How Do I...?

...access electronic resources from off-campus?

A proxy server has been set up to provide Augie students, faculty, and staff access to the library's electronic resources from off campus. A special username and password is needed for access. The username is your library barcode which can be found on your Augie ID. For the current password, please contact the library (274-4921 or ref@augie.edu). A list of available resources can be found from the library web page, Databases A-Z and Reference Tools A-Z

If you are having problems connecting to the proxy server or have questions about the resources, please contact a librarian at 274-4921 or ref@augie.edu

...find magazines/journals in the library?

To determine if the library has a particular title in print/microfilm, consult the Red Book (A-I), (J- ), & (M-Z). Or, you can search for the title of the journal (not the article -- just the journal) in the library catalog. The periodicals (newspapers, magazines, journals, & microfilm) are shelved alphabetically and are located on the main level of the library (map).

The library now has a service, EBSCO A-Z, to identify the full-text journals, magazines, newspapers, and reference sources available in Augustana's many electronic databases. The index includes the date range and a link to the database for each full-text title. Contact Lisa Brunick (4921) if you have questions.

...find scholarly articles?

Scholarly publications are often called refereed or peer reviewed journals. These publications have strict guidelines that authors must meet to have their work published. A publication is considered scholarly if it:

• is written by an expert in the field
• utilizes language specific to the field of study
• is geared to a specific audience such as other experts/scholars and students in the field
• includes author credentials
• contains references or a bibliography of the author's research

Popular publications, on the other hand, are geared to a general audience. The articles are general in nature and are usually brief. The author's credentials and research references are typically not included with the article.

If you are unsure which databases will be most useful for your topic, check out the Research by Subject area of the library's web site. If you use a database that is specific to your subject, you will be more likely to find scholarly articles. Many of our databases offer to limit to scholarly/refereed/peer-reviewed publications. This limit is very useful, but is no replacement for your evaluation of the information.

If you have a question about a journal or magazine, please ask a librarian!

...request an article that the library does not own?

If you are a student or staff member of Augustana, you may request an interlibrary loan in person or via an electronic ILL form. The Mikkelsen Library has several excellent borrowing and lending networks with whom we work in South Dakota, around the Midwest, and across the country. Call 274-4921 with questions.

...find an item in the library's collections?

All of the books, journals, videos, government publications, etc. are listed in the library catalog. The catalog will give you the area and call number that are assigned to the item, as well as indicate whether the item is available to be checked out. Consult the map of the library if you need help finding a specific area of the library. If the item is currently unavailable, you can place a hold on it by clicking the "Place Hold" button. Your barcode is on your Augie I.D. (begins with 21588....) and your last name is your password.

...check out an item from the library?

If you are an Augie student or staff member, your Augie ID is also your library card. The Mikkelsen Library honors library cards from other Sioux Falls Libraries: Siouxland Libraries (public), University of Sioux Falls, North American Baptist Seminary, Southeast Technical, Wegner Health Sciences, and Avera McKennan Hospital. Members of Augustana Library Associates may also receive a borrower's card for materials in the Mikkelsen Library.

...renew an item?

To see what you have checked out, and to renew, go to My Account/Renew. Your barcode is on the your Augie ID and your last name is your password. We will also renew items over the phone. Please call 274-4921 during regular library hours.

...view my account?

To see what you have checked out, and to renew, go to My Account/Renew. Your barcode is on the your Augie ID and your last name is your password. We will also renew items over the phone. Please call 274-4921 during regular library hours.

...find book reviews?

Add the term "book review" to your search in Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost) or Master FILE Premier (EBSCOhost) to find book reviews for books published since the mid-1980's. Another source for book reviews for books published since 1980 is the Arts & Sports section under News in Lexis-Nexis Academic or ProQuest using More Search Options -->Article Type --> Book Reviews. For books published prior to 1980, check Book Review Index or Book Review Digest in the Index Area (adjacent to the microfilm) of the library. If your book is quite scholarly, there may be a book review in JSTOR.

...find information on an author?

Search your author's name in Contemporary Authors or Dictionary of Literary Biography online in InfoTrac or GaleNet. If those sources come up dry, see if some of the other biographical sources look like a likely spot for a biography of your author. If you still can't find anything, there are several sets of reference books that feature critical and biographical information for thousands of authors. Ask a reference librarian for assistance in locating Contemporary Literary Criticism, Dictionary of Literary Biography, Nineteenth Century Literary Biography, or Something About the Author. Other reference books in the library that may be helpful: the Author Biographies Master Index (Ref. PN 452 .A8 1989) or the Historical Biographical Dictionaries Master Index (Ref. CT 215 .H57).