Graduate Student Orientation

Brendan Rapple 29 August, 2013

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Some BC Libraries Facts

Libraries support teaching, learning, and research at Boston College with:

• Over 2.85 million printed volumes

• Over 400,000 books in e-format

• Over 650 research databases accessible in the library or remotely

• Over 42,000 print and electronic journals

• Over 4.3 million units of microform.

• Specialized libraries throughout campus

• Subject specialists available to assist you.04/19/23

Boston College Libraries and Centers

Complete List of Libraries and Centers:

http://www.bc.edu/libraries/collections.html

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Ways to Reach Us

• Call: 617-552-4472 (Reference Desk)

• Chat with a Librarian 24/7Research help from BC Librarians and participating Jesuit institutions across the country.

• E-mail: refer@bc.edu

• Text us at 66746 and start your question with "askbc". Example: askbc how do I find book reviews? 

• Meet with a Librarian who specializes in your area of study:http://www.bc.edu/libraries/help/askalib.html

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Research Databases

•Find bibliographic citations for information in your research subject area.

•Locate full-text resources.

•Over 650 databases.

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Research Guides

• BC Libraries have hundreds of research guides covering a multitude of disciplines and topics.

• They’re starting points for subject and general research.

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Items from Other Libraries

Boston Library Consortium (BLC)One may check out books of the 17 academic and research libraries in the BLC.

Obtain consortium cards at the Circulation Desk in O'Neill Library or at the Law Library.

WorldCat LocalRequest books and other physical items directly from other Boston Library Consortium (BLC) libraries and beyond.

Consortium items are usually delivered to BC in 2-5 days.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)Online forms; delivery by e-mail, campus mail or pickup.

Boston Theological Institute (BTI)The collections of the BTI, consisting of over a million and a half in theology and cognate disciplines, constitute one of the richest theological library centers in the world.

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Research Support

• Citation Management ToolsBoston College Libraries support RefWorks, EndNote Web and others.

• Set up automated/e-alertsReceive book citations, tables of contents of your chosen journals or a list of individual article citations via email.

• Technology Items for Loan in BC LibrariesThe following are available for loan: Apple iPads; Calculators; Dell Laptops; Flat Screen Adapters; Flip Video Cameras; Headphones; Laptop Power Cords.

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Graduate Student Support Webpage

This page contains brief descriptions of services and resources directly related to research activity, along with some links to the items described.

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Publishing Support

Get help deciding where to publish Learn to manage your intellectual property

and your data Avoid copyright infringement and last-

minute permission requests Get help finding open access reusable

content Consider open access publishing for

greater visibility, impact and for social justice reasons

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Other Services

Course ReservesInformation and forms for submitting items.

Connors Family Learning Center (O’Neill Library, 2nd floor)

TutoringTutoring in over 60 subjects, including Writing, English as a Second Language and all of the CORE curriculum classes

Learning Disabilities Services and SupportSupport for all BC students with learning disabilities and all BC faculty and TA/TFs who teach or advise students with learning disabilities

Instructional Support for Graduate Students and FacultyClass visits, seminars, practical tips and more

Writing SupportTypes of assistance available, including the Online Writing Lab (OWL)

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Technology Help in the Library

For printing, scanning, copying, faxing, and basic computer support visit the Technology Support Center, Level 3, O'Neill Library.

It’s staffed quite long hours.

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Other Technology Services

• Wireless Printing (advice to print wisely—one only has 500 free pages/semester)

• Locate and Scan Service (Online)Users can request copies of articles (that are not available online) from books and journals located in BC libraries. Requests must be placed via this Online Form in My Holmes Account or directly from a database using the Find It function. There is no charge for this service.

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Media Center Services

Media Center Services

• O'Neill Library's non-print collection: films, audio recordings and computer data files.

• Contains over 20,000 audiovisual items available for loan to members of the BC community. A portion of the video/DVD collection is restricted to Faculty Loan Only.

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Popular Reading Collection

• A best sellers (and books of current interest) print collection is shelved on the right as you enter 3rd floor, O'Neill Library. 

Items can be checked out by Boston College students, staff and faculty only (28 day loan).

• There is also a service, hosted by OverDrive by means of which you can download e-books onto devices such as Kindles, iPads and smart phones.

The collection contains best sellers, top academic picks, and thousands of e-books in the public domain.  BC users can check out up to 2 titles at a time.

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Study Space -- O’Neill

• Nine Group Study Rooms in O’Neill Level Five

– reserve them online or @ the Circ Desk

– each room is equipped with flat screen projection capabilities, white boards and chairs for six.

– seven of the rooms require a reservation, one of the seven is reserved for graduate students only.

– two of the nine rooms are designated first come basis

• Level One

– booths with large screen projection in each.

– also large group study room with white boards.

• 4th Floor Grad Study Room (top of stairs on the left)

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Study Space -- Bapst

24 Hour StudyGargan Hall on the second floor is open 24 hours Sunday through Thursday for most of the semester.

Bapst Grad LabThere are 60 individual study carrels in the mezzanine area of the Kresge Reading Room.

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Evolving Nature of BC Libraries

• More than a repository of published material.

• Increasing its publishing role in the electronic sphere.

• eScholarship@BC:  the goal of this digital repository is to showcase and preserve BC’s scholarly output and to maximize research visibility and influence. 

• Digital Library Initiatives, for example a very swiftly growing number of digitization projects.

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Final Advice . . . .

Become as acquainted as possible with the Libraries’ website.

Don’t forget to ask your friendly librarians for help!!!

• Contact a Subject Specialist

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