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Using the University Libraries Catalog and Interlibrary Loan for Research

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The law library of Penn State Dickinson Law is part of a state-wide network of Penn State University libraries referred to as “Libraries  Catalog” which offers the students, faculty, and staff of Penn State access to a vast collection of world-class academic print and non-print resources.

The law library contains a collection focused on legal materials to support the law school’s curriculum and research. Despite the excellent sources here, there may not be the all the materials on site to support your research.

If the book is checked out or otherwise unavailable, place a “hold” on the book in the library catalog by clicking “I Want It” on the entry.  This action places a hold (reserve) on the item and when it is retrieved from that location, it will be sent to Dickinson Law.

Through email, you will be notified when the item is available whether the book is from our collection or from another Penn State campus.

 

For books or articles unavailable in the University Libraries system, try interlibrary loan for your request.  You must set up your own interlibrary loan account to request print loans, media, and documents. After it is created, you can track your requests, see what you have borrowed and in short, manage your own ILL account.

The supplied link in the book entry takes you to an online form and will populate the information necessary to request your book.

Selected articles, book chapters and other documents are requested from your account by choosing submit a new request.

For finding more obscure research materials, go to the ILL page and use a search tool recommended called WorldCat. This database searches the holdings of libraries worldwide. Click on the “Get It ” button in the entry and it will furnish the information for the form. Or fill it out manually from your ILL account.

Because these research materials are not part of Penn State University Libraries, it may take one to two weeks for loans. For documents such as articles, book chapters, etc., delivery will take 24 to 48 hours to reach your email.

You will receive an email when your interlibrary loan book is in the Law Library  waiting to be checked out. For documents, the notification will appear in your email with “Item requested ready for download” in the subject line.

If you have questions, our Law Library Faculty as well as circulation service desk staff are available to assist you in the library.

Borrowing Print Resources

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The library of Penn State Dickinson Law is part of a state-wide network of Penn State libraries referred to as “University Libraries” which offers the students, faculty, and staff of Penn State access to a vast collection of world-class academic print resources.

The law library contains a collection focused on legal materials to support the law school’s curriculum. The main floor contains the reference collection as well as print course reserves which are shelved behind the circulation desk and can be checked for 2 hours. This short check-out period ensures that many people have access to the highly sought-after resources. The main floor also includes a display of items published by faculty, the new book collection and the new browsing collection of popular titles on wellness and current events. The second floor of the library contains the Pennsylvania collection as well as Pennsylvania and United States statutes and regulations as well as some print journals.

The lower level of the library houses the bulk of our treatise collection. In the library catalog, the location for these books is Dickinson Law (Carlisle) – Lower level. We keep these materials on the lower level because so many books requires the solid concrete foundation of the lower level to support the weight of the collection. And, we need to keep the books on moveable shelving to maximize the number of books we can keep in this space. You may retrieve your books by locating the correct aisle using the call numbers listed on the stack ends – just press the arrow and all of the stacks will move to open the aisle you need. Or, you may ask for assistance at the circulation desk.

If the book is not on the shelf, place a hold on the book in the library catalog by clicking “I Want It” on the record. You will be notified when the item is available whether the book is from our collection or from another Penn State campus.

When I Want It cannot supply the resource from a Penn State library, print resources may be obtained through other lending resources databases like PALCI E-ZBorrow, Uborrow  and OCLCWorldcat, found on the Inter-Library loan services page where you will find information on creating an ILL account and how to manage your account as well as ILL FAQs to expedite your borrowing experience.

  • The PALCI E-ZBorrow database is a regional source for borrowers with 60 academic library catalogs available in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia.
  • Uborrow searches the catalogs of the Big Ten’ libraries such as Ohio State, Michigan State, and the University of Chicago at the same time.
  • WorldCat searches libraries world-wide for materials for researchers.

If you need assistance finding materials or if it is difficult for you to come to the library to pick up your items, please contact the library at DickinsonLawLib@psu.edu.

Returning library materials and summer services

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Are your finished using library materials for exams? Before the end of exams and summer work begins, locate those research materials. The close of the academic year is a great time to return borrowed library materials.

Anything you borrowed through “I Want It” or Interlibrary Loan, can be returned at the Dickinson Law Library. Returning the materials you borrowed will ensure you do not incur library fees for overdue items. Check your borrower’s account to see what you have checked out.  For returning items inside the library, please place all borrowed items on this cart.

How may I return them when the building is closed? Is there another contactless procedure to use if my current residence is  Carlisle?

The Law Library’s outdoor book return receptacle located at the South Street entrance to building.  Any materials borrowed may be returned there.

My current residence is closer to another Penn State campus, may materials be returned there?

Yes, the materials you borrowed may be returned to any Penn State location. For in-person returns at another campus, check that particular Penn State library for the hours of operation. If you prefer contactless returns to another campus, borrowers should use Ask a Librarian for the process. Most campus libraries have a book return slot or receptacle for library materials.

If items are returned at another campus, we will follow COVID safety protocols and your returns will be quarantined for five days before they are removed from your library account.

What should I do if none  of these options work for me?  

Use the DickinsonLawLib@psu.edu email to ask for alternatives for returning materials.

What are the law library hours during the summer?

Through the summer, the circulation desk will be staffed and provide normal services Monday through Friday 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. Remember to use your ID to gain access to the building and the library.

How do I request items for my research during the summer?

Follow the same process for borrowing materials by using “I want it” or Interlibrary loan. After you receive a notification, the materials may be checked out at the service desk. Check out and curbside pick up can be arranged during business hours if desired.

If you live close to another Penn State campus, use “I want it” to request an item. Choose that campus as the pick-up location when you place your hold in the library catalog.

Use Ask a Librarian or that website to confirm that campus library’s hours of operation before you arrive to pick up your items.

For other methods of returning and borrowing materials, use the  Dickinsonlawlib@psu.edu mailbox for questions. Throughout the summer, the Law library faculty and staff are available to assist you with borrowing needs.

 

Winter Break Ideas

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Fall semester exams are over and those seminar papers have been submitted! Now is the time to relax and recharge before the spring semester begins in January.  The Law Library has some interesting ideas for you to de-stress during winter break.

Between semesters may be a good time to do some leisure reading. Take time to read a novel or one of the many titles included on the library’s guide for Mindfulness & Well-Being. Reading these books now may be helpful for handling the stress during next semester’s classes. This selection of books is on the reserve behind the circulation desk.

If you are continuing to prepare for law school and beyond, there are also titles selected as suggested reading for law school. These books have been recommended by our law school faculty and are on reserve at the circulation desk.  The topics of these materials cover a variety of subjects from making law review, leadership as a lawyer, success in law school and preparing for the bar. By using the LibGuide, check out the book to borrow that piques your interest.

We also have a collection of popular fictional authors on the lower level of the library.  Authors such as John Grisham, Susan Howatch, Scott Turow and recent Dickinson Law graduate, Tom Bouman.  Check the catalog under the author’s name or the book title. You can find these books in the stacks on the lower level.

The Law Library’s collection of DVDs is located in the reference section on the main floor of the library. There are some popular movies as well as documentaries available to borrow. You may also request a DVD through The CAT.

Searching by any popular title, The CAT will list the libraries that own that title.  Place a hold on the DVD and choose the nearest Penn State library as the pick up location.  Please  be aware that other Penn State campuses will be closed for break as well as our campus. Keep in mind that DVDs and books may be renewed through your library account. You may also return your materials to the closest Penn State campus for delivery to Carlisle.

To encourage relaxation through reading, the Law Library faculty and staff have free novels available on a cart in the library beginning Monday, December 16th.  Take a book with you to read over break. There is no need to return it to the cart.  You may also add your own book for someone else to enjoy!

Placing Holds on Library Materials

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As part of the larger Penn State University community, Dickinson Law offers students, faculty, and staff access to first-rate academic resources. Through conventional searching for your topic, there are thousands of print materials available to use, as well as electronic books, online databases, and other Penn State collections.

In searching for materials, use author, title or subject in the CAT. You may wonder, is this resource available in our library or at another another Penn State campus? Once you’ve found a book, note its location availability.

To borrow the item from another campus, click the I Want It button located on the entry and follow the instructions for placing a hold, reserving the item for your use with your borrower’s account. The materials placed on hold from other libraries should arrive here in a few days. When the item is received, it is discharged. At that time, you will receive an email indicating that it is here and ready for you to check out. Please remember to bring your identification card to check out materials.

It is possible to place a hold on a book from our law library as well – just use the I Want It button again. The library staff will receive notification that it is requested and will pull the book from our shelves. Follow the instructions for placing the hold using Dickinson Law (Carlisle) as the pick up location.

Infrequently you may receive a “Hold(s) failed” message after you click I Want It. The most common reason is that there aren’t any copies available for lending. This could be the case with a very popular item. You can still borrow that title by simply placing an inter-library loan request for it.

Your hold(s) on the item(s) will last several weeks as indicated by the Not Needed After date displayed when you place it. If you receive a message saying your hold has expired, it may be that the item is missing, or that particular book has been requested by an Instructor for course reserves and is unavailable. You can still request the book through inter-library loan.

If you receive a “recall notice” for items you have checked out, it means University Libraries has recalled the item to allow another borrower to use the materials. You have 10 days from the date you receive the recall notice to return the item. If you are not finished using it, place another hold on it or request it through inter-library loan.

This helpful link from University Libraries lists procedures for borrowing, loan period for items, renewing, and placing inter-library loan requests. Please remember to return the resources you borrow to the library by the date they are due. The library staff will check in the items and shelve them or send them back to the lending libraries.

End of Fall Semester

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The fall semester is drawing to a close but the Law Library continues to be buzzing. The atmosphere is bustling with students finishing papers and assignments. Exam preparations are underway! As the push to finish outlines and studying begins, we offer a few suggestions for the final weeks of the fall semester.

When preparing for exams, planning collaborative studying with classmates need not be challenging by using the three group study rooms available. They are reserved for 2 hour blocks of time. Please remember to reserve them ahead of the time before your group meets for your study session.

If you aren’t familiar with it, Mersive Solstice equipment is available for wireless content sharing in study rooms 202, 203, and 209. This display allows you to share content from laptops or other devices through the wireless connection or via the keyboard and mouse that are supplied in the study room. There are instructions for using Solstice affixed to the wall in each of the rooms.

We ask that you be mindful of others who may wish to use these rooms for collaborative studying and not monopolize them.

The Law Library offers other areas for individual quiet studying with rooms 207 and 208. These are smaller rooms suited for an individual or small group. On the lower level of the library there are carrels and soft seating for reading.

The close of the semester is a good time to consider returning those research materials borrowed through “I Want It” or Interlibrary Loan that you no longer need. Please return these items to the circulation desk and the library staff will check them in.

Course reserve materials will also be available through the end of the semester. Print reserves are shelved behind the circulation desk if you need to borrow a particular book before exams begin. Please note that print reserves circulate for 2 hours.

Online articles and chapters are accessible in electronic format through the University Libraries website.

If you have questions or need assistance, please ask the Law Library Faculty and Staff.

Using The CAT and LionSearch

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The online catalog to access resources in Penn State University Libraries’ collections is The CAT.  It lists materials from each of the Penn State campuses as well as those specialized libraries at University Park.  All formats (books, journals, audiovisuals, maps, recordings, etc.) are included.

Click on Search The CAT and use the browse function to search by title or by author (last name first). Use the keyword function to search by topic using significant words in a title.

When you find the right entry, you will notice it lists the locations of the books under your search.  Jot down the call number and location for the book you need.  If the item is not at our campus (Dickinson School of Law – Carlisle), use the “I Want It” button to request it.  A hold for you will be placed on this book which essentially reserves the item for you from that library. Library staff at that location will pull it from their collection and deliver it to our library. You will receive a notice when it has been received here in Carlisle.

For electronic books found in The CAT, click the link under the words “online content” to access the full text. The online content can also direct you to electronic databases for periodicals and articles such as HeinOnline.

You can also use LionSearch, which is an integrated search of books, e-books, research articles, newspaper articles, and other publications.  You may begin your search by selecting Book / eBook under the content type limits located on the left-side menu. To broaden your search further to include articles and other media, change the content type selection. There are other research tools to use when conducting your research; Try These First is a great place to begin.

Video tutorials are also available for both The CAT and LionSearch.  If you are stumped, don’t forget to ask one of our Law Library Faculty. All of the Law Librarians’ offices are located in the library.

Using The CAT And Inter-Library Loan Services To Further Your Research

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The Law Library webpage is a good starting point to access resources found in The CAT and other student research avenues.

To fulfill your research needs, it is simple to locate materials through The CAT, which is the conventional library catalog used by all University Libraries. You will see print, non-print resources, maps, e-books, and links available to you as a Penn State student. After finding the title or subject in The CAT, this entry shows the holdings of our library under Dickinson School of Law – Carlisle.

If there is a relevant title listed in The CAT that Dickinson Law does not own, it is simple to put a hold or reserve on that title and have it sent to our law library. Go to the “I want it button” in the entry, click it and choose Dickinson Law-Carlisle as your pick-up location. For example:

A Hold Will Be Placed For You

Title: To kill a mockingbird / Harper Lee. Author: Lee, Harper.

  • Pick the expiration date  (e.g. MM/DD/YYYY)  The date you enter is the date that the system will stop trying to obtain the item for you. It is not a guaranteed delivery date.
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Another Penn State library will receive this notification and send the book to our library. You will receive an email when it arrives to be checked out.

For materials unavailable in the University Libraries system, please use Inter-library loan for your request, whether it is a book or a document which can be delivered to your email.  You must have an Inter-library loan account to request print loans and documents.

While searching The CAT and not finding the resource you want, click Worldcat on the right side of the list of titles.  Choose the title you are interested in seeing; at the bottom of that record choose “request the item through Inter-library loan“. This link will go to an online form and will automatically populate the form with the information necessary to request your book.  Expect your ILL loan request to take several days to be processed because the lending library is not part of Penn State University Libraries.  For documents such as articles, book chapters, etc., assume delivery via email will take several days. You will receive an email when your Inter-library loan book is waiting to be picked up.

If you have questions, our Law Library Faculty as well as Access Services staff are available to assist you in the library.

 

 

The Library … For More Than Just Research

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Popular DVDs! Audio recordings! These are items you may borrow from University Libraries besides research materials for a paper … and they are free! This includes the latest fiction books and the latest movies released on DVD. Our own Law Library also has the ABA list of top 25 legal movies to borrow as well as our own DVD collection.

It is easy to borrow DVDs and CDs by using The CAT. Simply type in the title of a movie and look for video recordings with the entries.  Newly released and classic movies can be located by the title of the movie. 

Are you driving a long distance for a job interview or to go home? Why not borrow an audio recording for the drive. There are numerous popular books available on CD.  Stephen King’s Carrie or author John Le Carre’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. 

Click on the “I Want It” button on the left side and choose Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle as your pick-up location. When your selection arrives, you will be notified through email.

The Law library has these movies on DVD: Loving, The Founder, and My Cousin Vinny, as well as others.  A few audio titles in The CAT are Squirrel seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris and Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose.

 

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