FAQs

What are the library's hours?

Who can use the library?

What copy, printing, and fax services are available?

What else does the library offer?

How do I find a book at the library?

The catalog says this book or journal is at the Depository. What does that mean?

How do I search for journal articles on my subject?

Can you help me do my research?

How do I get a copy of a journal article?

Can all my Interlibrary Loan articles be sent to me electronically?

How long will it take to get a book or article through MERLIN, MOBIUS, or Interlibrary Loan?

Can I renew my books online?

I've forgotten my password/PIN. Can you help me?

Can I access the library's electronic resources from off campus?

Do you allow food in the library?

What are the library's hours?

The library is typically open from 8AM until midnight, seven days a week.  We usually offer extended hours the week before and during final exams, and we are closed on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday following Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.

Who can use the library?

The library welcomes everyone. 

All Missouri S&T students, faculty, and staff can check out materials and laptops, access our electronic resources, and use the computers on the ground floor and the second-floor CLC. 

Students from other University of Missouri campuses can use their student IDs to check out library materials as well.  Students from schools participating in the MOBIUS library alliance can check out library materials with their student IDs and, if there is no photo on the student ID, an additional picture ID.

Other visitors can apply for guest patron access that will allow them to check out books and other materials.

A cluster of computers on the ground floor are set aside for patrons who are not Missouri S&T affiliates. Use of these computers requires registration and acceptance of a usage policy. See the circulation desk to register and to request access.

What copy, printing, and fax services are available?

The library provides copy machines on each floor.  There is a coin-operated machine on the ground floor, and all other copiers require the use of a copy card or newer student IDs (those with two magnetic strips). Copy cards can be purchased and loaded from a vending machine on the ground floor.  Copies cost ten cents per page.

The library also offers poster and color printing in its multimedia center.  To see prices and schedule an appointment for poster printing, see the multimedia center page.

We also provide a fax service, charging $3 per 10 pages for sending and $1 for receiving documents within the U.S. and $6 per 10 pages sent to foreign countries.  See the administrative assistant or circulation desk to send or receive a fax.  The fax number is 573-341-4233.

What else does the library offer?

In addition to books and journals, the library allows the Missouri S&T community to check out laptops and a digital projector for use within the library. A digital video camera can be checked out for use in multimedia projects.

The library also provides meeting rooms that can be reserved for group study or presentations.  To reserve a room, contact the circulation desk or email lib-circ@mst.edu.

How do I find a book at the library?

You may find it helpful to click through to our illustrated tutorial on this subject.

You can search for books in the library catalog, which you can access by clicking on the Library Catalog link on the library's homepage.

Once you have loaded the catalog page, you can perform searches by keyword, author, title, or subject by adjusting the drop-down menu on the left of the search box. You can also create a more complex search query by clicking on the Advanced Search link.

Once you have clicked through to a page describing a specific book, you will find information on which floor in the library the book is shelved, the book's call number, and the availability of the book.

If the book you want is not available at Missouri S&T, you can check for its availability at any of the University of Missouri libraries. To do this, change the drop-down menu on the right side of the search box from Missouri S&T to ALL MERLIN.  If the book is available at another UM library, click the blue Request button at the top or bottom of the page and fill out a short form.  The book will be delivered to you at Missouri S&T within a few days.

If the book is not available at another UM library, you can search a large alliance of Missouri libraries. On the screen of MERLIN results, there will be a blue Search MOBIUS button. Click that and your search will be performed in a catalog containing the collections of libraries throughout the state from which you, as a Missouri S&T student, can borrow books from.  Books requested through MOBIUS will be delivered to the Missouri S&T library for you to pick up.

If the book you want can't be found in the MOBIUS libraries, you can try searching the catalogues of a very large number of libraries through a database called WorldCat. If you find your book in WorldCat, you can submit an interlibrary loan request directly from the WorldCat record. On the page for the book you want, there will be a Send Request to ILLIAD link.  Clicking that link and logging into (or, if you are a first-time user, setting up) your interlibrary loan account will automatically fill a request form for that book. Verify the information and click submit to begin the interlibrary loan process.

The catalog says this book or journal is at the Depository. What does that mean?

The Depository is an off-site storage facility for older, little-used books and journals.  To retrieve a book from the Depository, you can click on the blue Request button on the top or bottom of the catalog page and fill out a short form.  The book will be delivered to you at Missouri S&T within a few days.

How do I search for journal articles on my subject?

To find articles that have been written on a subject, you can search the electronic databases provided by the library.  To access the databases, go to the library homepage and click on Databases in the left-hand column.

Each database contains citations, and sometimes full text, for articles.  If you are not sure which database would be best for your search, you can go to the subject guides page and find which are recommended for your area of interest.

Once you have found citations for articles, you may still need to locate copies of the article. This FAQ provides some advice you may find helpful.

Can you help me do my research?

Yes! Reference librarians are here to help you develop your research skills and effectively use the services available through the library.  They are available in person at the reference desk from 8 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday and, during fall and spring semester, 6 PM-8:30 PM Sunday through Wednesday.  They are also available for live chat online from 8 AM-5 PM Monday through Friday. You can initiate a chat session using the large icon on the library homepage.

If you want to schedule an in-depth session with a librarian who has developed research tips specifically for your subject, you can schedule a Research Assistance Program (RAP) session online or in person.

Additionally, you can email the reference department at library@mst.edu or call at 341-4007.

How do I get a copy of a journal article?

You may find it helpful to click through to our illustrated tutorial on this subject.

Once you have found a citation for an article, your first step should be to search the library catalog and see if the journal is available in print or electronically at Missouri S&T.  To do this, go to the library catalog, set the search type to “Journal, Magazine, Newspaper Title�? using the drop-down menu on the left side of the search box, and type in the full name of the journal your article was printed in.  If we have the journal, you will be given a catalog record with a link to the electronic version or the call number of the print volume.

If we do not have local access to your journal, you can submit an interlibrary loan request by clicking the button on the left side of the library homepage.

Can all my interlibrary loan articles be sent to me electronically?

Unfortunately, no. The library that lends us the material decides what delivery method they want to use. If we receive the article electronically, we will send you an email telling you how to download a copy of the article. Most loaned articles are sent as PDFs, but we do occasionally receive print copies.

How long will it take to get a book or article through MERLIN, MOBIUS, or Interlibrary Loan?

The wait time for books through the three services can vary considerably.  MERLIN and MOBIUS books usually arrive in 3 to 5 days but can take longer.  Books and journal articles requested through Interlibrary Loan are not guaranteed to be fulfilled and can take up to several weeks to arrive.  It is best to request materials as soon as you think you might need them. 

Can I renew my books online?

Missouri S&T students, faculty, and staff are able to renew books online, but at this time we are unable to offer online renewal to guest patrons.  All renewal requests must be sent on or before the original due date. To renew books borrowed from Missouri S&T or a MERLIN or MOBIUS library, go to the library home page and hover over the Quick Library Links button in the left-hand column. From the options that emerge, select View Patron Record. After logging in with your Missouri S&T username and password, click on the blue Checked Out Items button.  Select the books you want to keep longer and click the blue Renew Selected button on the right side of the screen.

To renew a book borrowed through interlibrary loan, log in to your ILLIAD account and click the View/Renew Checked Out Items button. Please note that interlibrary loan renewal is not automatic and must be approved by the lending library.

I've forgotten my password/PIN. Can you help me?

Sure!  We are unable to retrieve lost passwords and PINs, but we can reset them and help you set up a new one. To reset your MERLIN/MOBIUS PIN, stop by the circulation desk or email lib-circ@mst.edu. For a new interlibrary loan password, visit the interlibrary loan desk or send an email to the Interlibrary Loan department at ill@mst.edu.

Can I access the library's electronic resources from off campus?

Yes! All of the databases, ebooks, and electronic journals are available through the library can be accessed from home. To use some of these resources from off campus, you will need to set up and activate a Missouri S&T VPN (Mac users click here). Many of the library's CD-ROM resources can be checked out for home use, but those held at the reference desk can be used only inside the library.

 Do you allow food in the library?

Yes! We want our patrons to feel comfortable while in the library, so we allow food and drinks.  You can even have a pizza delivered to the library.  We provide snack and soda machines on the lower level, and are in the planning stages for installation of a coffee shop on the first floor.