from Gonzaga and Summit Libraries; the catalog should be set up to search this by default, but you can verify this by looking at the search scope and making sure it says, Gonzaga Libraries + Summit.

 

You'll need to be signed in before proceeding! If you find a book or DVD that we don't have available here in Foley but other libraries own copies, you will see a button that says, Request via Summit:

 

Then simply click the Send Request button, and your request will be placed! You can view your requests for both Foley-owned material and materials owned by other libraries in your Library Account, under the My Library Card section.

Returning Books

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.

  • Retain all tracking information until you've had confirmation that the item has been received and checked in on the library's end. You are responsible for items lost or damaged in transit.

  • 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 distance education students.

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