Abell Library Services for Faculty
Abell Library offers a variety of services to the Austin College community. Some of the services listed here are also available to students (such as Interlibrary Loan and TexShare cards), but other privileges extend only to faculty (such as photocopy services).
If you need to contact a librarian or other library staff member about any library services, click here for e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
Library Instruction and Classes |
Using Library Resources |
Obtaining Library Materials |
Library Instruction & Classes
Library Instruction
Librarians can instruct your classes how to use and evaluate print and electronic resources and indexes available from Abell Library. Please contact Carolyn Vickrey to design specialized instruction for a particular course and/or assignment. Electronic classroom facilities are available in the library, or we can come to your classroom.
Room Scheduling
Under "Services" on Abell Library's web page and click on "Rooms Calendar" to view current room reservations. Then contact Pat Means to reserve any of the following rooms:
- Bibliographic Instruction (BI) Classroom (Room 233): contains video playback equipment for VHS and DVD, a Windows™ Pentium™ computer, and a projection screen.
- Instructional Computer Classroom (Room 208): includes 25 networked computer workstations, a teacher workstation, projector, laser printer, and a white board.
- Abell Library Conference Room (Room 229): contains an oval table which seats up to twelve and room for other seating. A whiteboard with markers is available for use in presentations.
- Computer Lab/Classroom (Room 105): contains 19 Windows computers.
Library Liaisons
Make an appointment with any librarian to learn about new research tools available through Abell Library. Librarians will meet with any interested individuals or departments to discuss and demonstrate new library resources pertaining to your interests.
While any Abell Librarian can assist any professor, we do have librarians assigned as liaison to specific departments: Liaisons
For reference assistance you can also use our online “Ask a Librarian” service filling out the form provided. Look for a response from a librarian within 48 hours, excluding weekends. The librarian will make every attempt to answer your question(s) or refer you to a source to obtain your answer.
Preparing to Teach C/I
Since an introduction to library research and using Abell Library is an important component of each C/I course, we have designed a guide to assist faculty with effective ways to include library/research assignments into a C/I course. We invite new faculty members to explore this information as you develop and teach your first C/I.
This page includes Sample Library Research Guides used in previous C/I classes. We invite experienced faculty to contribute documents, ideas, and advice that will assist their colleagues to be posted to this web page. Carolyn Vickrey coordinates the C/I program for the library.
Using Library Resources
Online Renewal
You can renew your books one time by clicking on “Renew Materials” on Abell Library’s web page and entering your user ID from your Austin College ID card (no PIN needed). For a second renewal, you will need to bring your books back to the library.
Course Reserves
Our “Forms” page provides request forms to place books or photocopies (only one-sided copies accepted) on reserve. We provide selected readings to increase students’ access to these resources. Your students can check out print reserve materials for a specified time (2-hours, 1-day, or 3-days). Please allow 48 hours for processing materials for the reserve collection (not counting weekends). Contact Donna Flatt for more information. You may also wish to consult our Copyright policy for information about placing items on reserve.
Media Materials
Contact Donna Flatt to check out media materials for classroom use and place media materials on reserve. You can search for various types of media in our online catalog by limiting your search to the location “Circulating Media Collection” or “Closed Media Stacks.” Contact Pat Means to schedule media equipment.
On- and Off-Campus Access to Abell Library's Electronic Subscriptions
On-Campus, you can access any of our online library resources from any campus computer linked to the Internet. From the library’s home page, click on A to Z E-Sources to see all of our subscription resources.
When connecting Off-Campus, simply proceed as if you were on campus.
- No need for any special login.
- Just click on the database you want to use.
- You will be prompted for your Austin College email account username and password the first time you access a restricted service.
- Continue using all sites (including restricted services) without another login.
- If you time-out of the database, or should you close your browser, you will need to login again.
- TIPS: (Your Austin College email account username is the portion of your e-mail address BEFORE the @ sign and your Austin College email password is case-sensitive.)
- This icon designates a resource that is a restricted service for Austin College Access Only.
Obtaining Library Materials
Book Orders
Librarians are assigned to work with specific academic departments and will provide subject specific Choice card reviews to departmental liaisons. Your departmental liaison will submit your requests by e-mail or campus mail to Jane Donahue. Jane will inform you or your liaison by e-mail when your selections arrive. Please help to create a library collection that will support the assignments for your classes.
Photocopy and Book Delivery
We accept requests for books or photocopies of journal articles from our collection. In most cases, books and/or photocopies will be delivered to you within 24 hours Monday through Friday. Go to our Forms page for a Document Delivery request form. Contact Donna Flatt for more information.
Interlibrary Loan
If a catalog search reveals that we do not have a book or journal title in our library, please complete an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) form for a book or article. See links to forms below, or go to our Forms page.
- Allow five to ten days for requested material to arrive from the lending library. Though interlibrary loan is based upon cooperation between institutions, some do charge for loans or for photocopying. Abell Library will usually pay charges for student requests, and for faculty requests we will charge your departmental account.
- Books borrowed through ILL are held at the Circulation Desk, while photocopies are sent to you by campus mail.
- Contact Pat Means for questions.
TexShare Library Card
Abell Library is a member of the TexShare libraries that have agreed to extend free reciprocal borrowing privileges to each other's faculty, students, and staff. Each library has specific rules and regulations regarding access to their materials, so check the Lending Policy of a particular library for policies, hours, and phone numbers before making your trip.
- You must have a TexShare Library Card from your home institution BEFORE you are able to borrow materials from other institutions.
- Apply for a free TexShare Library Card at the Circulation Desk. Faculty cards are valid for one academic year.
- For general questions about TexShare Card policies, contact Carolyn Vickrey. For circulation issues regarding the TexShare Card, contact Donna Flatt.
Reimbursement for Photocopies
If you make copies at another library, you can be reimbursed for up to $50.00 per semester for these fees. Submit receipts to Kay Garner in the office of the College Librarian.
