Books and Beyond looks to bind students and library

Students who attended Roosevelt University’s ‘Books and Beyond’ were encouraged to turn the page on a new semester with research tips and resources in the Murray-Green Library last Tuesday.

Katy Hite, a reference instruction librarian, spearheaded the session and guided students through multiple databases that are readily available for use. Participants were given index cards with authors, subjects or titles written on them at the beginning of the workshop. These examples helped students navigate through the library catalog for different books and authors.

Using different databases and networks such as WorldCat, IShare and ILLiad, attendees learned how to find books available at Roosevelt, neighboring universities and around the region. Hite walked students through the process of creating accounts for IShare and ILLiad, which are free to register for.

“It’s good to see how you can borrow books from all over the world and learn the process on how to do that,” Roosevelt undergraduate Kaitlyn Schlauder said.

According to Hite, students can request a book or article through the WorldCat database instead of paying a journal or service for those resources. Textbooks, however, are unavailable for loan.

Students learned how to search for books, find out if what they are looking for is available at Roosevelt or anywhere in the state and how to request and reserve books available at other universities in the city.

Books can be sent to the university upon request from DePaul, Columbia, Robert Morris and the School of the Art Institute. The IShare database contains 76 other colleges where Roosevelt students can rent books.

“Aside from knowing how to search for and request books at Roosevelt, I want students to learn that our librarians are friendly, and know that we are here to work with students as partners in research,” Hite said.

Roosevelt undergraduate Tori Clark said she uses the library to research topics for journalism classes.

“[The library] is a smart and useful resource to take advantage of right now while I still can,” she said.

The “Books and Beyond” workshop was new this year, however more research-based sessions are planned throughout the semester.

Do you take advantage of the university’s library? Don’t be quiet about it! Tweet us at @RUTORCH.