Library Survival Guide for History Graduate Students  Tags: history historical_research  

We hope this guide will give you a detailed overview of the different types of resources available to you as a history grad student. Because the UIUC Library has a very extensive collection of material in a variety of formats, beginning your research can be daunting. This guide will provide you with strategies for finding resources, as well as links to resources available so that you can find the content you need.

Last Updated: 2008

Loan period

Books ordinarily circulate for 16 weeks to faculty and graduate students, and for 4 weeks to undergrads and staff. Periodicals do not circulate in all departmental libraries; typically unbound issues cannot be checked out, and bound journals circulate for 1-2 weeks. You can renew all library materials (except reserves) through the online catalog (“My Account”).

Fine schedule

Books - No daily overdue charge on books, but a $10 processing fee is assessed at 34 days and the book is “assumed lost.” At this stage a bill to cover the cost of replacement (minimum of $125) is assessed via the UIUC accounting office. Overdue notices are sent by e-mail. Periodicals - $2 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour, up to a maximum of $50. Replacement cost starts at $300, automatically assessed after 34 days. Reserves – $2 per hour, up to a maximum of $50. Recalls - $5.00 per day up to a maximum of $25.

Note: If you are going to be out of town for an extended period, you should return your library books to avoid incurring fines in case one of the books is recalled in your absence.

Photocopiers

Copiers are scattered throughout the Library, and we have two in the History, Philosophy and Newspaper Library. Photocopiers accept coins ($ .15) and Value Cards. The Value Card is purchased for any amount up to $50 from a Value Card Teller machine (located next to the long circulation desk on the 2nd floor of the Main Library, on the upper level of the Undergraduate Library, and in the Education and Social Sciences Library). Each time you make a copy, $ .09 is deducted from the balance. Your i-card can also be used as a value card if you load it at one of the Value Card Teller machines.

The History, Philosophy and Newspaper Library has several microfilm/microfiche digital viewer-scanners (Adobe PDF format).  We have two new Scan Pro 1000 viewer-scanners, and four ST 200s.  There are also viewer-scanners in the Slavic Library, Music Library, and Architecture and Art Library. Using these viewer-scanners, you can download images from microform to memory devices, e-mail images, download to Netfiles, or burn a CD, at no charge. You can also make print copies from the viewer-scanners for $ .10 per page. Older coin-operated reader-printers are available in the History, Philosophy and Newspaper Library, the Education and Social Sciences Library, and the Slavic Library.

Consult our user guide (Adobe PDF format) for help using the viewer scanners.

Also take a look at the Finding Microforms guide for more info.

These links may be of interest to you.

During the semester, our library hours are

Monday - Thursday: 9am - 9pm;
Friday: 9am - 5pm;
Saturday: 1pm - 5pm;
Sunday: 1pm - 8pm

For hours during breaks, see our website.

For all UIUC Library hours, see the UIUC library's website.