FAQ
Please contact us if you have any questions about the Clarkson Library or its policies and procedures that are not answered here.
Archives
The Clarkson University Archives contain materials related to the University and its past history. The collection has many valuable manuscripts, photographs and other documents related to the Clarkson family, as well as copies of such publications as the Clarksonian (the University yearbook), the Clarkson Bulletin, the Clarkson Alumni Directory and back issues of The Integrator (the University newspaper). Material about the Clarkson family and Clarkson University history is available online as part of the North Country Digital History project.
Archivist - Iva Ramsdell
Cataloging/Archives Librarian - Sylvia Haq
315-268-2297
Please contact the Cataloging/Archives Librarian to set up appointments or to request assistance.
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Catalog
You can search the catalog to find the materials owned by the Clarkson Library. A search can be done using the author's name, the title of the book or by subject.
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Closed Stacks
There is an area of the library that is refered to as "closed stacks". This area is not open to the general public, although faculty and graduate students may request a key at the circulation desk. It houses older materials which may be requested by filling out a form and turning it in at the circulation desk.
Requested material is retrieved from closed stacks at scheduled times and held at the circulation desk to be picked up by the requestor. It will be held for one week before it is returned to the closed stacks.
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Computer Access
The library has a variety of computer arrangements for public use.
- access to the library's catalog and the internet but without printing capabilities
- workstations that require logging into your AD account that allow printing, access to the catalog and the internet but do not have any other software applications running on them
- two workstations which have all of the applications that are running in the campus labs
The library has wireless capability in most areas.
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Copiers
The library has two photocopiers and 2 microfilm reader/printers available for public use. Coins may be used for making copies. The library will provide change if it is available.
One of the microfilm reader/printers is attached to a computer and copies may be either printed or saved as a file.
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Finding Books
The catalog can be used to locate books in the library. Books are classified by the Dewey Decimal system.
New books, reference books and printed indexes/abstracts are located in the main section of the library. Reference Reserve, paper Course Reserves and Closed stacks material must be requested at the circulation desk. The general book collection is located in the library area across the commons.
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Finding Journals
Journals owned by Clarkson can be found by searching the catalog, the online lists, or the printouts which are located in the library. Journals are classified by the Library of Congress system.
Print journals are located in the main section of the library. Current issues of journals are on the display shelves to your right, arranged by school and then alphabetically by title.
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Government Documents
The Library was designated a selective Federal depository in 1938. It serves the government information needs of the 23 rd U.S. Congressional District along with other selective depositories located at St. Lawrence University in Canton, the State University College in Potsdam, the State University College in Oswego, and Plattsburgh State University.
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InterLibrary Loan
Material that is not owned by Clarkson or SUNY Potsdam may be requested from another library through interlibrary loan. You can use the online Interlibrary Loan form to submit your request or get a form at the library. The librarian at the reference desk can help you if you don't have complete information.
Journal articles are usually received either as PDF (Adobe Acrobat) files forwarded to your E-mail or as photocopies which are sent to you in the mail. You may keep these.
Books and reports must be picked up in the library after you are notified. They must be returned on time - loan periods vary depending on the loaning library.
You may request renewals of InterLibrary Loans in person, by phone, by E-mail, or use the online Renewal Form. We will attempt to obtain an extension of the loan period and notify you of the new due date or whether the material must be returned immediately. (More Information on the Interlibrary Loan process.)
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Loan Periods and Renewals
You must have your Clarkson ID to borrow library materials.
Most library materials circulate for the semester. The date of the last day of classes (the Friday preceding exam week) is the due date for that semester.
Journals circulate for 7 days. A renewal of 7 days can be requested and then the item must be returned to the library.
Books may be recalled if you need them and they are signed out to another user. Ask the staff at the circulation desk to recall the book.
Fines are charged for any book or journal which is not returned or renewed by the due date. Overdue notices are sent as a reminder to you, but you are still responsible for any material that is not returned or renewed even if you have not received a notice.
| FINES | |
| Course Reserves and Reference Reserves |
25 cents per quarter hour |
| Material recalled by library | $1.00 per day |
| All other material | 25 cents per day |
You can renew in person, by phone, by E-mail, or use the online Renewal Form. You can avoid problems with late fees and replacement charges by getting a receipt for material which you have returned. Ask the desk attendant to check in your materials and give you a receipt.
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Media Viewing Room
The media viewing room is equipped with a DVDand video player and may be scheduled to view dvds and videos which have been placed on reserve by the faculty.
The room may be used without scheduling but you will be asked to leave if you are using the room at a time when it has been scheduled.
You must come to the library or call X2297 to schedule the room.
FOOD and DRINK are not allowed in the room.
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Ordering books/journals, etc.
Each department has a faculty representative who submits book orders and journal requests to the library.
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Pay-Per-View (PPV)
Articles can be ordered for faculty, research assistants and graduate students from journals to which Clarkson does not have a subscription. Requests should be made for articles using PPV when interlibrary loan would not be feasible because of time constraints. See our Pay-Per-View Procedures and Policies for more information.
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Recalls
Books may be recalled if they are needed by another user. A recall notice can be sent on any material that has been checked out for two weeks or more. Material that is recalled should be returned immediately to the library. After a week, recalled material will incur fines of $1.00 per day.
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Reserves
Faculty may put copies of homework solutions, old tests, or supplemental materials for courses on reserve at the library. Materials which are not copyrighted (typically homework solutions, sample exams, etc) are posted on the Web. Books and journal articles are kept behind the main circulation desk.
Reserve materials are listed under Course Reserves by department/course and by professor. Many materials can be printed directly from the Web. You must have your Clarkson ID to borrow materials which are not posted on the web. These materials circulate for two (2) hours, and there is a fine of 25 cents per quarter hour for materials not returned on time.
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Team Project Rooms
There are two small rooms and one larger room equipped with computers. One of the smaller rooms is equipped for viewing DVDs and videos which have been placed on reserve by a faculty member.
These rooms may be scheduled for team projects; they may be used for individual or group study when not scheduled.
You must come to the library or call X2297 to schedule the room.
FOOD and DRINK are not allowed in the room.
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