Dear EBD Students, Faculty and Staff:
Welcome to Huntingdon College and Huntingdon's Houghton Memorial Library. The following information is intended to assist you in using our main campus library and the variety of print and electronic resources in our collections.
To obtain a Huntingdon library card, EBD students, faculty and staff need to complete the online application form that can be found online by using this link:
http://www.huntingdon.edu/evening/admission/library-card-application/
Once the completed online form is submitted to the Library, a user account will be established for the EBD student, faculty, or staff member. The new library account number will be e-mailed to you and the tangible library "card" (i.e. key fob) will be mailed along with this orientation document on resources and services of the Huntingdon College Library. It is very important to establish a library account as this will then allow you to have access to the Library's electronic databases, and of course physically check materials out of the Library, if applicable. (Please note that only those who have established a library account with the Huntingdon library will have remote access to our subscription electronic resources.)
The Library's web site can be located by going to https://libguides.huntingdon.edu/website. From the College's main web site, you can find the Library by clicking on "Academics" on the main menu, then from the pull-down menu “Academic Resources” click on "Houghton Memorial Library" (there is also a link to the Library at the bottom of the main page of the College’s web site under the “Popular Links”).
Once you are at the Library's web site, you will see a number of search options, several of which are further explained below.
The Library's online catalogue is called Countess OneSearch and from here you can search the depth and breadth of our holdings across all format types. You can search for print and electronic books, articles from magazines, newspapers and journals; films, and a variety of other resources. The majority of our databases are linked to Countess OneSearch, so while you may search our databases by clicking on the “Databases and the AVL” link under the "Resources” tab on our web site, you can also do so directly in Countess OneSearch.
(A bit of trivia: Countess OneSearch is named in recognition of the College's namesake - Selina, the Countess of Huntingdon.)
To locate the list of electronic databases provided by the Huntingdon library, place your pointer over the 'Resources' tab, then click on the 'Databases & the AVL' link. Here you will find an alphabetical listing of all the databases to which we currently subscribe. For Evening Studies students and faculty, you may wish to rely upon the “Databases by Discipline” link found in the search box of Countess, our online catalogue. Here you will find the wide range of electronic databases we make available listed by subject or discipline (for example, “Business,” “Health,” “Statistics,” “Current Events”).
As previously mentioned, to access most of our electronic resources, you will need to have an account with our library. Once you have established an account, you will be given a barcode number that acts as your library card number (this number will be listed on the back of the key fob that serves as your library card, which we will send to you). When trying to access a database or your library account, you will be asked for your library card number (enter this number from your card without any spaces) and password. The password must be set by you prior to accessing the databases. The password will then be mailed to you. Should you forget your password, it may be reset at any time in the same manner. If you encounter problems contact Mr. Daniel Dubei, Systems Librarian, at ddubei@hawks.huntingdon.edu.
Most electronic databases also provide very useful "Help" options to assist you in learning the effective use of a particular database. Vendors have worked closely with librarians in developing these help menus. You will also notice that many databases can assist you in properly citing sources. For example, in EbscoHost databases, once you have found an article you wish to use and cite, scroll over the icons on the page; one will be "Cite." Clicking on this icon will take you to a screen that list how to cite the article using various citation styles. (Be warned that the formatting in these “click-n-paste” citation helpers are not always correct, so don’t rely solely on these helpers … you still need to be familiar with proper citation formatting.)
Many of you may be familiar with the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL). There are a number of business-related databases in the AVL. Among these are the highly recommended Business Source Premier produced by Ebsco and Gale's Business Insights: Essentials. Many of the AVL databases may be cross-listed on our library's database page and in our aforementioned “Databases by Discipline” listing.
LibGuides are online research guides that our library faculty and staff create to help library users more readily locate resources on a particular topic or for a stated class or subject. You can access our library's LibGuides by clicking on the "LibGuides" button on the library web site (upper left of the screen). Of particular interest may be the “Citations” and “Search Tips” LibGuides.
Google can be a legitimate tool for accessing information for academic work; however, we encourage students to focus on using Google Scholar and Google Book Search. One of the important features is that you will be linked to the nearest library that owns the resource you need and can direct you to additional resources related to your topic. Keep in mind that contrary to what many think, not everything can be found online, let alone online for free.
As a member of the EBD of Huntingdon College you are able to use our interlibrary loan service. Since you are participating in an accelerated degree completion program, some aspects of the interlibrary loan service may not be suited to your needs, as it can take time to acquire a resource, particularly a physical item such as a book, from another library (for example, a request for a book from another academic library in Alabama can take a week to arrive; then we must have time to ship the book to the EBD user). Paige Crumbley, the library faculty member who oversees our interlibrary loan service, will be happy to assist you and answer your questions regarding interlibrary loan. paige.crumbley@hawks.huntingdon.edu, (334) 833-4560.
On our library's web site you will find a tutorial that can assist you in learning how to effectively use library resources. You will find the link under the "Evening Studies" tab and then by looking for the “Research Skills Tutorial” in the top box. There are seven (7) modules in the tutorial to help you develop your research skills: research strategies, effective database searching, finding books, finding periodical articles, accessing government documents, evaluating information critically, and using the internet for research. Additionally, you will find on our web site some helpful tutorials on the issue of plagiarism on the “Citations” LibGuide.
The issue of plagiarism is very important in the academic community, perhaps even more so today with the heavy use of online resources. To assist faculty and students the Library subscribes to the Turnitin.com database, which can be found on the Library's web site (and likely is linked in Canvas for your course). Turnitin.com provides a clear definition of what constitutes plagiarism. We encourage all our students to review it (you will also find helpful links on the “Citations” LibGuide).
Our library uses a variety of means to communicate with our users.
The Library's various social media can be found by using the links on our web site. We encourage students, faculty and staff to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and in Pinterest. Here you will find news of changes in library policy and procedure, new library resources, notices of library events and observances, photographs related to the Library, interesting items and articles found on the Internet, etc.
One of the first rules - if not the first rule - of using any library, whether you are physically in the facility or using it virtually, is that you should ask for help whenever you need it. We encourage you to do so. On the Library's website you will find a “Personnel” tab that will list contact information for the members of the library faculty and staff (as well as our areas of responsibility).
Students, faculty and staff away from the main campus in Montgomery may most often need technical assistance accessing the web site or gaining entry into one of the many databases offered. Mr. Daniel Dubei, Systems Librarian, is the main contact for this type of help. Her e-mail address can also be found at several locations on our web site and is ddubei@hawks.huntingdon.edu. She encourages students and faculty who e-mail her to include a telephone number where they can be reached. If necessary, she will call to help talk through the problem, or simply to confirm that the problem has been resolved.
Should you need assistance with a matter related to circulation (e.g. borrowing physical items from the Library's collections, questions about your library account, or general library-related questions), you can contact Elizabeth McCord, Access Services Librarian, who will be happy to assist you. Her e-mail address is emccord@hawks.huntingdon.edu and her campus number is (334) 833-4422.
Welcome to Huntingdon College!
Eric A. Kidwell
Director of the Library/ Professor
How do I obtain a library card?
New Evening Studies students, faculty and staff should complete the online application form to establish a library account (see the link in the box on the left). Once your application is processed (usually within 24-48 hours), you will receive an e-mail with your library account information and instructions on logging into electronic resources. Shortly thereafter, you will receive in the mail your library card (key fob) along with more detailed instructions.
I've lost my library card! How do I replace it?
Contact Elizabeth McCord, Access Services Librarian, at (334)833-4422 or email her at pcrumbley@hawks.huntingdon.edu.
As an Evening Studies student, faculty or staff member what library privileges do I have?
You have the same borrowing privileges as any other student, faculty or staff member at Huntingdon.
How do Evening Studies students, faculty and staff access the electronic databases from off campus?
Once you establish a library account, you may access the Library's electronic resources using Countess OneSearch (our WorldCat Local catalogue) or by going to the Library's homepage, placing your cursor on the Resource stab and clicking on Databases & the AVL. You'll be asked to login and will do so by using the bar code on the back of your library key fob (all numbers but no spaces) and the password you create. ?Your browser must be set to accept cookies in order to access the databases If you encounter problems, contact Daniel Dubei, Systems Librarian, at ddubei@hawks.huntingdon.edu.
What is Countess OneSearch?
Countess OneSearch is the name of our library's online catalogue, and is named after Selina, Countess of Huntingdon from whom the College took its new name in 1936, when it became co-educational.
(See A History of Huntingdon College, 1854-1954 by Rhoda Coleman Ellison, University of Alabama Press, 1954)
Who do I see about problems accessing the library website/electronic resources?
Daniel Dubei is the Systems Librarian and may be reached at (334)833-4529 or at ddubei@hawks.huntingdon.edu.
How do I renew items online?
To renew items online go to Countess OneSearch and login to your library account (upper right of screen where it states, Sign in). In your library account you will see all items you currently have checked out. Check the box next to the item you plan to renew and press the request renewal button. This may only be done once and only if materials are not overdue. Additional renewals or renewals for items overdue must be handled in person (if you are enrolled in the EDP at a site outside of Montgomery, please contact Elizabeth McCord, Access Services Librarian, for assistance).
What is an Inter Library Loan (ILL)?
Inter-library loaning is the process by which libraries, on behalf of a user (i.e. student,faculty member, staff member), can borrow materials from other libraries located in the U.S. or abroad. There are certain policies that must be followed and there may be a cost to the student, depending upon whether the lending library charges for the loan. This charge may be a loan fee for a book or the printing fee for a copy of a journal article. Contact Paige Crumbley for further information and assistance at Ext. 4560 or paige.crumbley@hawks.huntingdon.edu.
I found a citation for a book/article I'd like to read. How can I get a copy?
If the full-text is not available through our electronic holdings, you can contact Paige Crumbley, our librarian for Inter-Library Loan (334)833-4560 or paige.crumbley@hawks.huntingdon.edu.
How much does an Inter Library Loan (ILL) cost?
There is no charge for ILL items obtained from most Alabama libraries. For students, costs for items obtained outside of Alabama vary and are dependent upon the lending library's policy. You should be prepared to tell Mrs. Smith how much you're willing to pay for an item when you make the ILL request.