Welcome to the Rensselaer Libraries! The
librarians and library staff are here to help you with your
research needs. We hope this guide will provide a useful
starting point for access to library information and
services.
Hours of Service
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Library hours are
posted on a semester basis. Exceptions to the normal
schedule are always listed. In order to facilitate research
opportunities, Folsom Library is frequently open during
university holidays and vacation breaks. Be sure to check
the posted hours, or
contact the Circulation Desk (518-276-8310), before coming
to the library during these times.
Borrowing Library Materials
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If you have questions about borrowing library materials,
check our borrowing policies
page. It will explain how many items you may check out and
for how long, as well as provide other information on using
library materials.
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You can review your own
library record online to see how many books you have
borrowed and the due dates. You will first need your Library PIN and your
RIN for authentication purposes.
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You may also borrow books from other area libraries.
Read about the Capital District
Library Council Direct Access program, and then stop at
the Circulation Desk to get your CDLC DAP card.
Distance Education and Other Remote Users
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If you are a distance education student, an intern, or
on co-op, you may want to check our services for remote users.
Individual and Group Study Rooms
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Folsom Library has a limited number of individual study rooms
available for graduate students to use during periods of
library-based research. Please read the policies and
conditions carefully before applying at the Circulation
Desk.
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The Library also has a number of group study rooms
for use by small groups that are available on a daily
first-come, first-assigned basis.
Scanning & Photocopy Services
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The Libraries offer photocopy services
for both print and microform materials. Photocopy machines
accept coins and bills, but there is no charge for printing
microforms and use of public scanners is also free.
Researchers may also submit requests via the interlibrary
loan system to have library staff retrieve and copy journal
articles.
Class Reserves
Dissertation Information
- To search for dissertations online, use
Dissertation Abstracts database via FirstSearch.
- Rensselaer doctoral dissertations completed since
September, 2006 and master theses completed since September
2007 are available in PDF format to the Rensselaer community.
Abstracts of both dissertations and master theses may viewed
by anyone via either the Library Catalog or the Rensselaer Digital
Collections database. You may also search, preview and
download selected Rensselaer theses and dissertations
published since 1996 and earlier at the
Current Research @ site.
- For more information on access to theses and
dissertations, from Rensselaer and elsewhere, click here.
Access to Research Databases and E-journals From
Off-campus
Connect NY
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Connect NY is a
combined catalog of cooperating New York State academic
libraries that allows Rensselaer users to borrow materials
from the other Connect NY libraries if the Libraries do not
own the books or if our copies is already checked-out or
otherwise unavailable. To request a book from another
ConnectNY library, you will need your RIN and Library PIN.
Expect delivery within 2-4 business days. Online Guide: Connect NY
FAQ
Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad)
- Our Interlibrary Loan Unit will try to obtain published
materials which are not part of Rensselaer Libraries'
collections and not available through Connect NY or the
document delivery services explained above. All requests must
be submitted via the Research Libraries'
ILLiad system.
Subject Librarians
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Each academic school or department has a librarian or
bibliographer with subject expertise to assist you in your
research. These Subject Librarians
are available to meet with you to discuss your research, to
update you on new library resources, and to notify you of
new library materials. Please feel free to contact these
librarians with your research or instruction needs.
Survival Skills
Survival Skills for Graduate Students : (requires Flash
plug-in) "Part of "The Perspectives in Neuroscience Course" at
the University of Western Ontario. In these sessions, examples
are taken primarily from the field of neuroscience. However,
the advice applies to graduate students in most science-related
graduate programs. The six sessions cover:
- giving talks
- attending scientific meetings (including making posters
and slide)
- writing papers (and a thesis)
- acquiring research skills
- applying for scholarships and grants
- planning and applying for a job"
Graduate
Student Resources on the Web, from the University of
Michigan. "Welcome to the Graduate Student Resource Page! This
page was designed as a resource for current and future grad
students. If you're thinking about applying to, attending,
finishing, (or quitting) grad school, you may find something of
interest here."
For more information or help...
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For more general information about Rensselaer Libraries,
go to the Library Survival
Guide.
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To ask a question about the library or its resources,
please contact us.
