Tips for New Students
20 Helpful Library Tips for Student Success:
A Guide to the Drake Memorial Library
If you “can’t find anything” about your topic for your research project, don’t forget the library resources, including live help!
1) Live Help! Ask Questions!
Librarians are available almost all hours that the library is open, including until 1:45 a.m.
The “Ask a Librarian” service is available:
- In person at the library’s information desk
- Via Phone: 585-395-2760
- Via Email: drakeref@brockport.edu
- Via Instant Messenger: AOL screen name = DRAKEREF
- Via instant chat on the library web page.
When you are not sure where to start or if you need something more, please ask.
2) Drake Library Web site http://www.brockport.edu/library
Resources available both on and off-campus to students, faculty, and staff. The ability to navigate through the resources on this page will help you complete your research more effectively and efficiently.
3) Drake Library Hours (Regular hours during the semester) - http://www.brockport.edu/library/about/hours.html
Mon. – Thurs. 7:45 a.m. – 1:45 a.m.
Friday 7:45 a.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 a.m.
4) Information Technology Services (ITS)
ITS provides support for the computer labs on campus. The ITS Help Desk is on the main floor of the library. Students may stop by, call 395-5151, or email helpdesk@brockport.edu
5) Computer Access / Learning Commons / Educational Technology Center
Access to over 200 computers, including Macs. Laser printing is available for all students via networked laser printers.
6) Wi-Fi Access
Drake Library has wireless capability throughout and just outside the building. Use your own wireless laptop in the library to connect to the campus network and printers.
7) Meeting and Study Rooms
Individual and group study rooms are available on the second floor for collaborative study and research. Group study rooms may be reserved by using our Room Request form.
8) Find Articles
Easy access to over 70 databases with both full-text articles and citations to articles. Databases are arranged by subject, if you’re not sure where to start. Everything is NOT always available in full text!
9) Off-Campus Database Access
All of the links to databases within the Drake Library Web site are available on or off-campus to current students, faculty, and staff with a valid NetID.
10) Magazines and Journals
Drake Library owns about 1900 periodical subscriptions in hard copy and over 30,000 full text titles available electronically.
Microfilm and microfiche collection – Ground Floor
Current magazines and journals – Main Floor
Bound volumes (back issues) – Ground Floor
11) All other Types of Materials Books,
Call Numbers A – Z 2nd Floor/Top Floor
Reference Books 1st Floor/Main Floor
Video/DVD collection 1st Floor, back right corner
Audio collection 1st Floor/Main floor by stairs
Juvenile collection Ground Floor, in the “reading room”
Reserves 1st Floor, Circulation desk
12) Interlibrary Loan for Books, Magazine and Journal Articles
Provides books and articles from magazines and journals not available at the Drake Library. Books typically arrive within one week, often less. Articles are typically delivered via email in 1-7 days. The service is FREE for most items.
13) Drake Library Catalog
Find books and other materials - contains most of the cataloged books, government, publications, periodicals, computer files, and videos/DVD’s in the library. Over 300,000 items; over 250,000 unique titles. Checkout material for 4 weeks and renew as needed using your Brockport ID card.
14) Your Library Account
You can access your library account online to see what materials you have checked out and renew materials online.
15) Library of Congress Classification System
Books and other materials in the Drake Library are organized by the Library of Congress (LC) Classification System: a combination of letters and numbers indicating the location or “address” of an item.
16) Find a Magazine or Journal title FULL-TEXT
If you know the title of the journal or magazine you need, use the link: “Journals & Newspapers Listing” If the library has access to it, you will be linked directly to it.
17) Citation and Bibliography Styles link
Use this list of sites that will help you cite information ethically using APA, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style, or other formats.
18) Government Publications
Drake Library is a federal and state depository for government documents. Government publications are listed in the Drake Library Catalog, and most CAN be checked out of the Library.
19) College Archives
Brockport Writer’s Forum video collection (in process of being digitized). Online index to the Stylus, the student newspaper. Documents related to the history of the college and western NY.
20) The Aerie Café
Located next to the entrance of the First Floor of the Library Serves a wide range of beverages, snacks and light meals: a great place for a late night snack!
