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Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

How do I get to the library?

There are library locations on both the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses.

Where can I get my student ID made?

ID card is an essential tool for checking out resources in our library, using the InterLibrary Loan service, and checking out books from other MnSCU libraries. We strongly encourage you to get your photo ID as soon as possible. It only takes 3-5 minutes and once completed, your privileges are automatically renewed with each new semester you register. IDs are made on both the St. Paul and the Minneapolis campuses and can also be obtained through the mail.

On the St. Paul campus, visit the Circulation desk on the second floor of the library. In Minneapolis, go to the Open Lab, T.3200. Bring a copy of your class schedule or fee statement and an official identification card that has your name and a picture clearly shown. The Open Lab issues ID cards beginning one hour after the lab opens until one hour before the lab closes. All computer lab hours on the MCTC campus are listed on the MCTC Computer Labs page.

What is InterLibrary Loan?

If you need an item not available in the Metropolitan State library collection, our Interlibrary Loan Service can help. We will search for libraries that own the book, article, or audio/visual material that you need and arrange to have it sent to our library for you to pick up.

In most cases, articles (and copies of book chapters) can be delivered to you electronically so you don't even need to come to campus!

How can I get help using the library?

You can get assistance from a reference librarian in several ways: by phone, in person, or via email. You can also set up an appointment for one-on-one research assistance.

How do I find scholarly articles for my research paper?

You can use the library's online article databases to search for scholarly articles on just about every subject. Want a good place to start?

Try these resources:
  • Student Resource Center Gold (InfoTrac) Access to content based on national curriculum standards. Covering all core curriculum areas, including history, literature, science, social studies, and more, SRC - Gold provides more than 1,100 full-text periodicals and newspapers, primary sources, creative works, and multimedia, including hours of video and audio clips and podcasts. Premier reference content includes the American Journey Series, American Decades, Career Information Center and the SRC Health Module. New to the database are Lexile reading levels for periodicals, an integrated national and state curriculum standards search with content correlated to the standards, and popular topic picklists.
  • Academic Search Premier (EbscoHost) A good place to start your research. This database covers many disciplines and provides electronic access to the full-text articles of more than 4,700 publications, including more than 3,600 peer-reviewed publications. Citations and abstracts are available for another 3,500 journals. Some full-text journals date as far back as 1965.
  • Popular vs. Scholarly Article Guide Use this guide to help distinguish between scholarly articles and popular articles.

I need to find information for my research paper/assignment. Where do I start?

A good place to start your research is to visit our Jumpstart page. Jumpstart provides you with a list of resources for just about any subject!

How do I find books in the library?

Search our online catalog, MnPALS, for books, videos, DVDs, and more in the Metropolitan State University Library collection. Do a title or author search if you are searching for an item you know exists. Use the keyword or subject heading keyword search to find all items on that subject that the library has.

How do I access the e-books in netLibrary from off campus?

To access e-books in netLibrary from off campus, you must first create a netLibrary account, using a computer on campus. To set up an account, visit: http://ezproxy.metrostate.edu/login?url=http://www.netlibrary.com/
Click on "Create a Free Account" in the upper right corner. Call 651-793-1614 if you need assistance with setting up an account.

How do I renew items or see what I have checked out?

To check your library account, go to Your Borrowing Record in our MnPALS library catalog. There, you can renew items or view your patron record using your library barcode number from the back of your student ID card (the number starts with 2011...) If you would like to renew an item that you retrieved through Interlibrary Loan, please contact Chris at 651-793-1625.

My professor says I need to "cite my resources." How do I cite?

There are a variety of citation styles that you can use to cite your resources when writing a research paper. Most frequently you will use MLA or APA. Use this Research and Documentation Online site to look at sample papers and citation examples in both MLA and APA styles. You can pick up handouts with citation examples at the reference desk in St. Paul. The Writing Center also offers free writing support for the university's students, faculty, and staff.

My professor put an article on e-reserve. How do I find it?

To find a resource that is on e-reserve, visit Library and Information Services and click on the E-Reserves link. Next, click "Electronic Reserves & Reserves Pages." On the following screen, you can search for your course by Course Number, Course Name, Department, or Instructor by using the blue drop-down arrow. You will be prompted for a password that your instructor should supply to you. Once you have entered the password you will be able to view any documents that your instructor has put on e-reserve.

Where can I find a Lactation Station?

There is now a Lactation Station in Founder's Hall L112 on the St. Paul campus. The room is a quiet place for nursing mothers who need to pump during the day. Coordination of this room will be shared between the Gateway Center and Women's Services. If you or any of your students or visitors need to use the room, please call or visit the Gateway Center to reserve a time. More detailed information including policy and procedures can be found in the portal.

Page Coordinator: Jennifer DeJonghe jennifer.dejonghe@metrostate.edu