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QUICK GUIDE TO THE THURGOOD MARSHALL LIBRARY

EATING, DRINKING, CELLULAR PHONES AND SMOKING ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE LIBRARY.

 Library Hours:
If you need help, please call: Phone: 301-860-3850 .  After 5:00 p.m. & weekends     301-860-3870

Hours vary during holidays & interim semester periods. See library website for current hours.

Other USM libraries

The Thurgood Marshall Library is one of the sixteen libraries within the University System of Maryland. BSU students have direct borrowing privileges at the other USM libraries. Circulating materials can be checked out with a BowieCard and proof of current registration. 

Using Library Services

Study Areas
The library has 19 private study rooms, three areas for group study and seating for 420. Study rooms must be reserved at the main floor circulation desk.

Interlibrary Loan - ILL     301-860-3872 
ILL is a service that students, faculty and staff can use to request materials not owned by the Thurgood Marshall Library.Forms are available on the ILL web page or you can submit a request via Research Port.

Before placing an ILL request for a book, use USMAI catalog http://catalog.umd.edu to find out if the book is owned by another USM library. If it is, use hold/recall to have the book sent to the USM library of your choice.

If USM does not own the book, an ILL request may be placed.  Before placing an ILL request for a journal article, check to see if the Thurgood Marshall Library owns that issue.  If we do not own it, then an ILL request may be placed. Check your citation for accuracy - your request cannot be fulfilled without all the correct information.

Printers are located on the first floor of the library. Copiers accept BowieCards, coins and bills. Microform printers take only dimes. Copies are $.10. Printing from the public access computers is limited to your OIT account allowance (about 10 pages per day.)  Change is not available in the library.

Library Collections & Services

Circulating Collection
Circulating books are shelved by call number on the second floor and may be borrowed and returned at the main floor Circulation Desk.  New books are displayed on the main floor.

Curriculum Laboratory     301-860-3857
This collection, located on the second floor, assists education students in the design and development of lesson and curriculum plans. The resources include audiovisual materials, children’s literature, games and curriculum guides from throughout the state of Maryland. Circulation policy may vary.  Small groups working on special projects may reserve use of the lab.

Periodicals     301-860-3869
Periodicals are located on the main floor. Holdings include indexes, journals, magazines, microfilms and newspapers.  Materials must be used in the Library.

Special Collections      301-860-3854
Hours may be available by appointment.   Collections are located on the second floor.  Holdings: University Archives: BSU historical and photographic materials.

 Reference Services     301-860-3862
The reference collection includes data compilations, dictionaries, directories, yearbooks and other core reference materials.  Reference materials do not circulate.

The ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) microfiche collection, the central resource in education and social science, is located in the reference area. The reference librarians provide patrons with individual assistance in using the library’s resources and provide guidance throughout the research process.

Patrons who desire in-depth assistance are encouraged to make an appointment with a librarian.  The library offers formal instruction in using library resources.  Sessions must be scheduled by an instructor at least one week in advance.  Tours with a general orientation to library services are available by appointment.

 Borrowing Materials   301-860-3870
Use must have a valid USM or BowieCard to borrow books. The card must be registered every semester at the circulation desk on the main floor. Patrons are responsible for returning borrowed material on time and in good condition.

Loans
Materials must be checked out at the circulation desk. Books may be returned to any USM library. Undergraduate loan period: 4 weeks; Graduate Students: 3 months; Faculty and staff: 6 months; Bowie State University Alumni 4 weeks.

Overdue/Renewal.
Items must be brought in for renewal. Email & phone requests are not accepted. Overdue fine: $.50/per day payable by check or money order. Items from other libraries are handled according to the policy of the lending library.

Reserves:      301-860-3871
Reserve materials are items that faculty have assigned  for particular cources. Materials are kept behind the circulation desk on the main floor. A valid ID is required to borrow materials. Reserve materials do not leave the library.

Doing research online

Research Port  http://researchport.umd.edu/ 
The University System of Maryland’s Research Port gateway lets current students, faculty and staff access electronic databases from an internet connection. Users must register at the library circulation desk periodically to obtain and keep login rights. Login with the last name and barcode number printed on the BowieCard.

PLEASE NOTE:  the Start button is available for on-campus access, but some Research Port functions are only available to users who log in. 

From the introductory screen in Research Port, users can choose a category or database to search, or enter a quick search of the catalog and general databases.  Use the Research Port Help for details on navigating and searching.  

Research Port makes it possible for users to search a number of databases at the same time using a single search interface.  Searches can be controlled by search field (title, author, subject, etc.) and limited by year.  Research Port also supports sophisticated searches using logic operators, truncation and other search controls. The Help instructions explain these techniques. Learning search strategies saves time and produces better search results.

Research Port offers many methods for managing research efforts. Users can save items to an electronic folder, save searches for re-use, create custom lists of databases and electronic journals, locate libraries that own items, and do other research tasks electronically. Records can be downloaded, emailed or printed using the directional buttons on the screen.

Many databases provide full text articles. Others are scholarly indexes or research tools that make it possible to locate relevant material in books, journals and other sources. A citation provides the information needed to locate the source: author, article title, journal title, date, issue, pagination. Many indexes include abstracts or brief summaries.

USMAI Catalog  http://catalog.umd.edu/ 
This is the online catalog that provides access to catalogued materials in any USM library. Users can search by author, keyword, subject, or title. USMAI Catalog can be accessed directly without a password or via Research Port.

Other USMAI Catalog features allow you to check the circulation status of items; to search one or more libraries at once; to save records to download, email or print and to review your personal library activity records for due dates and the status of hold/recalls. 

 PLEASE NOTE:
USMAI Catalog is a catalog, or inventory, of library holdings. It can tell you if a USM library owns a particular book or journal. But it cannot search for or display articles.

 Finding a book in the Thurgood Marshall Library:
Every book in the catalog is assigned a unique call number. We use the Library of Congress alpha-numeric classification system. Once you find a book that you want, open the full record to see if it is checked out.

The call number tells you where in the library the item is located: STACKS LA 215.C73 1970. STACKS is the term used to identify circulating materials in a library (other terms are REF, SPECOL). The letters and numbers pinpoint the shelf location.

Request button
Lets valid users borrow circulating materials from any USM library and have them sent to the campus of your choice for pick-up. When you find a book that you want at another campus, click the yellow request button on the side of the screen and follow the directions. It usually takes three weeks to arrive.