Ask a Librarian

The Library has a handout with detailed instructions and helpful screen shots.  Stop by the Research Help Desk for a copy.  The librarians are happy to help you with the process!

Email the d'Alzon Library InterLibrary Loan (ILL) Department at ill@assumption.edu or call 508-767-7135.

If you have never used the service before, create an InterLibrary Loan account using this form.

If you have found the article through a database and used the "Article Linker" button to determine that you will need to request it from another library, click on the "Submit an InterLibrary Loan" link on the "Article Linker" results page.

When prompted, log into your ILL account. The request form should have been filled out automatically by the system. If some spaces have been left empty - that's okay! Scroll down and click on "Submit Request."

You will receive an email with your article arrives, usually within 1-3 business days. You will be able to download and save the file from your ILLiad account page.

All electronic reserves, such as articles and book chapters, are posted to the Brightspace course page.  To access the readings, click on e-Reserves under Content when logged in to your course page in Brightspace.

Print books, textbooks, and movies on reserve are kept at the Front Desk of the Library.  They can be used for 3 hours within the Library building.  To view a list of reserves for your course, please see our Course Reserves search page and use the Instructor dropdown menu to search for your professor's last name.

Assumption students and faculty may borrow directly from libraries in the Academic and Research Collaborative (ARC).  Please obtain an ARC direct borrowing card at the d'Alzon Library Front Desk in order to borrow directly from an ARC member library.

Generally, the library does not collect textbooks.  

However, we would be happy to check our collections for you.  Additionally, it's possible that your instructor placed a copy of your textbook on reserve, which means that it can be borrowed for short periods of time for in-library use.  Check with the Front Desk to find out if an item has been placed on reserve for your course.

If you are searching for a book through the main search bar on the Library's homepage, you will see a call number included for each print book in your search results.

Here is an example of a call number: PR6062 .I89 H69 2012

On the spine of the book, it will look like this:

PR
6062
.N89
H69
2012

All of the books are arranged on the shelves alphabetically.  So this book is shelved after the A's, B's, etc. and after the PA's, PB's, etc, until you get to PR.

Then start the PR 1's, 2's, etc. until you get to number 6062.  If there are a lot of PR 6062's, then we look at the third line down (.N89) and start again.  It's easy to get confused, so please visit the Front Desk for help.

 

 

 

The Library does not accept book donations. 

If you wish to donate books, the following libraries and organizations accept used books:

• Reader to Reader (Amherst MA): 413.256.8595
• Books for Africa
• Prison Book Program (Quincy MA)
• Bridge to Asia
• Worcester Public Library: 508.799.1655 ext.3

Use our free scanner to send files directly to HoundPrint.

We have an easy to use, touch-screen scanner located on the first floor of the Library.  You can send files directly to HoundPrint, or email them to any email address.  You can also save your scans as audio files or PDFs to your USB device.

Yes! 

There is a television with capability to watch a DVD or VHS in Group Study Room #310 on the third floor of the library.  Additionally, a region-free Blu-ray player is connected to the television in Group Study Room #125 on the first floor of the library. 

We recommend that you reserve the appropriate study room in advance if you need to watch a DVD, Blu-ray, or VHS.

There are a couple different ways to find peer reviewed articles. You can use the main search bar on the Library's homepage. Use the filters on the left side of the search result screen to limit your results to Peer Reviewed under Content, and Article/Chapter under Format.

Additionally, you could use the Article Databases button on the Library's homepage and start your search in one of our specific databases. Most of the databases include filters to limit your results. Look carefully for a check box option for Peer Reviewed. Can't seem to find it? Ask a librarian for help!

Yes!

Head phones can be borrowed for up to 3 hours and must be used within the Library.  They can be borrowed at the Front Desk with a current Assumption College ID card.

It depends.

If you have received an electronic item, such as a .PDF copy of an article, there is no need to return the item. 

If you have requested and received a print book, which was checked out to you from our Library Front Desk, you will need to return the book to our Front Desk or to any other library in the state of Massachusetts.  If you live outside of the state, you must use your local post office or FED-EX service to return the item to our address:

Assumption College
Emmanuel d'Alzon Library
500 Salisbury Street
Worcester, MA 01609

In order to download an e-book, you must sign in with your Assumption Email address and Password, have (or create) an Adobe ID, and install an additional software program/app, depending on your device.  You can find detailed instructions for downloading to the most common devices on our E-book Help page.

Yes, there are computers available for public use on the first floor of the Library. 

Additionally, the Library has laptops which can be borrowed from the Front Desk and used anywhere in the building - a great option if you prefer working on our quieter second or third floors.  Library users can check out laptops for up to 3 hours and must be used within the Library (they cannot leave the building).  When you check out a laptop, you are responsible for the laptop itself ($1400), the laptop case ($60), and the power cord ($60).  Do not leave the laptop unattended.  Anything you save on the laptop will be deleted upon restart.  Please save all documents and downloads to a flash drive and/or email them to yourself.

You can view a complete list of our available databases by clicking the grey Article Databases button on the Library homepage. Use the drop-down menu option to filter the list according to a specific subject.

Another method would be to use a Research Guide. Select a Research Guide that applies to your course or your subject area. Within the Guide, you should find a brief list of recommended databases.

If you are still unsure, try searching a generalized database like Academic Search Premier, or ask a librarian for help!

Use the "Journal Title Search" button located below the main search bar on the Library homepage. Enter the title of the specific magazine, newspaper, or journal that you need. 

After you click "Search", the system will bring you a list of databases that provide full-text access to your title. Next to each database name, you can find the dates that are available for your title (for example, 01/01/1990 to 01/01/1998 in Academic Search Premier). 

Additionally, "Our Library's Print Journals" may be listed with the databases, which informs you that the Library has copies of your title available in print on our shelves. Follow the link and scroll to the bottom of the next page to see which dates are available in print.

You may reset your password by clicking the "Forgot Password?" link on the ILLiad login screen.  You will receive an email message with a link to a page that will allow you to reset your password.  The d'Alzon Library ILL Department staff can also assist you.  Please contact us at 508-767-7135 or ill@assumption.edu for help.

Enter the title within quotation marks in the main search box from the Library's homepage. Use the format filter on the left side of your search results to narrow items to books, articles, or movies depending on which type of source you are trying to locate.

If we have it, follow the "View eBook," "View full text," or "View Now" button to access any available electronic sources. 

If the item you have found is a print book, record the Call Number and location information to find it on our shelves.

Anyone may use a group study room without a reservation, but group study reservations are encouraged and will be considered to be a priority for use of the room. 

Rooms may be reserved for groups of two or more, for up to 3 hours per day, and may be made up to 2 weeks in advance.  To reserve a group study room, please view our Group Study Rooms page.