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Library Orientation: Health Sciences: 3. Getting Books

This guide introduces users to library resources and services to support health sciences research.

Getting Books

The 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. 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.

Medical Ebooks & Audiobooks

You can search for ebooks and audiobooks directly from our library catalog, or browse these collections.

Summit Requests

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.

Books Not Available from Summit

If you need a book that is not available at Gonzaga Libraries or through Summit, you can place a request via Interlibrary Loan. Take a look at the slides below to learn more about the Interlibrary Loan service.

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

FAQ for Graduate Students

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 two times, unless someone else has requested it.

  • 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.
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