Frequently Asked Questions
Basics
1. Who can use the Library?
2. What are your hours? Are you open on Patriots' Day? National Nurses Day? Bastille Day?
3. Where is the Library located? How do I get there?
Books and Borrowing
4. How many books can I check out?
5. For how long can I check out a book? How much are late fines?
6. Can I renew my books online?
7. I'm living in Siberia. How can I pay my fines?
8. What should I do if I can't find a book on the shelf?
9. What can I do if someone else has checked out a book I really need?
10. What is my PIN?
11. Where can I find videos and DVDs? Can I check them out?
Computers and Printing
12. Do you have wireless? Can I print from my wireless laptop?
13. I'm out of ECcash. How can I print? How do I add more money to my card?
14. How do I reserve a laptop?
15. Why are there always classes in the Library Classroom ("computer lab")?
16. What software is available in the Library Classroom ("computer lab")?
17. Where can I type a paper if there is a class in the Library Classroom ("computer lab")?
Off Campus and Other Libraries
18. What can I access from my apartment? My dormroom? My handheld, while flying over Siberia?
19. Do I have access to other libraries in the area?
20. How do I get a book or article from another library if Emerson doesn't have what I need?
Research
21. How can I get help with research?
22. How can I get help with citation formatting?
23. To whom do I ask a question about copyright and fair use?
24. I have a citation for a book or article. How do I get the full text?
The Rest
25. My great-great-granduncle went to Emerson. Can I see his records?
Basics
1. Who can use the Library?
In the summer and after 6:30 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters, you will need a valid Emerson ID or an ID from a Fenway Libraries Online (FLO) or Fenway Library Consortium (FLC) school in order to enter the Library Building. If you are a researcher not affiliated with a FLO or FLC institution, please contact reference@emerson.edu or 617.824.8674 for information about access.
Only current Emerson students, staff and faculty, FLO and FLC member library patrons, and alumni with a borrowing card can check materials out.
2. What are your hours? Are you open on Bastille Day? Patriots' Day? National Nurses Day?
Our hours, while fall and spring classes are in session, are:
| Monday - Thursday | 7:45 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | Noon – 11:00 p.m. |
This schedule differs during intersessions and summer semesters. For a full schedule and hours of operation, see the Library Hours and Calendar page.
We are generally open for reduced hours on one day holidays that fall during a semester (e.g. Columbus, Veterans, and Presidents' Days), and closed on those that fall during intersessions (e.g. Labor and Martin Luther King Jr. Days). Check the calendar on the Library Hours and Calendar page for the current schedule.
3. Where is the Library located? How do I get there?
The Library is on the 3rd floor of 120 Boylston Street. The Media Collection, which houses multimedia materials, is on the 3rd floor of 180 Tremont Street. Use your favorite online map directions, or see our Directions page to learn how to navigate the Boston streets or public transportation to our door.
Books and Borrowing
4. How many books can I check out?
As many as you need, or can reasonably carry. Really. Try it out sometime.
5. For how long can I check out a book? How much are late fines?
This handy little table might help you out.
| Patron Type | Borrowing Period | Grace Period | Fines per item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 28 Days | 7 Days | .25/Day, $15 Max. |
| Faculty | up to 1 year* | none | No fines |
| Staff | Term Loan | 36 Days | .25/Day, $15 Max. |
| Alumni | 28 Days | 7 Days | .25/Day, $15 Max. |
| Consortium Borrower | 28 Days | 7 Days | .25/Day, $15 Max |
*Faculty year loans apply only to circulating books from the Emerson College Library and are subject to the same circulation regulations as any other transaction including recalls and replacement costs. 1 year loans may not be renewed.
6. Can I renew my books online?
Definitely! Through the Library Catalog, you can use your PIN Number to access My Account. You can renew books there as long as it is before their due date. In that case, you will have to come in to the library to renew the book.
7. I'm living in Siberia. How can I pay my fines?
I hope you are wearing your warm woolen mittens. Fines may be paid through the mail by check, or in person with cash or check. You might want to call 617.824.8668 and find out how much you owe.
8. What should I do if I can't find a book on the shelf?
Ask for help at the Reference or Circulation Desk. It may be that the book is checked out, has recently been returned and has not yet been reshelved, or that it is missing. There are missing book forms you can fill out to have a staff member track down a missing book.
9. What can I do if someone else has checked out a book I really need?
Because of our respect for your privacy, we will never give out the name of someone who has a book checked out. You can put a hold on that book through the Library Catalog (My Account), so that when it is returned, you will be notified. If your need is immediate, we might be able to get the book from another library or find the book somewhere close by for you to take a look at.
10. What is my PIN?
Your PIN for the Library Catalog is used to log in to My Account, which shows you the books you have checked out, allows you to request books from other FLO libraries, and lets you see if you owe any fines or fees. To get a PIN, visit the Circulation or Reference Desk, or call 617.824.8668.
11. Where can I find videos, DVDs, and CDs? Can I check them out?
Videos and DVDs are generally kept in the Media Collection, on the 3rd floor of 180 Tremont (Ansin Building). To find out if you can check out a video or audio item, the chart below may be helpful.
| Patron Type | CDs, LPs, audiotapes | DVDs, VHS, 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Students | 28 Days | can only be viewed at MSC |
| Faculty | Term Loan | 2 weeks |
| Staff | Term Loan | 24 hours, if not needed for classes |
| Alumni | 28 Days | can only be viewed at MSC |
| Consortium Borrower | 28 Days | can only be viewed at MSC |
Videos and CDs that are part of a Master's Thesis Project are usually kept in the Archives. Those materials may not be checked out, but may be viewed by contacting the Archivist and setting up an appointment
Computers and Printing
12. Do you have wireless? Can I print from my wireless laptop?
We do indeed have wireless, which you are welcome to experience with your laptop, or a laptop that you check out from the Reserve Desk. You should be able to access the network from just about anywhere in the library, after logging into the network with your ECnet username and password. To set up your laptop to print to the library printer, follow the instructions on the Emerson Helpdesk website.
13. I'm out of Print Credits and ECcash. How can I print? How do I add more money to my card?
In order to print, you need to refill your card with ECcash. You can do that either in person at Student Financial Services (where it takes 24 hours to be credited), or online (where it shows up immediately). If you are desperate to print something on your way to class, you might ask a friend to use their card and return the favor sometime in the future.
14. How do I reserve a laptop?
You may either sign up for a laptop in person, at the Reserve Desk, or call 617.824.8668 and reserve one over the phone. Wireless laptops are available to be checked out for 2 hours at a time and must be used within the library.
15. Why are there always classes in the Library Classroom ("computer lab")?
Though often called a "computer lab" by unsuspecting students, the room in the library with all of the computers is actually the Library Classroom, primarily used for scheduled instruction for hundreds of classes each year. When there happen to be no classes scheduled, it may be used by individual students to type papers, work on projects, and other general computer activities.
16. What software is available in the Library Classroom ("computer lab")?
The highlights are Microsoft Office, Director, Dreamweaver, Final Draft, Fireworks, Flash, Illustrator, Pagemaker, Photoshop, and QuarkXpress. For a detailed listing, see the Software Availability Chart from the Emerson Helpdesk. The Library Classroom has the same software as the first Lab listed, the 3DL.
17. Where can I type a paper if there is a class in the Library Classroom ("computer lab")?
There are many other computer labs on campus. These are administered by the Helpdesk, which maintains a lab information page on their website. Check there to see what software or hardware each lab has, as well as the time the labs will be unavailable due to scheduled classes. You might also want to use one of the Library's laptops, available at the Reserve Desk.
Off Campus and Other Libraries
18. What can I access from my apartment? My dormroom? My handheld, while flying over Siberia?
Most of our databases and our Library Catalog can be accessed from anywhere with a network connection. You must access databases through the Library website, and enter your ECnet username and password when prompted. There are a few databases, such as Baseline, Snapshots, and Hollywood Creative Directory, that must be accessed from within the library.
19. Do I have access to other libraries in the area?
If you are a current Emerson student, faculty, or staff member, you do indeed. You can access and check out circulating books from any of the libraries that are members of the Fenway Libraries Online or the Fenway Library Consortium. Just by having your Emerson ID you are eligible to get a Boston Public Library card. With all of the fantastic material available through the BPL, you should definitely get one!
20. How do I get a book or article from another library if Emerson doesn't have what I need?
As wonderful a library as we have at Emerson, we can't always find everything we need. We understand that, which is why it is easy to get books and articles from other libraries. Follow the helpful step-by-step instructions on our website to point you to the right place to order the item. Our Interlibrary Loan Department will make every effort to get the book or article for you. Don't hesitate to ask a librarian if you need help finding something.
Research
21. How can I get help with research?
Depending on how detailed your question is, you have many options. For brief questions, try AIM or Yahoo! (our screen name is EmersonReference), MSN or Google Talk (screen name reference@emerson.edu), email (reference@emerson.edu), or phone (617.824.8674). If you need more detailed and extensive help you can either come in person to the Reference Desk, or call and make a research appointment with one of our reference librarians (617.824.8675). We can usually schedule a half hour or an hour to sit down with you and help you with your research. Here are all of your contact options on one page.
22. How can I get help with citation formatting?
We just happen to have a nifty page devoted entirely to citing references, How to Cite References. If your question is not answered there, we have copies of the guides for each of the major styles in the Reference Collection. Someone at the Reference Desk will be able to help you format your citations.
23. To whom do I ask a question about copyright and fair use?
Copyright and intellectual property issues, for both students and faculty, are not easy to understand. We have an email address where you can receive a prompt answer to your query, copyright@emerson.edu.
24. I have a citation for a book or article. How do I get the full text?
Take a look at How to Find a Journal or Newspaper, which takes you through the process. Since this is one of the most challenging research tasks, don't hesitate to ask a librarian about it.
The Rest
25. My great-great-granduncle went to Emerson. Can I see his records?
Access to student transcripts is restricted while the individual is still alive. If the subject of inquiry is deceased, privacy rights regarding student transcripts expire along with them.
Even if you are not granted access to transcripts, there are other public documents like the Emersonian yearbook, Berkeley Beacon newspapers, and master's theses that might allow you to learn about someone's time at Emerson. Contact Scott Sand (617.824.8336) for assistance.
