Lovejoy Library

Lydia Jackson
Instruction Librarian

Roy Tennant, noted author and librarian at University of California at Berkeley once said, "There is no road map, only adventures" in life. Life at Lovejoy Library can be both a road map and a unique adventure. The library is committed to helping students gain knowledge in conducting research, locating and evaluating relevant sources. The faculty at Lovejoy Library provides students with the necessary instruction and resources needed to meet their course objectives. The library is open almost 100 hours per week. However, hours may vary during breaks, exams and administrative closures. Please check the library's Web site for the current hours at http://www.library.siue.edu/lib/hours0.html or call 650-2603.

How can students make the best use of Lovejoy Library? First, one must take the road map approach. The road map offers a guide to where you are going. In a library, survival depends on knowing what you need and where to find it. There are a number of seminars available to become familiar with the facilities and services. A schedule of sessions can be found at http://www.library.siue.edu/lib/seminar.html or by calling 650-2604.

Second, one must be devoted to their studies. Projects and assignments by professors and instructors must be taken seriously. Librarians and library staff are willing and ready to assist students at the Information Desk. However, it is essential to start early and have a clear understanding of the assignment. Before a librarian can be of assistance, students must understand the professors' requirements.

Third, students coming to the library should be prepared to spend the time necessary to conduct research. This is not always a quick process. Some assignments cannot be completed using one database, article or book. Students need to be flexible in the time they devote to class assignments and willing to analyze the information retrieved.

Fourth, students need to be willing to ask questions. Librarians select resources to support the curricula, prepare research guides and develop effective search strategies to aid students. Students may want to schedule an appointment with a subject librarian to discuss how best to start the process. The names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of subject librarians can be found at http://www.library.siue.edu/lis/contact1.html.

Finally, the library is not just a place for completing course assignments. Artwork, music collections and even leisure reading materials are available. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to visit and check out what the library has to offer.