Library
Locating Items at Libraries other than USF
USF tries to give our patrons access to as many materials as possible. Occasionally, USF resources do not allow immediate access to all items. If your needs do not allow the time necessary for Interlibrary Loan services (click here for more information on Interlibrary Loan), you may need to physically go to another library to retrieve your item.
- Start
with USF Library Resources First
If you are looking for the full text of a journal article and have a citation (bibliographic information such as the title of the article, the journal, dates, etc.), please start with see the tutorial "Getting the text of a journal article from a citation" (click here to open in a new window). This page will demonstrate how to determine if you can access your article through USF resources. The tutorial outlines 4 options for article retrieval: the USF physical collection, electronic journals, online databases, and Interlibrary Loan.
To determine if a book is owned by USF, search for the title in the USF Library's online catalog. Books from the USF collection can be sent to distance students by mail. Click here for more information about searching the I-Share Catalog.
- Use
Another Library's Collection
If you desire to retrieve a book or the text of an article directly from another library, USF library resources will allow you to determine where the item you desire is available. This may be particularly helpful for distance students, who may be able to quickly access an item locally, rather than waiting for USF to send it to them.
To determine if a library other than USF has an item available, use one of the following (click on the link to find more information below): the I-Share Catalog, one of the USF guides to other local library catalogs, USF links to libraries nationwide, or the WorldCat database.
Please remember that when searching to determine if an article is available at another library, you need to search for the JOURNAL's name in a library catalog, not the title of the article. You will also need to confirm that the date you desire is available.
It is best to check the I-Share Catalog first,
as it will allow borrowing of books directly
from member libraries. the I-Share Catalog is
not useful for individuals outside of Illinois
who want to obtain an item locally and do not
wish to pay postage to return the item to Illinois,
or of obtaining journal articles (unless you
wish to go to a library to look at a paper copy
of a journal).
The I-Share Catalog serves both as the USF library catalog and the catalogs of other I-Share member libraries. Click here to learn more about requesting books from other I-Share libraries.
**Please note that to initiate a request through the the I-Share Catalog system you will need to have a valid USF library barcode. If you do not have a barcode or are unsure whether you have a barcode, please call the circulation desk at 815-740-3690.
**Also note that books requested by individuals through the I-Share Catalog can only be sent to I-Share libraries, not to a home address.
Primarily for individuals in the Chicagoland area.
For a select listing of other library catalogs (primarily in Illinois), click here.
USF Links to Libraries Nationwide (sorted by location)
Primarily for distance students & staff.
- From
the USF Library home page, select "for
distance students."
- Select
"local library information."
Click
here to link to local library information
now.
- Scroll
down the page until you come to the list of
states. Choose the links for the state &
city you desire.
- Click
to be dropped down in the page for either
public or academic libraries.
- The specific library names are links to the libraries' web pages. These web pages will often allow you access to the library's catalog.
Suitable for searching libraries nationwide.
- From
the USF library home page click on the down
arrow next to the box (upper right hand corner)
for "frequently used databases."
- Scroll
down the list of databases to "WorldCat."
Select it and then wait about 5 seconds until
you are transferred to the WorldCat database
(A password may be required to use WorldCat.
Please see the end of this tutorial for information
on obtaining a password.)
- When
you are looking for a specific item in WorldCat:
- In
the WorldCat database, type the title
of the JOURNAL or book in the first "search
for" box. Type as much as you
know starting at the beginning. Do not
use "a," "an," or
"the" if they are the first
word of the title.
- Change
the box to the right of the first "search
for" box from "keyword"
to "title" or "title
phrase" (for exact, multi-word
titles) by clicking on the arrow and scrolling
down. Click "search."
- Click
on the title you want on the list of results.
You will see the detailed record for the
journal.
- Click
on the link (in blue type) "libraries
worldwide that own this item."
It is located near the top of the detailed
record is a section called "availability"
(this is in grey type).
- Now
you are at a list of libraries in Illinois
that have the item. This is because USF
is in Illinois. To see a list of all libraries
that own the item, click on "display
all libraries" (toward the top
on the left). Scroll down to the state
you desire to see who owns your item.
- In
the WorldCat database, type the title
of the JOURNAL or book in the first "search
for" box. Type as much as you
know starting at the beginning. Do not
use "a," "an," or
"the" if they are the first
word of the title.
- When
you want to search only in a particular
city for books (not journal articles)
on a particular subject:
- From
the WorldCat advanced search screen (the
first screen you get in WorldCat) click
on "find codes." This
is located in small blue underlined type
at the far right of the "limit
availability to" section. Once
selected, a new window should open.
- On
the new ("Contacts")
window, you will be searching for the
official codes of libraries in a city
of your choice. Type the name of the city
& state (2 letter state codes - e.g.
IL) you want. Click "start search."
- On
the results screen, choose the libraries
you would be willing to go to. Write down
their 3 character symbol (e.g. USF's is
"ICD") on a piece of paper.
- Repeat
this process for all cities you want.
You must search a specific city to find
its libraries. Searching Joliet, IL will
NOT give you libraries that are
near but not in Joliet. You may close
the "contacts" window when finished.
- Once
again, on the WorldCat Advanced Search
screen, type the codes of the libraries
you want to search - separated by a comma
- in the "library code"
box to the left of the "find codes"
link.
- Type
in your search terms & limiters
as needed. Click on "search."
- The items returned should be in one of the libraries you specified. To know exactly what items are in which library, repeat the search for books with each library individually.
- Type
in your search terms & limiters
as needed. Click on "search."
- From
the WorldCat advanced search screen (the
first screen you get in WorldCat) click
on "find codes." This
is located in small blue underlined type
at the far right of the "limit
availability to" section. Once
selected, a new window should open.
Please note that you will need a password to access some of the resources listed on this tutorial, if you attempt to access them off the USF campus. USF students, faculty and staff may contact the Reference Desk at 815-740-5041 / 800-726-6500 or refdesk@stfrancis.edu for this password or any other assistance.