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Information Literacy for LEP Explorations Courses

This is an information literacy guide for students taking Explorations gen ed courses. Students will learn how to access, identify, evaluate, and use information accurately and ethically.

SouthernSearch

Use SouthernSearch to locate information in our library. SouthernSearch provides simple, one-stop searching for books and e-books, videos, articles, digital media, and more.

Enter your search terms in the search box provided and click on Search. The default is to search "Everything at SCSU." You can click on the down arrow next to "Everything at SCSU" for other choices such as SCSU Catalog and Collections, Articles and e-books, Course Reserves, and CT State Colleges and Universities.

When searching by keyword use "and" to combine your search terms for more precise results.
Example: Facebook and privacy
              Facebook and privacy and teenagers
You can combine as many terms as you wish using "and" but the more terms you use the less results you will get.

Use "or" to expand or broaden your search. "Or" is generally used with synonyms.
Example: Privacy or confidentiality
              Privacy or security or confidentiality

You can combine as many terms as you wish using "or" and the more terms you combine the greater your results will be.

Use Advanced Search for more search options to limit or focus your search.

Advanced Search

For the most part, basic searches will retrieve the results you need. Use Advanced Search for more search options to limit or focus your search. Advanced Search presents limiters and expanders to help refine your search. The advanced search option, for instance, allows you to combine multiple search terms with "and" or "or" for more effective searches.
Example: Facebook and (privacy or security or identity theft)

The advanced search option allows you to limit your search by date, by format, and by by language.

Where are materials shelved?

Click on floorplan to see where materials are shelved on each floor of the library. Reference books are shelved on the first floor of Buley Library. Circulating books with call numbers A-PL are shelved on the second floor; PM -Z are shelved on the third floor. Newspapers and journals in print, microfilm or microfiche are on the ground floor.

Requesting books from another library

To request a book from another library in the CSCU consortium, you must search the CSCU consortium by selecting "CT State Colleges and Universities" from the pull-down menu in the search box as the default is to search "Everything at SCSU". Enter your search terms and execute your search. Once the results list appears, you need to sign in to your library account to see which library has the book. You will see the name of the library that has the book and "available" if the book is available to be loaned. Click on "available" and you will see more information about the book and option to "request" the book. Click on "Request". Check to see that the pick-up institution is  Southern Connecticut State University and the library is Hilton C. Library. Click on request to complete the transaction. You will be notified by email when the book is here and you can pick up your book at the Check Out Desk.

Checking Out Books

Circulating books are checked out at the Check Out Desk on the main floor with a valid SCSU ID. Books can be checked out for 28 days with the option to have them renewed if no one else has requested them. Reference books cannot be checked out.

Scanners

A library scanner is available on the ground floor. Users can scan to their email or their flash drive for free. You cannot print from the scanner. There are 3 printers on the main floor that allow you to scan, copy and print. One is located in the front lobby; one is located at the IT Help desk and the third is near the reference stacks. Scanning is free but printing is 5 cents for single side black and white and 8 cents for double-side. Color printing is 25 cents for single side and 40 cents for double side.

Hoot Loot card holders can add to their account from the Card Value Center in Buley Library which is located opposite the Check Out Desk on the main floor.