For Graduate Students

The library in a nutshell . . .

For Graduate Students

Highlighted here are features of the library of particular relevance to graduate students. For more detailed information, check the section of the library website that pertains to your specific interests. See below for condensed information about useful collections, graduate seminar reserve readings, computer policies, and other bits of information about the library a student might like to know. Follow the links for more details.

Circulation and Non-Circulation Policies

With the exception of the Campus Writing Center and Lannan Video collections, the William Van O'Connor Library is a non-circulating reference library. Go to Circulation Policies for more information.

Useful Collections

Explore the library's collections. Click on individual links for more information.

* Campus Writing Center Collection Come here for resources on writing instruction.

* Creative Writing Collection Browse through books recommended by Professor Pam Houston.

* Dissertations & Theses Take a look at the work of previous graduates in both programs.

* Faculty & Emeritus Publications Learn something about your advisor's work.

* General Books Roam the aisles or sit down in the library and enjoy a good book!

* Graduate Seminar Reserve Readings To supplement the books you bought for class.

* Journals Use our online catalogue to locate the source you need.

* Lannan Videos Need an interesting video clip for the class you're teaching?

* Professionalization Collection What is it we do with that degree?

Graduate Seminar Reserve Readings

* It is the general understanding in the department that graduate students may study seminar reserve readings in the O'Connor library or remove the materials briefly to photocopy them. Students are expected to return such materials immediately. If an instructor asks you to abide by a different policy for her class, please do so.

* The Graduate Seminar Reserve Readings are located in a set of files on the short bookcase immediately to your left as you enter the library. Only materials left in this area and designated by appropriate course labels qualify as reserve readings and may be used as such.

* In addition to seminar readings, students and instructors will find reference binders in the reserve reading area: look for the "English 1 Manual," the "Computer Classroom Guide" and the "English Graduate Program Preliminary Examination Reading Lists." These resources are strictly non-circulating and should not be removed from the library at any time.

for more information on the Graduate Student Reserve Readings, click here.

Using the Computer Catalogue

Yes! We do have a computer catalogue. To learn how to use it to its fullest capacity, click here.

Food & Window Policies

* Please keep the windows closed at all times and close the blinds when you leave the library. (If someone before you opened the blinds, don't hesitate to close the blinds on that person's behalf when you leave.)

* Please deposit your crumbs and food-related trash items elsewhere.

for an explanation of these policies, click here.

Computer Use Policies

* Please yield the computer chair to the librarian or a patron who needs to search the computer catalogue.

* If you are a library patron who needs to use the computer catalogue, please alert the librarian or any other computer user that you need access to the computer.

* Please note that the O'Connor library staff and the English Department are not responsible for the saving of any documents composed on or downloaded to the library computer. Documents unrelated to library business that are stored on the library computer may be deleted immediately and without warning.

for more information on these policies, click here.

Re-shelved Materials & Personal Items

* Books left lying about on the library desks and tables may be re-shelved immediately. If you have been working in the library with some volumes and have left to take a break, be sure to leave a note to the librarian explaining that you still wish to use the items you have taken off the shelves. Otherwise, you may find your sources back on the shelves when you return to the library.

* Please do not leave any personal items--especially books!--in the library. In the past, such items have been mistaken for improperly-marked library materials. The library staff and the English Department are not responsible for items left unsupervised in the library.

for more information on re-shelving policies, click here.

Possible Disturbances in the Library Environment

Because the entire William Van O'Connor Library exists in a single room, there may be some necessary library tasks--moving books, for example--that may create some noise and distraction for someone who has come to the library to study. In addition, some meetings pertaining to library maintenance will take place in the library. We apologize for these necessary interruptions to library peace and quiet and do our best to keep them to a minimum. Thank you for your tolerance and understanding!

Contributions

You may have a book or two you want to donate to the library, but, as a proverbially impoverished graduate student, your contributions are more likely to come in the form of suggestions for materials you'd like to see in the library. We welcome your ideas and will do our best to respond to them. Keep in mind that the library's budget is a limited one, so not all recommendations can be accommodated. For more information, please contact the graduate student librarian or drop a note in the library mailbox in the English Department mailroom.

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