Library Services for Distance Learning Students & Faculty
The University Libraries make available resources to support students and faculty who are enrolled or teach online courses as many NSU degree programs are offered online
University Libraries include the Shreveport Education Center Library which serves the College of Nursing and Allied Health and NSU Leesville Library. To locate these services, use the Library Webpage or the index to the left. The following describe library services available to online students and faculty:
- Cammie G. Henry Research Center The Cammie G. Henry Research Center houses nearly 800 Manuscript Collections including Melrose, Caroline Dormon, and the Federal Writers’ Project. It collects, preserves, and makes available manuscripts and published materials relating to the culture and history of NSU and Northwest Louisiana. Here, you’ll find the University Archives documenting Northwestern State University’s history, and the Louisiana Book and Rare Book Collections including journals, microfilm, and Louisiana newspapers. The Melrose Imaging Project scans fragile documents and images and makes them available for electronic viewing and transmission. Most materials in these collections do not circulate. The Research Center’s hours of operation are generally weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm.
- Contact Us to reach any library faculty or staff by email or phone. The contacts include the faculty and staff for the Shreveport and Leesville/Ft. Polk campuses.
- EResources include Ebooks, EJournals, documents, art works, and full-text articles from newspapers and journals. Students access these resources via the library webpage and log in using their myNSU username and password. Faculty and staff use their email username and password. Ebooks are available via the online catalog and through databases such as Gale Virtual Reference Library, Credo, Health Ebooks, History Ebooks, Literature Ebooks, and Science Ebooks purchased from Salem Press (Greyhouse Publishing). EJournal collections from Sage, Wiley, and IEEE are also available for full-text articles. Videos may be viewed through Ambrose Digital Videos, Counseling and Therapy in Video, and Dance in Video. Electronic journal articles are available in over 100 databases (American Chemical Society Web Editions and ScienceDirect Limited are only available on campus because of the contracts with these two vendors) are available remotely. Electronic collections include historical journal and newspaper collections, artistic works (ARTStor), civil war primary sources documents, Sanborn maps, etc.
- Government Documents is a vital reference services component . Watson Library is a selective federal depository of government information and approximately 30% of everything published by the federal government and distributed by the depository service is available here. Emphasis areas include education, health, and business. Most documents are listed in the library online catalog. Many government documents are available on the Internet and links are provided on the library web page. Government documents not held by Watson Library may be borrowed via Interlibrary Loan.
- Information Literacy or Library Instruction may be scheduled by distance learning faculty via WebEx. Faculty may contact a librarian and set up a WebEx session which will be taught by the librarian requested. The librarian and faculty member will work out what will be taught and using the desktop sharing feature, will demonstrate how to perform the tasks requested.
- Interlibrary Loan allows distance learners to receive articles and other materials not available through the library databases. Interlibrary loan uses Illiad software which allows patrons to request and check the status of requested materials electronically. Interlibrary loan relies on the Online College Library Collection (OCLC) database to locate items from the holdings of more than 10,000 libraries. A statewide courier service handles requests for books and multimedia materials available in-state. Requests for books, articles, theses, dissertations, videos, DVDs, and others are submitted electronically through the Interlibrary Loan link on the University Libraries home page. The College of Nursing & School of Allied Health Library in Shreveport also uses the National Library of Medicine’s Docline interlibrary loan system. Materials available in electronic format will be sent directly to the requestor’s desktop and may be printed or downloaded, usually within 48 to 72 hours. Interlibrary loan is free to all library users with the library covering the costs.
- LibGuides provide online help to users. LibGuides allow librarians to promote library services, create bibliographies, curate knowledge and share information in a convenient online format. LibGuides may be used for a specific class or topic, or for a department as is the case with Government Information.
- LaLinc Cards are available through the director of libraries office. This enables distance learning students to request a card which will enable them to check out materials from participating Louisiana Academic Libraries. Each individual library has the right to restrict service or require a credit card as security against materials not being returned.
- Reference Services are available through email, telephone, or text. Reference librarians will contact patrons during normal working hours or by special appointments if necessary. The information to contact reference librarians is on the library webpage and to contact individual library faculty or staff on the Contact Us on the menu on the left side of the library webpage.
