Library Services

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Alvin Sherman Library Services | How to Contact the Library | Getting Help | NSU Cards | NSU Email Accounts | Document Delivery/Interlibrary Loan (distance/local) | Access to Other Libraries 

Alvin Sherman Library Services

The Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center offers library services for NSU Students, faculty, and staff, and Broward County residents. The following library departments work hard to ensure quality service: Document Delivery/Interlibrary Loan, Reference, Public Library Services, Technical Services, and Distance and Instructional Library Services. The Alvin Sherman Library is proud to provide these services:

• Reference assistance
• Books and other materials from the NSU Libraries' collections, including the Electronic Resources section
• Books or copies of journal articles that are not available in the NSU Libraries
• Microfiche copies (paper copies are not available) of NSU Major Applied Research Projects (MARPs), practicums, applied dissertations, and ERIC documents (EDs)
• Library instructional materials
• NSU's Electronic Resources section to access databases that can include full-text and full-image documents.

Did you also know these facts?

• Groups of 2 or more students may check-out a group study room.
• CDs, DVDs, video tapes, and popular bestsellers are available in the Sherman Library.
• Children's books and materials are available for all reading levels.
• Laptops may be checked out for use inside the Sherman Library.
• Coffee and light snacks are available for consumption in the Connections Café.
• Exhibits and events are often available in the Sherman Library.

How to Contact the Library

Directory

DEPARTMENT	EXTENSION	EMAIL
Reference	4613	refdesk@nova.edu
Document Delivery (for Distance Patrons)	4602	library@nova.edu
Interlibrary Loan (for Local Patrons)	4619	ill@nova.edu
Distance and Instructional Library Services (DILS)	5380	dils@nova.edu
Circulation	4601	unavailable

Getting Help

Reference Service

Users who need help with research can contact a reference librarian. Librarians can be contacted via phone, email, in person, or via online chat. Reference librarians can give advice on effective research strategies. To better serve our patrons when calling the Reference Desk with the number listed in the above directory, please identify yourself as one of these categories: NSU student, faculty, staff member, NSU Alumni, or Broward County patron. For more information visit this web page http://www.nova.edu/library/help/askalib.html.

Library Training

The Alvin Sherman Library offers instruction on how to use library services and resources.

Individual library instruction is available by appointment. To make an appointment, simply fill out the form located at http://www.nova.edu/library/help/BIform.html.

The Alvin Sherman Library also offers group instruction. An NSU “field associate” or an NSU faculty member may schedule group instruction. The sessions are usually held on-site, or as a videoconference. To arrange group training contact the DILS department, 1-800-541-6682, ext. 25380.

Online Help

For the independent learner the Alvin Sherman Library contains an online help section. It contains materials on many library topics. The online help section is available from http://www.nova.edu/library/help/.

Broward County users:

• Library information can be found at http://www.nova.edu/library/serv/pls (see menu on the right side of the page to go to information for adults/seniors, teens, and kids)
• Public services are available for varying audiences-Monthly Programs list for kids, teens, and adults is at http://www.nova.edu/library/serv/pls/programs.html
• Training Opportunities including links to Computer Skills (classes) is at http://www.nova.edu/library/help/training.html
• Library classes and workshops may be scheduled for groups–contact the Reference Desk at 954-262-4613 or refdesk@nova.edu. Or for information on field trips and assignment alerts go to http://www.nova.edu/library/serv/pls/visit.html

NSU Cards

NSU students, faculty, and staff should use their NSU identification cards to check out books and to reserve materials in person at the Alvin Sherman Library. The NSU Card may also be used to access the microcomputer labs on the main campus, as well as for other university activities. NSU Cards can be obtained in person at the NSU Card Office in the Horvitz Administration Building on the main campus. Current registration is required to keep your card account active. Distance students should consult the NSU Card Office Web page at http://www.nova.edu/nsucard for instructions regarding card requests.

If you are not an NSU student, but live, work, or attend school in Broward County, you are eligible for an Alvin Sherman Library card. Broward County affiliates may obtain an NSU library card in-person at the circulation desk on the first floor of the library or apply online at: http://novacat.nova.edu/selfreg. Photo ID and proof of Broward County affiliation such as a utility bill, pay stub, or school or work ID is required. See the online application or contact the library for details on acceptable forms of verification. There are no exceptions to this policy. If you apply online, you must come to the library to provide proof of Broward County affiliation and pick up your NSU library card. An NSU library card is necessary to check out materials and to use online resources at the Sherman Library.

NOTE: While members of the general public, including Broward County residents, are welcome to visit other NSU libraries, borrowing privileges are not extended to them at the Health Professions Division Library, Shepard Broad Law School Law Library, or William S. Richardson Oceanographic Library.

NSU Email

NSU students may submit a request for an NSU email account at http://www.nova.edu/sbin/account_request.

NSU students who have an NSU email account but do not remember their password or are experiencing technical problems with their equipment and/or communications software should call the Computing Help Desk at 800-541-6682, ext. 24357 (HELP) or go to http://www.nova.edu/help.

Document Delivery/Interlibrary Loan

The Document Delivery Department helps NSU distance students, faculty, and staff obtain materials owned by NSU or cooperative libraries. All NSU local students, faculty, staff, as well as registered Broward County users may obtain books and articles that are not available in the NSU libraries from Interlibrary Loan.

NSU Libraries abide by the 1976 U.S. Copyright Law, which governs the borrowing and use of photocopies and other reproductions of copyrighted materials.

Health Professions Division and Shepard Broad Law Center students should consult their respective library’s web pages for document delivery/interlibrary loan services.

Access to Other Libraries

Many libraries, both public and academic, allow visitors to browse their collections, access microfiche readers, and use materials while in their libraries. When using other libraries, present yourself at the library’s main desk–sometimes the circulation or reference desk—ask what services are available to guests. Also, find out about library policies, such as borrowing privileges, access to the collections, hours, etc.

NSU students, faculty, and staff are eligible for guest privileges with libraries that are members of the Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN). In addition, NSU distance students may be eligible for guest privileges with libraries located near the sites of many NSU distance programs. Some NSU programs may offer financial reimbursements for local library cards for NSU distance students.

Library cards/non-NSU libraries

Some NSU programs reimburse NSU distance students at off-campus locations for non-NSU local library cards, such as Friends of the Library or community user cards. Students will only be reimbursed for one library card per year (the amount of money that will be reimbursed varies from program to program). Students must contact the Distance and Instructional Library Services Department to obtain approval prior to obtaining a local library card in order to be eligible for reimbursement. At this time, the following academic programs participate in this reimbursement program

Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences
H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship
Farquhar College of Arts & Sciences
Fischler School of Education and Human Services (EXCEPT the Graduate Teacher
Education Program)

SEFLIN

NSU students, faculty, and staff are eligible for guest privileges with libraries that are members of the Southeast Florida Library Information Network (SEFLIN). A special SEFLIN library card may be obtained in-person at the Alvin Sherman Library. For more details about SEFLIN visit: http://www.seflin.org/slcp.

The SEFLIN library card allows the holder to borrow materials from this list of institutions:

Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
Barry University
Broward Community College– University College Library and North and South Regional campuses
Carlos Albizu University
Florida Atlantic University–Boca Raton, Port St. Lucie, and Jupiter campuses
Florida International University–Biscayne Bay and University Park campuses
Florida Metropolitan University
Johnson & Wales University
Keiser College
Lynn University
Miami-Dade College
Northwood University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Community College–Central, Palm Beach Gardens and Belle Glade campuses
St. Thomas University–Main campus

NSU library agreements

NSU has a lending agreement with Wayne State University in Detroit. Wayne State University Libraries' holdings total over three million volumes, and WSU Libraries ranks 46th among the top 110 research libraries in the United States, according to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) composite rating.

To search the Wayne State University library catalog go to: http://elibrary.wayne.edu

For items available at Wayne State University, use NSU’s Document Delivery/Interlibrary Loan online request forms available at http://www.nova.edu/library/serv/docdel/docdel.html

DISTANCE STUDENTS, books from the WSU Libraries should be returned directly to the sending library. This service is limited to U.S. mailing addresses; students at international sites may not use this service.

Local libraries - NSU distance students

NSU has arranged guest privileges for NSU distance students with libraries located near the sites of many NSU distance programs. A Web page indicating these libraries is available at:
http://0-nsu.novasoutheastern.org.novacat.nova.edu/resource/resources.html.

Not every local library provides library resources to students not affiliated with their institution, nor do they always provide all the services they would give to their own students. However, many State Universities do allow public access to collections. NSU distance should check with their field associate to learn about specific arrangements in their geographical area, or call the Distance and Instructional Library Services Department at 800-541-6682, extension 5380.