Using the Library / PLU Library

Additional information:
Borrowing periods for course reserves are set by your professor. Reserves cannot be renewed. You may borrow two reserve items at a time, except for nursing reserves of which you may borrow four at a time. Overdue fines for reserve materials are .25 per hour, so make sure to return them on time so other students can use them!

Book lockers
The library has book lockers on the third floor, which you can rent by the semester. The cost is a $10 deposit, plus a $2 fee per semester. Stop by the circulation desk on the first floor of the library to rent a locker.

Study rooms
The library has rooms available for individual and group study if you're looking for a quieter space. Make your reservation at the circulation desk on the first floor of the library. Bring your PLU I.D.!

Cell phones
Click here for the library's cell phone policy.

Accessing your course reserves
You should be able to look up course reserves in the library catalog.
Use the drop-down menus to find your professor, department, and/or course. You must know at least one of these things to locate your reserves!
Then click Search.
Locate the reserve you’re looking for on the search results list. The reserve material may either be online, in which case you can just click on the link to access it, or else it will be in print. If it’s in print, take note of the title, author, and call number, and go to the circulation desk on the first floor of the library. Print reserves can be checked out for up to two hours.
If you’ve done the above and can’t find your course reserve, please contact a reference librarian or stop by the reference desk on the first floor of the library for assistance.
If you're accessing a course reserve online, you will need to enter your ePass to download the file. Click here if you're having problems.

Downloading and troubleshooting PDFs
Portable Document Format (PDF) files are the most common type of files you’ll encounter when searching and retrieving online. Usually they’re easy to download and print, but sometimes not. Here are some of the problems you might encounter, and solutions to try:

Only prints first page: Make sure that you’re printing from Adobe Reader, not from the Web browser.
Error message when opening document: There may be a problem with the file. Try saving it to the desktop, then opening it; if it still doesn’t work, ask a librarian for help.
Blank screen, document taking a long time to load: Usually this just means that the file is very large. You may need to wait a few minutes for it to load completely. High-resolution or many-page files will take longer.

Accessing online library resources
Many of our library resources, including journal and magazine articles, encyclopedias and dictionaries, course reserves, and even entire books are available online through the library website. For most of these, all you need is your ePass. Click on the resource you want to access, log in when prompted, and get to work!
Some library resources are only available if you're on campus; for others, you need a special login that you get from your professor or your department.
To get started, click on "Subject Menu" in the navigation bar above and choose the subject area you're working in or, go directly to a comprehensive list of electronic resources.

Using computers and printers in the library
The library has many computers and three printers available for research, writing papers, checking e-mail, and printing. If you're a student, you can log in to any machine using your ePass. Faculty and staff also have access. Limited computer facilities are available for PLU alumni; please bring your alumni card to the reference desk to get signed on.
The library has four computers available to members of the public for research purposes only. These computers are first-come, first-served, and PLU students and employees have priority. Members of the public under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and if you're under 18, you must have a research assignment that you're working on. Stop at the front desk first for a computer pass.
Printing is available to all library patrons.

Assistive technology
In cooperation with the department of Counseling and Testing, the PLU library provides assistive technology as a service for students with disabilities. Technologies available include Dragon Naturally Speaking, Kurzweil 1000, Kurzweil 3000, a Braille printer, an enlarger, a wheelchair-accessible computer workstation, and a wheelchair-accessible work table. For some of these resources, you need a login separate from your ePass. Please contact Counseling and Testing for assistance.
If you need help using assistive technology software or equipment in the library, please come to the reference desk. This is also where you can check out headphones and microphones. The assistive technology area is maintained by Genevieve Williams, Undergraduate Research Librarian.

Exam proctoring
PLU Reference Librarians are available on a limited basis to proctor exams, by appointment only, for certain students. Below is a list of eligibility and requirements.

Eligible students (listed in order of priority):
Currently enrolled PLU students
Students who will be matriculating to PLU
PLU alumni
Students from other universities

Proctoring exam appointments:
Appointments required with a minimum prior notice of 48 hours. A specific date and time for the exam will be negotiated.

When proctoring is available:
Monday-Wednesday 8am-8pm
Thursday-Friday 8am-5pm
(No weekend proctoring is available)

Location of exam:
Must take place within the library.

Holds
If the book you want is checked out . . .You can put it on hold*

While on the catalog screen of the book, click “Place Requests” on the top menu bar.

A login screen will appear (if you aren’t already logged in under your PLU ID). Enter information, click “Login” button.

Select “Hold” from the pull down menu. Then click “Submit” button.

Screen appears allowing you to customize request--re-enter the number you used on the login screen--click on Submit Request.

Your hold is now complete. The library will contact you when the item is available.

*Note: media items cannot be placed on hold.

How do I access...?

EBSCO, ProQuest, JSTOR:

You can get to these resources in two ways: first, look for the Quick Links drop-down menu on the upper right, and select the provider you want. Second, if you're interested in a particular subject or topic, click on "Research a Subject" in the top navigation bar. You'll find all of our online resources, including these, organized by subject area.

Harvard Business Cases:

These are available to School of Business students ONLY who have received an ID and password from your professor. Your ePass will not work! If you are having trouble, contact your professor.

Interlibrary Loan:

There are two ways you can make an Interlibrary Loan request. First, several of our databases, including those provided by EBSCO (Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Business Source Premier, etc.) and OCLC FirstSearch (WorldCat, Biology Digest, etc.) allow you to make ILL requests directly from the citation or record you're interested in. Look for a link or button labeled "Interlibrary Loan" or "ILL".

Second, you can do it directly from this website. Just click on the Interlibrary Loan link in the top navigation bar. If it's your first time, you'll need to create a login. This does not need to be your ePass.

PLU Library