Faculty Guide to the Library

This research guide will provide you with an overview of the Library's resources and services.  

The Library website provides 24/7 access to the Library's resources and services.  LibrarySearch, is a unified search platform which helps users access all of the Library's resources including books, articles, journals, videos, and more—everything physically housed in the Library as well as our subscribed electronic resources, all from a single search box prominently featured on each page of the Library website.

MeLCat is an online catalog service that allows patrons of participating libraries to borrow physical materials - books, movies, music, and more - from all over Michigan and have them delivered to their home library.  The MeLCat interlibrary loan service is free to all Albion College students, staff, and faculty.

For electronic items (book chapters and articles) and Books, DVDs or CDs not available through Albion College or MeLCat, use LibrarySearch to request items from other libraries.  Here are detailed instructions on using MeLCat and LibrarySearch for interlibrary loan.

Albion College librarians are here to provide specialized instruction for your course.  Options for library instruction include a broad overview of research methods, subject-specific research strategies, detailed information tailored to a specific assignment, or an embedded librarian for your course.  Please fill out the Request Librarian Instruction form and a liaison librarian will contact you promptly.

Please fill out the Course Reserves Request form.  You may place personal or existing library copies of physical materials on Course Reserve. If electronic versions of your requested materials exist in LibrarySearch, we will provide links for you to post on Course Webs.

It is important to utilize Library resources effectively and responsibly.  If you upload a pdf of an article or book chapter to Course Webs it only records one use of the resource.  If you include a permalink to the resource, it records the use of every click on the link.   

Correct linking will lead to more insightful and accurate analytics, allowing for data-driven decision making when evaluating whether or not to renew a resource.
 

Search for your resource in LibrarySearch.  From the results page click on the appropriate record.  In the detailed record click on the permalink icon.  Copy the link to your clipboard.

Permalinks ensure reliable access to specific articles, ebooks, and other online content within library databases, avoiding copyright issues and broken links.   They also ensure access from on an off campus.

If you need help with adding links to resources to you Course Web, don't hesitate to email library@albion.edu.