Requesting Books and ERIC Documents   |  Requesting Journal Ariticles  |  Where to Submit Requests  |  When Can I Expect the Material?  | How Long Can I Keep the Material?

Requesting Books and ERIC Documents

Books and Other Library Materials

In order to request a book, government document, etc,  please make sure that you provide us with all of the information we will need to locate the item in our library. This includes the Author, Title, Location and Call Number.  (NOTE: This  information is found in the Brief Records provided to you by our library catalog.)

ERIC Documents

In order to request an ERIC document, please make sure that you provide us with all of the information we will need to locate the item in our library. This includes the Author, Title, and the ERIC Document Number. (NOTE: This information can be found in the Brief Records displayed to you when you search the ERIC database. Before you do, please check with to see if it is available online)

ERIC Documents are in microform and need to be photocopied before they are sent.  Due to the length of some ERIC Documents, some copying restrictions may apply.

Requesting Journal Articles

In order to request a Journal Article, please make sure that you provide us with all of the information we will need to locate the item in our library.  This includes the:

• Author
• Title of the Article
• Title of the Journal (also known as  Periodicals or Serials)
• Volume,  Issue Number, Page Numbers, Year of Publication

This information is generally found in the records provided to you when you search a database. Most of the time all the information is in the Brief Record, but in a few instances you will need to bring up the Full Record in order to find all the information you will need.  (NOTE:   To learn more about identifying Brief and Full Journal Records, consult our online Tutorial.)

Where to Submit Requests

You can submit requests to us via a number of methods. You can

• Use our Online Request Forms to submit your request via the Internet.
  
  
• Call the OCLS Library Assistant (Randy Patton) at (204)-727-9641.
  
  
• Fax your request to (204)-726-1072

• Mail your request to:

Off-Campus Library Services
John E. Robbins Library, Brandon University
270 18th Street
Brandon, Manitoba R7A 6A9

When Can I Expect the Material?

Generally OCLS processes requests within one to two days, and sends the material out. When this happens, material is often delivered within a week.   However, during the months of October and February, our workload increases because the number of students conducting research and submitting requests is high . During these busy seasons, please allow more time for delivery.

The processing of your request can also be slowed down if the items you ask for are signed out to another student. This problem can be avoided if you:

• Have checked the circulation status of a book in the Brandon University library catalog, and promptly place an order  (which reduces the likelihood of the item being signed out when we look for it.)
  
  
• Provide OCLS with alternate suggestions for material(s) you wish to have delivered.

• Request journal articles that come from different journal titles or different issues of the same journal. 

• Include in an adequate summary of your thesis or topic. (If it turns out that many of the items on your list are signed out, we can then conduct our own research and send you appropriate material.)

The simplest way to avoid delays in processing is to submit your requests well in advance of your assignment deadline.  Although we would like to be able to give high priority to urgent requests, our policy is to serve students on a first-come, first-served basis.

How Long Can I Keep the Material?

Any photocopied items - such as ERIC Documents or Journal Articles - are yours to keep, and need not be returned.  Information about return dates for all other items, should be included in the package of materials sent out to you.

If a due date is approaching and you still would like to use the material, contact our Off-Campus Library Assistant Randy Patton at (204) 727-9641, and he will renew any material which does not have a hold placed on it.