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McNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY

Library FAQ

Library

Library FAQ

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How Do I?

If you need help finding the information you need, please contact a librarian at 475-5725.   

Research guides for finding print and online materials in each subject area are available here.  

You may also schedule an appointment with a librarian who specializes in your subject area.

Their contact information is available on the guides.

From the Library's homepage

  • Click the Resources tab, then click Databases.
  • User ID and PIN information for off-campus access is on the left side of the screen.

  • Renew online by choosing the Resources tab, Catalog, and then My Account.
  • Enter your User ID and PIN to choose whether to renew all or a portion of the items. 
  • Renewal in person is available by bringing the item to the Circulation Desk. 
  • Further information is available under the Departments tab, Circulation, or by calling 475-5722.

  • To order an item the McNeese Library does not own (please check the Catalog), determine the citation of the item (author, title, date, pages, journal name, etc.), choose the Departments tab, and Interlibrary Loan.
  • After creating an ILL account with a unique Username and Password, complete the appropriate electronic request form. 
  • To order a journal article or a book from a database, click on the ILL icon, review and approve it, and you will receive an email when your article arrives

  • Click the Resources tab, then Catalog.
  • Enter a term in the keyword box (last name of author, etc.) and click Search.
  • The call number indicates which floor item is on for general collection items (A - H on 1st, J - PR 6036 on 2nd, and PR 6037 - Z on 3rd).

There are often many types of material in the results list:

  • General Collection (able to be checked out), Archives (local history/special collections, 1st floor), E-books (click on URL for access), Government Documents (click on URL for access, otherwise go to 4th floor), Reference is located behind Reference desk (can be copied, but stay in the library), Reserve (behind Circulation desk), and Oversized books (north side of the 3 floors).

Consult Departments and Circulation for more information or call the Reference Desk 475-5725.

  • Click the Resources tab, then Databases.

    Pick one of our three most popular:
  • Academic Search Complete (click in the full text box and or in the scholarly/peer reviewed box for quality articles ),
  • JSTOR (all full text & scholarly/peer reviewed)
  • Project Muse (all full text & mostly scholarly/peer reviewed)
  • Enter a search term and execute the search.
  • Contact the Reference Desk if you are unable to access the materials you need.

  • Click the Resources tab, then Catalog.
  • Pick Advanced Search, and narrow down to:
    • Library: Frazar, Location: Media Collection - Circ. Dept, and click Search.
  • Items are located behind the Circulation desk.

Graduate students submit a resume with their class schedule to the Director's Executive Secretary, located in the SW corner of the first floor of the McNeese Library (phone 475-5716), and wait to be called.

Undergraduate students contact Student Employment, Smith Hall 104A, 475-5102

Visit here for student employment opportunities.

Visit the Library Contact Page

  • Reference 475-5725
  • Circulation 475-5722
  • Director's Office 475-5716

Faculty User ID: Banner # + 01 (00000123401) 

Student User ID: Banner # + 02 (00000123402)

To retrieve your PIN:

  • Go to the library home page and click "My Account" under the library catalog search box in the center column.
  • Click on "Email me my PIN" to retrieve your PIN. You may change your PIN by clicking on "User PIN Change."

Circulation

  • Click the Departments tab, then Circulation.
  • Read "Checking Out Material" and "Renewals."

  • Reserve materials are located behind the circulation desk.
  • Give the circulation staff the name of your professor to use the materials in the library for a limited time period.

  • Go to the library home page and click "My Account" under the library catalog search box in the center column. 
  • Click on Review My Account and enter your User ID and PIN

  • Go to the library home page and click "My Account" under the library catalog search box in the center column.
  • Click User Pin Change, then enter your User ID and PIN.

  • Pick the Departments tab and Circulation.

  • Click on Fines and Bills.

    • No fines are levied for overdue library materials.
    • Customers will be billed by the Circulation Department for the full replacement cost of unreturned materials.
    • After five weeks, they will be blocked from checking out material, and the replacement cost will be billed to their university account if they are McNeese students.

Community Members

  • Visitors to McNeese may browse shelves, utilize desktop computers, and access the campus wireless network. 
  • Printing is free for the first 20 pages; a donation of $0.10 per page applies after that.
  • Library staff in the Archives and Government Information Departments may assist visitors with their collections.
  • Community members may check out library materials and utilize Inter-Library Loan (ILL) services when they become members of the Friends of the Libraries group.

To join the Friends of the Library group, check out books, DVDs, and testing materials, and enjoy other benefits and services, you will need to turn in a form with payment.

  • Membership dues are $15 per year.
  • Payment is by cash or check made payable to McNeese Foundation.

Send payment to:

Friends of McNeese University Libraries
Box 91445
Lake Charles 70609

  • Go to the library home page and click on "My Account" under the search box for the library catalog, which is in the center column. 
  • Click on Review My Account and enter your User ID and PIN

  • Community members may visit the CMC and browse their collection on-site. 
  • However, due to the CMC's mission, circulation of CMC materials is usually not granted to Friends of the Library, students from other universities, or visitors.

  • Community members may visit the Performing Arts Library and view materials on-site.
  • Due to the mission of the Performing Arts Library, circulation of their collections is usually not granted to Friends of the Library, students from other universities, or visitors.  
  • There is equipment for audio-visual materials, but priority use is for McNeese faculty, students, and staff.

Faculty

  • Faculty and staff may place items on reserve at the Circulation Desk.  These can be either library materials or personal materials from faculty and staff.  However, library staff will install barcodes, call numbers, and security stickers on all materials.
  • Bring materials to the Circulation Desk, circulation staff will supply you with a Reserve Materials Work Order form.  Full-time circulation staff will handle the rest.  Usually, materials will be on the reserve shelf in about 1-2 business days.
  • Non-library materials will not be included in the library catalog, so be sure to inform your students that materials are on reserve in the library.  Faculty and staff also decide how long to keep materials on reserve and whether they may circulate outside of the library.

  • Faculty and staff may place items on reserve at the Circulation Desk.  These can be either library materials or personal materials from faculty and staff.  However, library staff will install barcodes, call numbers, and security stickers on all materials.
  • Bring materials to the Circulation Desk, circulation staff will supply you with a Reserve Materials Work Order form.  Full-time circulation staff will handle the rest.  Usually, materials will be on the reserve shelf in about 1-2 business days.
  • Non-library materials will not be included in the library catalog, so be sure to inform your students that materials are on reserve in the library.  Faculty and staff also decide how long to keep materials on reserve and whether they may circulate outside of the library.

  • In the Fall of 2010, Frazar Library faculty began to reinvigorate the Library Liaison Program. To this end, library faculty are expected to increase their contact with their assigned academic departments and submit monthly reports to the library administration. The new library website and subject guides (LibGuides) are part of this process.
  • To request materials, contact your library liaison through the new subject guides (LibGuides). You may also contact the Acquisitions Librarian, Lonnie Beene (475-5724 or acquisitions@mcneese.edu).

There are two ways to set up library instruction sessions.

  • One, there is a new online form on our new website.  Near the top of the page is the "Library Instruction" Tab. Clicking on it will direct you to the online form, or
  • Two, contact Tracy Hall (475-5738 or thall@mcneese.edu).  She coordinates the instruction sessions among the Reference librarians.

Interlibrary Loan

  • Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a system for borrowing and lending resources (books, audiovisual materials, and articles) used by libraries throughout the United States and worldwide.
  • Interlibrary Loan allows Frazar Memorial Library to obtain materials not available locally from other participating libraries. 
  • Materials borrowed through Interlibrary loan are short-term loans, usually 3-4 weeks. 
  • Long-term research or semester loans are not possible.

  • Books, videos/DVDs, audiocassettes/CDs, government documents, newspapers on microfilm, and theses and dissertations can usually be borrowed. 

  • Photocopies of journal or magazine articles and microfilm copies of newspaper articles can be obtained through interlibrary loan. Requests are subject to the policies of the lending library and U.S. copyright laws.

  • McNeese State University cannot request e-books via ILL.

  • As of May 1, 2009, the ILL staff will not process requests for textbooks.

You can submit requests at any time through your ILLiad user account:

  • https://louis.hosts.atlas-sys.com/illiad/LHA/logon.html.
  • Many of the Library's databases allow you to make an interlibrary loan request when the full text of the article is not available.
  • Just click on the "ILL FORM" link and log into your ILLiad account.
  • The system will provide all bibliographic information.
  • The WorldCat database will also submit your request by clicking on "Order through ILL."

Every request is different. 

  • Most articles can be delivered electronically within 3-4 business days. 
  • Most books can be delivered within one (1) week. 
  • Some resources will take longer to obtain if they are not available in Louisiana.

  • There is no charge for obtaining material through interlibrary loan services. 
  • The cost to the library is about $18.00 per request.

  • Most library patrons will receive an email informing them that the requested materials have arrived.
  • Depending upon your ILL account settings, ILL staff may call you with the information.
  • Most electronic articles will be available via an email with links sent by ILL staff.
  • These will be available for downloading and printing for 30 days.
  • If you lose the link sent in the email, you will be able to log into your ILL account and retrieve these requests by clicking on "View/Download Electronically Delivered Requests."

  • Most items mailed to Frazar Library will include a band indicating a due date.
  • Most books are on loan for about 3 weeks, but audio-visual materials are loaned for about 1 week.

  • One renewal may be allowed at the discretion of the lending library.
  • No renewals are allowed if the item is already overdue.
  • If you wish to renew an Interlibrary Loan book, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Office at (337) 475-5726 between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or send e-mail to the Interlibrary Loan Librarian before the due date.

  • Borrowers will receive an overdue notice for delinquent items.
  • Failure to return overdue materials will result in the loss of borrowing privileges.
  • You are responsible for the return of materials in good condition and for any replacement costs for lost or non-returned materials.
  • We want to return materials on time. Other libraries may limit or prohibit future loans to the McNeese Library if materials are not returned within a reasonable time.

Library Facilities

  • Five study rooms for student use are available in the library and may be checked out on a first-come, first-served basis at the Circulation Desk.

  • Four study carrels for student use are available on the 4th Floor of the library and are used on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • No sign-in is required.

The library has three possible locations for classes:

  • McNeese Conference Room on the first floor
  • Room C, across from the coffee shop on the first floor
  • Room A on the second floor.
  • If you are still not sure where your class is meeting, you may inquire at the Reference Desk on the first floor.

Library Technology

  • All students, faculty, and community patrons have FREE access to the library computers.
  • Library computers are located on all four floors of Frazar Memorial Library. 

  • The McNeese State University wireless network for students, staff, and faculty is identified as McNeese Air.
  • Once a browser is open, users will be redirected to a LOGIN page.
  • Currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff simply log in using their PORTAL user name and password to gain access.

  • All seated library computer stations have web browsers (Firefox and Internet Explorer) and Microsoft Office.
  • The stand-alone stations have Firefox and Open Office software.
  • Kurzweil 2000 software is available on one-seated library computer station near the entrance to the Archives.
  • Please ask for further assistance at the Reference desk.

  • Printing is FREE in the library for the first 20 pages.
  • Cash donations of .10 cents per page are suggested after that, and payment will be accepted at the Reference desk on the first floor of the library.
  • First-floor computers print to one central printer located across from the Reference desk.
  • Second-floor TASC lab computers print to the computer station located inside the TASC lab. Additional second-floor computers and Room A computers print to the central printer located on the second floor.
  • Third-floor computers will send a print job to the 2nd-floor central printer.
  • Fourth-floor computers print jobs on the 4th floor.
  • Four scanners are located on the library's first floor and may be used on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Readers and self-service printers for microforms and microfiches are kept in the microforms room on the second floor.
  • The Serials Desk on the second floor is staffed during regular library hours to provide assistance in using the microforms and microfiche.

Tutorials

  • A series of Information Literacy Instruction videos is available for anyone who needs more guidance on everything from the Frazar Memorial library catalog to how to search a database that the library has purchased, which can be accessed under the Research Help section of the website.
  • If you have any questions, please contact the Reference department at 337-475-5738.

  • For citation assistance, please visit the RESOURCE tab located at the top of the library homepage and select Citation/Style Guides.
  • From there, you will find specific information about the various style/citation guides available.
  • If you need further assistance, please visit the Reference desk on the first floor of the library.
  • There you will always find hard copy print style guides available for you to use.
  • These copies must be used in the library ONLY, and you will be asked to leave your student I.D. with the Reference librarian while you use the style guide.

  • Use your subject guide (also called a libguide) as a starting point for your particular subject.
  • Each guide will be updated by the particular subject librarian.
  • To be notified of these updates, consider setting up an RSS feed for your guide.

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CONTACT ASHLEY

Ashley Bass

I am a McNeese graduate with a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Science and a concentration in Child and Family Studies. As a student, I competed on the rodeo team and served on the SGA board. I earned my master’s degree in 2022 from the University of South Dakota in Educational Administration and Leadership with a concentration in Adult and Higher Ed. I have over 13 years of experience in adult education and 20 years of educational experience.

My favorite part of being a Freshman Advisor is helping students navigate their new life routine as a college freshman by offering support with in-person office visits or by email to help students meet their goals. I always remind students of my favorite BB King quote – “Education is one thing no one can ever take away from you.”  I believe that supporting students is vital to a student's success.

In my spare time, I raise registered American Brahman cattle, and I enjoy all the "country girl" things like hunting, fishing, growing a garden and cooking.

ADVISOR FOR:
  • College of Liberal Arts (excluding music)
  • Burton College of Education (ELEM and EDPR majors)