FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Get Started in the Kean University Library?
- How to Locate Specific Resources?
- How to Use the Kean University Library Off-Campus?
- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Kean University Library
How to Get Started in the Kean University Library?
What are the Kean University Library hours during the regular fall and spring academic terms?
What are the Kean University Library hours during summer session?
Who can I ask for immediate assistance with my library research?
How do I find a book if I am sitting at a reference area computer?
How do I find an article if I am sitting at a reference area computer?
Where can I check out circulating books?
Where can I get a Kean University Photo ID Card?
Where can I retrieve materials that my professor placed on reserve for use by my class?
Are there any study rooms and areas where groups can meet and talk in the library?
Where can I make copies and what is the cost?
Where can I view a video my professor assigned for class?
How to Locate Specific Resources?
How are books in the Kean University Library organized and shelved?
How can I tell from the Kean Catalog record where a book is physically located in the library?
If a book is listed in the Kean Catalog as Not Charged, is the book in the Kean University Library?
If a book is listed in the Kean Catalog as Charged, is the book in the Kean University Library?
If a book is listed in the Kean Catalog as Discharged, is the book in the Kean University Library?
What should I do if I see the Title has multiple holdings message?
How do I find the full-text article if a database provides only the citation and abstract (summary)?
Where can I locate print periodicals in the Kean University Library?
How can I tell the format and location of a specific periodical that I need?
How do I request an Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
How long can I keep an Interlibrary Loan book?
Does the Kean University Library have children's books?
Does the Kean University Library have special collections?
Where are the dictionaries or encyclopedias?
How to Use the Kean University Library Off-Campus
Can I access a librarian from off-campus or remotely?
Can I access a librarian by phone?
Can I search the Kean University Library catalog from home?
How do I access the library electronic databases off-campus?
My new barcode is not working, can you help me?
Does the Kean University Library have an online suggestion form?
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Kean University Library
Why is the Ethnic Studies Center named after Wynona Moore Lipman?
Will I find the Holocaust Resource Center in the Kean University Library?
How many books and volumes are in the Kean University Library?
What are the phone numbers for the Kean University Library?
How to Get Started in the Kean University Library?
What are the Kean University Library hours during the regular fall and spring academic terms?
Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
What are the Kean University Library hours during summer session?
Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
Friday - Sunday Closed
Who can I ask for immediate assistance with my library research?
You can ask a reference librarian. The reference librarians are available at the Reference Desk next to the reference area computers.
How do I access the Kean University Library Home Page located at http://library.kean.edu when I am in the library?
Simply, go to one of the reference area computers next to the reference librarians. Double-click on the World Wide Web desktop icon. The page will automatically open up to the Kean University Library Home Page.
How do I find a book if I am sitting at a reference area computer?
Double-click the World Wide Web desktop icon. The page will automatically open to the Kean University Library Home Page.
Click Kean Catalog to search for books on your topic of interest.
Select appropriate keywords, titles or authors.
If you need help navigating the Kean Catalog, check with the librarians at the Reference Desk for assistance.
How do I find an article if I am sitting at a reference area computer?
Double-click the World Wide Web desktop icon. The page will automatically open to the Kean University Library Home Page.
Click Databases to search for articles on your topic of interest.
Select appropriate database(s).
If you are unsure which databases to use, check with the librarians at the Reference Desk for assistance or use the Subject Guide to Databases. Print copies of the Subject Guide to Databases are located at the Reference Desk and at the reference area computers.
How can I check whether or not the Kean University Library owns a specific periodical (magazine, journal, newspaper)?
The Kean University Library has computerized its list of periodicals. Double-click the World Wide Web desktop icon. The page will automatically open to the Kean University Library Home Page.
- Click Periodicals.
- Click Kean's Periodicals.
- Enter the periodical title in the search box next to the drop-down menu beginning with Journal Title.
- Click Go.
If a Print copy is available, there will be at least one check mark in the Print Holdings column.
If you need more information about these print holdings, click the check mark. You will be linked to a Kean Catalog page with more detailed information about this periodical holding.
Where can I check out circulating books?
Circulating books are books that you can take home. Simply go to the first counter in the main library area adjacent to the front door. This is the Circulation Desk.
You will need your Kean University Photo ID Card with a library barcode to check out books.
How do I get a barcode?
Bring your Kean Photo ID Card to the Circulation Desk and ask for a barcode. The Circulation Desk is the first counter in the main library area adjacent to the front door.
Where can I get a Kean University Photo ID Card?
A Kean Photo ID Card can be obtained by going to the ID Card office located on the 3rd floor of the Administration Building. Call the ID Card office at (908) 737-3258 for hours of operation.
Where can I retrieve materials that my professor placed on reserve for use by my class?
Some reserve materials are available in electronic format. To access such electronic reserve materials, double-click the Internet Explorer desktop icon on a computer.
- Go to the Kean University Library Home Page, http://library.kean.edu.
- Click Kean Catalog.
- Click Course Reserve (above the search box labeled Find This:)
Click the drop-down menus next to the Instructor or Course categories. Electronic reserves are available for materials when the words Electronic Reserve or E-Items appear in parentheses next to an instructor or course name. Select the appropriate instructor or course name, then click Search.
Click the hyperlinked title(s) next to the words Linked Resources to access the material in PDF format. (The Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in is required to view the electronic document.)
Reserve materials not available in electronic format are kept at the Circulation Desk. The Circulation Desk is the first counter in the main library area adjacent to the front door.
You will need your Kean University Photo ID Card with a library barcode to access reserve materials kept at the Circulation Desk.
You must also know your instructor's name and course number to obtain reserve materials.
Print reserve materials can be used typically for 2 hours at a time in the Kean University Library. Fines will be assessed if you do not bring back the reserve items in the allotted time period.
Are there any study rooms and areas where groups can meet and talk in the library?
Yes, in fact, there are 6 study rooms on both the second and third floors of the library if you need a quiet place to study or need a private room to meet with your group. Take the main area stairs to either the second or third floor.
Go through the double doors and walk straight. You will see doors on the far left and far right walls.
Where can I make copies and what is the cost?
There are 4 copiers on the main floor of the library and one copier immediately up the stairs on the second floor. The cost is 5 cents per page.
Library copiers are maintained by a private vendor. Any questions concerning the maintenance and/or operation of the copiers may be addressed by calling (908) 737-5352.
Where can I word process, check my e-mail or just browse the Internet in the Kean University Library?
There is a Student Technology Lab located on the main floor of the library (L-133) where you can word process, check your e-mail and access the Internet. Hours are posted on the front door of the lab.
Can I go to a campus Student Technology Lab and access the same information and online resources that I can when I am using a library reference area computer?
Yes. If you are using an on-campus lab computer, double-click the Internet Explorer desktop icon. Go to the Kean University Library Home Page, http://library.kean.edu and proceed.
Where can I view a video my professor assigned for class?
In the library, videos can be viewed in the Multimedia Center, room L-154. Phone (908) 737-4634 to set up a viewing appointment.
Where are the rest rooms?
The rest rooms are on the main floor of the library. Go through the double doors by the Circulation Desk, then go down the hall and bear left. Rest rooms are also located on the second and third floors of the library on the far left-hand side.
How to Locate Specific Resources?
How are books in the Kean University Library organized and shelved?
Each book in the Kean University Library has been assigned a unique call number (Library of Congress call number) according to its subject focus. A call number begins with one or two letters, followed by a series of numbers. A call number sticker is affixed to the spine of each book, and books are shelved in alphanumeric order according to their call numbers. This means that you will find books about the same subject near each other on the bookshelves. The number portion of the call number should be read as a whole number. This means that the call number ML 420 .S529 D97 will come before the call number ML1727.2 P88 on the book shelf. Click here for more information.
How can I tell from the Kean Catalog record where a book is physically located in the library?
If the Kean Catalog record for a book indicates that its Location is the Reference Collection, this means that you should be able to find the book in the Reference Collection in the back right-hand corner on the main floor of the library. If the Kean Catalog record for a book indicates that its Location is the Main Collection, this means that the book circulates (it may be checked out of the Library) and that you should be able to find the book upstairs on either the second or third floor depending upon the book's call number. Main Collection books are organized as follows:
A through HD call numbers are shelved on the 2nd floor.
HD through Z call numbers are shelved on the 3rd floor.
Click here for more information.
Please note: The Kean Catalog also contains book records that include the information Location: Main Collection - Juvenile, 3rd floor. Books from the Juvenile Collection have Kean Catalog records like this. Juvenile Collection books are shelved according to the Dewey Decimal system in the far right-hand corner of the third floor.
If a book is listed in the Kean Catalog as Not Charged, is the book in the Kean University Library?
Yes. The message Not Charged means the item is available and is not charged or checked out to anyone's account. You should be able to find the book by looking for the book's call number in the library location indicated in the book's catalog record.
If a book is listed in the Kean Catalog as Charged, is the book in the Kean University Library?
No. The book is not available. The message Charged means the item is checked out to another library patron.
If a book is listed in the Kean Catalog as Discharged, is the book in the Kean University Library?
Yes. The message Discharged means the item has recently been returned to the library and is available.
What should I do if I see the Title has multiple holdings message?
This message means that the library has more than one copy of the item. Click the specific title for details about where the copies are located.
What is a periodical?
Periodicals are publications--like newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals--that are published periodically. The Kean University Library holds periodicals in several formats. Many online periodicals are available, and you can access many of their full-text articles through the library databases. Online full-text journals may be accessed by using any computer located on campus. However, the library also has periodicals in print and microform formats that can only be used by coming to the library.
How do I find the full-text article if a database provides only the citation and abstract (summary)?
You can check the Kean University Library's periodicals holdings list to see if the library owns the journal in which the article was published. Go to http://library.kean.edu.
Select Perodicals.
Click Kean's Periodicals.
You may browse the alphabetical list of journals, or you may type the journal's title into the search box and click Go.
If a journal's title is found on the list, look to see if check marks appear to the right of the journal title. A check mark under the Print Holdings heading indicates that the journal is held in print (and possibly microform) form at in the library.
Click the check mark below the Print Holdings heading in order to access the journal's online catalog record. A check mark under the Full Text Access heading means that full-text articles from that journal are available from the database (listed in blue below the journal title) for the date range specified.
Where can I locate print periodicals in the Kean University Library?
Print periodicals are located in several different places in the Kean University Library. The most recent newspapers are stored on the first floor on the tall bookshelves by the windows behind the Reference Desk, while the current issues of magazines and scholarly journals are on display on the short bookshelves on the first floor of the library. Many older issues of magazines and journals are stored in bound volumes in the stacks (bookshelves) on the right-hand side of the second floor.
Print periodicals are always stored in alphabetical order by title.
How can I tell the format and location of a specific periodical that I need?
Go to http://library.kean.edu.
Select Periodicals.
Click Kean's Periodicals.
You may browse the alphabetical list of journals for the title you need, or you may type the journal's title into the search box and click Go.
If a journal's title is found on the list, look to see if any check marks appear to the right of the journal title. A check mark under the Print Holdings heading indicates that the journal is held in print (and possibly microform) format in the library.
Click the check mark below the Print Holdings heading in order to access the journal's online catalog record, which will indicate whether the periodical is held in print or microform format for certain date ranges. A check mark under the Full Text Access heading means that full-text articles from that journal are available from the database specified in blue just below the journal title.
Be sure to check the periodicals list for the date range specified below the Online Coverage heading. This means that articles published within the date range should be available in full-text format from the databases specified.
If you would like to use microfilm or microfiche, please go to the Reference Desk and ask the librarians for help.
How do I request an Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
Go to the Kean University Library Home Page, http://library.kean.edu.
Click Interlibrary Loan Request on the left-hand side of the screen.
Select either the student or faculty form.
Fill out the ILL Request Form.
Click Submit this Form.
You will be notified when the material arrives. Journal articles are mailed to the address you listed on the ILL Request Form and books can be picked up at the Circulation Desk.
How long can I keep an Interlibrary Loan book?
The lending period varies. The time period is determined by the lending library.
If the Kean University Library does not have the journal article I need, what are my options?
You can request an Interlibrary Loan. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for the article to arrive.
A second option is going to the New Jersey Union List of Serials, http://www.njuls.org and locating another library in New Jersey that subscribes to the journal.
A third option is simply to purchase the article from Infotrieve. The link is available on the Kean University Library Home Page, http://library.kean.edu. Click Databases. Click Document Delivery. Click Infotrieve. Click Doc Source and follow the instructions for article purchase.
Does the Kean University Library have children's books?
Yes. The children's books are kept in the Juvenile Collection in the far right-hand corner of the third floor. The Juvenile Collection includes picture books, easy books, biography, series, fiction, and non-fiction for preschool to grade 12. This collection is shelved according to the Dewey Decimal system.
Does the Kean University Library have special collections ?
Yes. Special Collections-New Jersey is located on the second floor in room L-213. The New Jersey Collection houses rare printed materials about New Jersey, with a focus on the history of the University's immediate vicinity. Please call 908-737-4618 for information.
Where are the dictionaries or encyclopedias?
Many dictionaries and encyclopedias are located in the Reference Collection in the back right-hand corner on the main floor of the library.
I attended Kean University in the past, and now I need the description of a class I took. Where can I get a course description?
Go to http://library.kean.edu
Click Forms
Click Course Description Request Form.
Fill out the form, and click Submit.
How to Use the Kean University Library Off-Campus
Can I access a librarian from off-campus or remotely?
Yes. Go to http://library.kean.edu
Click Ask a Reference Librarian to access the online information query form.
Service is available for currently enrolled students and presently employed employees. Answers are usually received within 48 hours excluding weekends, holidays and between semesters.
Can I access a librarian by phone?
Yes. Call a reference librarian at 908-737-4618. During the Fall and Spring semesters, telephone reference service is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Can I search the Kean University Library catalog from home?
Yes. Go to http://library.kean.edu.
Click Kean Catalog and proceed.
How do I access the library electronic databases off-campus?
Go to http://library.kean.edu.
Click Databases.
Input your barcode, located on the back of your Kean University Photo ID Card, in the box at the top of the page and press enter. You will have access to most of the databases listed on the page. You must perform this step first before going to any database. A password and user I.D. is not required once you enter your barcode.
My new barcode is not working, can you help me?
New barcodes may take several days for remote activation. You can use a new barcode immediately to check out books in the library.
Can I renew my books online?
Yes. Go to the Kean University Library Home Page, http://library.kean.edu.
Click Kean Catalog.
Click Patron.
Enter your Patron Barcode (located on the back of your Kean University Photo ID) and Last Name, and press the OK button. On the next screen you will see the list of items you have checked out. Follow the instructions on the screen to renew your books. You must perform this step 2-3 days before the due date.
Note: You cannot renew online, on or after your due date.
Does the Kean University Library have an online suggestion form?
Yes. Go to the Kean University Library Home Page, http://library.kean.edu.
Click Library Suggestion and proceed.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Kean University Library
Who was Nancy Thompson?
The Kean University Library is named after Nancy Thompson, the first librarian at Kean University's predecessor school, which was named the Normal School between the years 1914 to 1947. Ms. Thompson's expertise was in children's literature and children's books. She is noted for networking with other area libraries to provide her students with the best resources on their topics of interest and also noted as a budgeting wizard because she was allotted a meager sum of money for books and resources during that period of time.
Why is the Ethnic Studies Center named after Wynona Moore Lipman?
Senator Wynona Moore Lipman (1923-1999) was a pioneer among women in New Jersey politics. Senator Lipman was known for her public service and philanthropic efforts. The Lipman Center is also the first academic facility at Kean University named after an African American. The Wynona Moore Lipman Ethnic Studies Center is located on the second floor of the Kean University Library.
Will I find the Holocaust Resource Center in the Kean University Library?
Yes. The Holocaust Resource Center is located on the second floor of the library. The Center's goal is to make available important information and educate the university community about the Holocaust and Prejudice Reduction. For more information, phone (908) 737-4660 or visit the center's website, http://www.kean.edu/~hrc.
How many books and volumes are in the Kean University Library?
The Kean University Library is a comprehensive learning center holding more than 275,000 volumes, including bound periodicals, as well as some 27,500 print and electronic periodicals. Endeavor's Voyager online catalog and a growing array of online databases may be accessed via the Internet at http://library.kean.edu.
What are the phone numbers for the Kean University Library?
Circulation 908-737-4629
Holocaust Resource Center 908-737-4660
Library Information 908-737-4618
Multimedia Center 908-737-4634
Special Collections-New Jersey 908-737-4618
If you have any questions about this FAQ, please contact Ms. Caroline Geck at cgeck@kean.edu.
Copyright © 2007, Kean University Library.
This FAQ was compiled by Librarians: Linda Cifelli, Caroline Geck and Chrisler Pitts. Last updated March 30, 2007.