March 3, 2011 - 4:13pm
Questions on Campus: University Library resources
BY RACHEL BRUSSTAR
Editor's Note: Today The Michigan Daily debuts a new weekly rotating item called Questions on Campus. Every Tuesday, we'll answer questions from students about the University. Topics will range from academic policies, campus life and anything in between. To submit a question you want answered, e-mail questions@umich.edu.
Q: There are many libraries across campus, but what are some of the specific resources offered by libraries that can be most helpful for students?
With more than 20 different libraries in 12 campus buildings, students may be overwhelmed by the vastness of University resources and may not know where to start. And while many students study in at least one University library, especially during midterms and finals, students leave many resources untapped.
Many University tools allow students to fulfill their library needs online without stepping out their door.
MLibrary, the University Library’s online resource, gives students the option to complete their research online — eliminating the task of searching through library catalogues and archives in person.
MLibrary also allows students to access a plethora of online journals free of charge. In November, the website was updated and now combines the browsing and searching features of the site into a single interface.
Additionally, delivery services for hard copies of books are available for students — allowing them to pick up the materials at the checkout counters at the libraries instead of searching through the stacks.
Another service is Mirlyn Get This, which provides a delivery service from one library on campus to another at a library pickup location of the student’s choice.
If a student encounters difficulty finding the necessary materials from an on-campus library, the University also uses an Interlibrary Loan system, which allows the libraries to borrow materials from a library at another university or institution.
But the libraries on campus aren’t purely for academic needs. Students can also go to some libraries for entertainment purposes like playing computer and video games. The Shapiro Undergraduate Library is also home to Askwith Media Library, where students can rent movies and television shows free of cost.
In the basement of the Duderstadt Library on North Campus, there is also a Computer and Video Game Archive, which offers a selection of games ranging from 1970s classics to new releases.
