How Do I ...?

Get a library card?

It's easy! Your photo student or staff ID card is your library card. Read on for more information about ID cards.

Figure out where something is in one of the campus libraries?

Consult the Library maps and floorplans on the Library's website OR ask the Library staff. We're happy to help you find what you need! In the Doyle Library, there is also a circular map in the rotunda on each floor which shows the floorplan for that floor, and SRJC students and staff may check out a 17-minute iPod introduction and tour of the Doyle Library building .

Find out what library terminology means?

U.S. libraries use lots of special library terms. If you're not yet familiar with them, check out our Glossary of Library Terms .

Find a particular book in the library?

Look for the title or the author of the book in the library catalog to find the call number and the floor location for the book. (Read this guide to learn more about how to search in the library catalog.)

If the SRJC Library owns the book, the library catalog will tell you 1) which campus library has the book, 2) which floor the book is located on (Doyle Library only) and 3) what the call number (or shelf address) for that book is in the library. Read on for more information about how call numbers work.

If the library catalog indicates that your book is "on reserve," an instructor has asked us to limit the use of that book so that everyone in the class gets a chance to use it. In the Doyle Library, request reserve books at the Reserve Desk on the fourth floor. In the Mahoney Library, ask at the Circulation Desk. Most reserve books must be used inside the library.

Borrow a book?

If the book you need is not "on reserve," take the book you want to borrow along with your student or staff ID card to the Circulation Desk. (Doyle Library: second floor; Mahoney Library: near the front door). Reference books and most reserve books may only be used inside the library.

Find a copy of my textbook in the library?

The Library does not generally buy textbooks for SRJC classes, but instructors often send us copies of their textbooks to put "on reserve" in the library. This means that use of the book is restricted in some way (usually "library use only") so that all students in the class get a chance to use the book. These books are kept at the Reserve Desk on the fourth floor of the Doyle Library or at the Circulation Desk in the Mahoney Library. (If the bookstore is out of your textbook, be sure to ask your instructor if s/he has a copy which s/he can put on reserve in one of the campus libraries.) To find out if the Library has your textbook, look in the library catalog. Select the "Course Reserves" tab, then you can search for your textbook by course number (Psych 1A, Econ 5, etc.) or by your instructor's last name. If you find the book listed in the catalog, write down the call number for the book and take it to the fourth floor Reserve Desk (Doyle Library) or the Circulation Desk (Mahoney Library) so that the Library staff will know where to look for the book.

Get a book from the library at the other campus?

Find the book in the Library's catalog (Be sure you are looking at the screen that has the "Brief Record" button highlighted in yellow), then click the Request Item button in the top row of buttons. Log in with your SSN or the barcode number from your student ID card, then follow the instructions on the screen. If the book you need is checked out, select HOLD; if the book is available, select CALL SLIP. Remember that you're still logged in as you. Don't forget to log out again when you've finished requesting your book.

Search for books in other libraries' catalogs?

You can search the library catalogs for the Sonoma County Public Library and the Sonoma State University Library from the Library's Internet Reference Collection page. See the line that says "Library Catalogs."

Get a book from another library?

If you cannot find the book you need, talk to the reference librarian (Doyle Library: Second floor Reference Desk; Mahoney Library: Reference Desk.). If s/he cannot find the information you need, you may be able to apply for an interlibrary loan. The SRJC Library will then borrow the book for you from a library which has it.

Type my paper on one of the library computers?

Doyle Library - The "Scholar" workstations have Microsoft Word on them. Scholar workstations are located on every floor of the Doyle Library and are labeled with a code which begins with the letter "S" (for Scholar) on the white strip on the base of the computer. Don't forget to SAVE your document with a name so that when you send it to the printer you can tell which document is yours.

Mahoney Library -You may use Microsoft Word to type your papers on any library computer.

Print a webpage, an online article or my paper from one of the Library computers?

All printing and photocopying in the SRJC libraries costs 10 cents per sheet of paper.

Doyle Library: There is a Print & Copy Center on each floor. All computers in the building are networked to the print center on the same floor. When you're ready to print your document(s), select Print on the computer as you normally would. (If you're printing a word processed document, be sure to SAVE the document first, with a name that you'll recognize when you get to the Print Center or it will be listed simply as "document" and you won't be able to tell which is yours.) Selecting "Print" will send your document(s) to the Print Center on the same floor. Before you go to the Print Center, be sure to write down the computer code which is on the white tape on the front of the computer you used.

If you don't already have a "print card," buy one from the vending machine in the Print & Copy Center on your floor. The card costs $1.00, then you'll need to put the card back into the vending machine and put some money on it in order to make copies. Next, put your print card into the card reader next to the computer in the Copy Center, and select the code for the computer you used earlier from the codes listed on the computer screen in the Copy Center. In the list of documents which appears next, click each of YOUR documents so that a check mark appears in front of each, then follow the instructions on the screen to print your documents.

Mahoney Library: Select print on the computer you're using, then go the Circulation Desk to pay for your prints. (The Mahoney Library will soon be switching to the same "print card" system used in the Doyle Library.)

Make photocopies in the libraries?

Doyle Library: Go to the Print & Copy Center for the floor you're on. (If you're not sure where it is, consult the floorplan map in the rotunda for that floor, or ask at the Reference Desk (second floor) or the Reserve Desk (fourth floor). Use coins or your print card in the photocopier which is located in the Print & Copy Center.

Mahoney Library: Make your copies, then pay for them at the Circulation Desk.

Use my wireless laptop computer to connect to the Internet inside the Library?

You can now use your own wireless laptop inside the Doyle Library. See "Using Your Own Wireless Laptop in the Doyle Library" on the Library's Wireless Access page for information. (Wireless access from your own laptop will be introduced in other parts of the SRJC campuses at a later date. It is not yet available in the Mahoney Library on the Petaluma campus.)

As an alternative, you may check out one of the Library's laptop computers for use with the library's wireless network while you are working inside either the Doyle Library or the Mahoney Library. (Be sure to return the laptop before you leave the building, since there is a $2,500 replacement fee.) For more information, see the Library's Wireless Access page.

Get a job in one of the campus libraries?

When faculty librarian and library staff positions become available, they are posted on the SRJC Human Resources website. Student assistant positions are announced on the Student Employment Office website.

MANY more topics coming soon!