Overview of Ramsey Services and Departments

 

Ramsey Library offers many services in addition to providing books and other resources for library users to consult and borrow.  A brief overview follows below: for more detailed information, such as loan periods, specific fees and hours, please consult individual unit pages by following the hyperlinks listed below.

Research Support

Librarians staff the Research Support Desk during the majority of hours that the library is open, and are always happy to answer your questions.  Our librarians provide assistance in locating information, give individualized instruction in the use of the library's electronic resources and print materials, and offer guidance in the selection of information resources most useful for your needs.

Circulation

The Circulation Desk is always staffed when the library is open. Books, dvd's and other materials are checked out and returned at the Circulation Desk. You must have your UNCA ID in order to check out materials, no exceptions. 

Circulation staff will help you renew books checked out to you, and can place a hold request on items you need that have been checked out, to reserve it for you when it is returned. In addition to circulating materials, the circulation staff will reload paper into photocopiers and respond to your emergency and security needs.

Reserve

Professors sometimes place items "on reserve" in the library.  Reserve service ensures access to class readings and certain course materials (books, articles or dvd's) that are “reserved” and available for short periods of in-library use.  Print materials and media items that have been placed on reserve are available at the Circulation Desk.

Others readings are provided in electronic format. These online electronic reserves, or "e-reserves," can be accessed by UNCA students, faculty and staff from any computer with an Internet connection.

ABC Express Service

UNCA library users have easy access to borrow materials from our neighboring WNCLN (Western North Carolina Library Network) university libraries -- Appalachian State University (ASU) in Boone, and Western Carolina University (WCU) in Cullowhee. This network of university libraries has arranged for the cooperative lending of library materials such as books, journals, and microfilm.

ABC Express Service is available to students, faculty and staff at all three institutions. Consult ABC Express information screens available from the online library catalog for delivery dates and schedules. Feel free to ask for help at the Research Support Desk when requesting materials via ABC Express, and pick up your requested items at the Circulation Desk on the expected arrival date.

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan provides access to materials not held by our three network libraries, and enables users to borrow books or obtain journal articles from other lending libraries in the U.S.  Requests may or may not include a charge that varies depending upon the lending library, and requested materials are usually available within two weeks. 

Classroom & Instructional Technology Support (CITS)

CITS services include classroom technical support, distance learning services, WebCT & instructional support, maintenance of campus auditoria, and video & audio production services and facilities.

Special Collections

Special Collections houses special books, manuscripts, photographs, and other items that require special protection because of their rarity, value, or relevance to UNCA. Due to their exceptional nature, Special Collections materials do not circulate, and must be viewed in the on-site reading room facility.  Please consult their homepage for hours, finding aids and further information.

Government Information

Ramsey Library is a selective depository for United States government publications and for North Carolina state government publications. Any user may consult government publications in Ramsey Library or receive assistance in locating government information.

Technical Services

A lot of work goes on behind the scenes in any library to acquire books, audiovisual materials and periodicals, and to create a library catalog that keeps everything organized. Dedicated technical services staff perform duties and services including acquisitions, cataloging, serials and systems maintenance.

Locations

Materials in Ramsey Library are kept in various locations. The most frequently used locations are indicated in the library catalog and are listed below. For detailed layouts of the Main, Lower and Upper floors, please link to view Ramsey Library maps.

  • UNCA GENERAL -- circulating books in the general collection, located on the Upper (A - P) or Lower (Q - Z) Floor depending on the call number. 
  • UNCA REFERENCE -- non-circulating books (in other words, books that you cannot check out such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.) located in the Reference Collection on the Main Floor. 
  • UNCA PERIODICALS -- magazines, journals, or newspapers on the Main Floor; located either on the current shelves (most recent years), in the bound shelving area, or on microfilm in the Lower Floor microforms area. 
  • UNCA RESERVES -- items reserved by an instructor for a specific course. Print and media reserve materials are at the Circulation Desk, and electronic reserves are available online via the website.
  • UNCA OVERSIZE -- larger and odd-sized books, located in a special section on the Upper Floor.
  • UNCA SPEC COLL -- rare or special items located in the Special Collections room on the Upper Floor.
  • UNCA DVD or VIDEO CASS -- items are located in the media room on the Main Floor
  • UNCA FED DOC -- items are located in the Government (Federal) Documents area on the Main Floor.

 

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This page created by Janet Ferguson. Last updated 20 September 2007. Comments to the Library Web Team.

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