Who may borrow from the library?
How do I register to borrow from the library?
How do I check out a book?
How do I check out a journal?
How do I find out what I have checked out?
For how long may I borrow something?
How can I borrow a laptop?
How can I renew something?
How do I return books (or anything else)?
Where do I make a photocopy?
How can I get copies of things at the Eisenhower library?

Who may borrow from the library?
You may borrow from the library if you are an employee of AURA, ESA, CSC, a long-term visitor with an STScI ID card and assigned office, or with permission of the librarian.

How do I register to borrow from the library?
Register to borrow by completing the registration form near the circulation workstation and giving it to the librarian.

How do I check out a book?
To check out a book, click on the Circulation window on the workstation (right hand side); click on the stamp icon (upper left of window), enter your username, scan the book's item number, click close, and then go away.

How do I check out a journal?
In theory, journals don't circulate except to copying machines. In practice, one may check out a journal for a short time (other than the current issue, please!) by filling out the manual circulation sheet (next to the barcode scanner).

How do I find out what I have checked out?
Click on the "user display " icon in the Circulation window. Enter your user name and all items charged to you will be listed. You may also do this from within the online catalog: click on "my account" and log in with your username and PIN (which is the same as your username).

For how long may I borrow something?
The length of time you may borrow something depends the item you are borrowing. For most materials, there is a nominal due date of one year, but as long as items are kept in your office, they may be renewed indefinitely. Short-term visitors may borrow under their sponsor's privileges, and registered non-staff may borrow for up to one month.

How can I borrow a laptop?
To borrow a laptop, see one of the library staff or email the librarian. Generally the loan period is for up to six weeks.

How can I renew something?
To renew something, reply to the overdue notice from the librarian. You may also renew materials from within the online catalog by clicking on "my account" and logging in (username and PIN are the same).

How do I return books (or anything else)?
To return something, leave it on the book truck. When you return a laptop, please be sure one of the staff is present to accept it.

Where do I make a photocopy?
If you want to copy something you may take it to any of the several copy machines in the building. The closest is left out of the library and left at the first hallway (see below for other copy machines on this floor).

How can I get copies of things at the Eisenhower library?
To get copies of things at the Eisenhower library, you may use the copy card available from a library staff member.

Searching for...

Where can I find citations to papers?
Where are the journals?
Where are the observatory publications?
How can I look up books on a certain topic, or a general list of similar books, such as catalogs or SPIE proceedings?
How can I find a book by a particular author and/or title?
Where can I find physical reference data?
What if an item is not on the shelf ?
What do I do if the library doesn't have what I need?

Where can I find citations to papers?
Citations may be done in several ways: the major printed source is A&A Abstracts (Z 5153.A862) shelved in the Reference section. A&A Abstracts is also available online via ARIBIB. The primary online source is the Astrophysics Data System. Other electronic sources are available from the published papers link.

Where are the journals?
Journals are in aisles 1A-5A. An alphabetical finding list is hanging on aisle 1A; journals are also listed in the catalog. Please note that several journals issued by societies are under the name of the society. Items at the bindery have a red flag in its place on the shelf and will be back within 2 weeks. Many titles are also available electronically (see the library's published papers page) or at JHU. If you cannot locate what you want, please contact the librarian.

Where are the observatory publications?
Observatory publications and exchanges are located in aisles 5A-6A shelved alphabetically by source, e.g., NOAO, ST ScI, NRAO; or by location (Armagh, Bonn, etc.).

How can I look up books on a certain topic, or a general list of similar books, such as catalogs or SPIE proceedings?
To find a certain topic, or for a general list of similar books, such as catalogs or SPIE, use the online catalog, Keyword or Subject Heading searches. For a numbered conference, enter the number (or the number followed by ??) as a keyword. IAU colloquia and symposia are in aisle 6B.

How can I find a book by a particular author and/or title?
For a particular author or book, use the online catalog, Title or Author search.

How can I find physical reference data?
For physical reference data, use the excellent resources at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology.

What if an item is not on the shelf?
If an item is not on the shelf, it may be misshelved, removed briefly to read in the library or make a photocopy, loaned out or it may be missing. Use the online catalog to see the current status and borrower. If the item is not misshelved or loaned out, and you do not see another patron with it, please notify one of the library staff. She may be able to get what you want from another source.

What if the library doesn't have what I need?
It's (we hope) relatively rare that we don't have something and it is even rarer that we can't get it from somewhere else, so if you can't find what you want, please ask. We'll do our best to get whatever you require for your functional or scientific work (but not for your kid's homework!).

Do we have...

a dictionary?
encyclopedia?
membership directories?
Books in Print?
thesaurus?
telephone book?

Do we have a dictionary?
There is a large dictionary on a table in the reading area. Others, including several foreign language dictionaries, are on the reference shelves or available electronically. While within the stsci.edu domain, you may also use the Oxford English Dictionary or the Merriam-Webster unabridged.

Do we have an encyclopedia?
The Encyclopedia Britannica is available electronically and there is a CD version (without ads!) of the 2002 edition on PC Chopin. For those who prefer paper, there is a one volume encyclopedia on a table in the reading area.

Do we have membership directories?
Membership directories (AAS, etc.) are on the reference shelves in the reading area. Many are also available online from the Other Resources page.

Do we have Books in Print?
Books in Print is available electronically via FirstSearch.

Do we have a thesaurus?
A copy of Roget's Thesaurus is in reference in the reading area. A thesaurus is also part of our Merriam-Webster subscription.

Do we have a telephone book?
Baltimore telephone books are on the top reference shelf in the reading area.

Equipment to help you

Is there a public access PC?
Where are the copy machines?
Is there a light table?
Where can I sharpen a pencil?
What is the default printer for library workstations?
Is there a microform reader/printer?
Is there a scanner attached to a public computer?
What/who is pandora ?
What should I do if a piece of equipment doesn't work properly?

Is there a public access PC?
PC Chopin, located just outside the Chart Room in the north end of the library, is available for public use. You may access your remote email account, and use a web browser, Microsoft Word, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the scanner, and several other services.

Where are the copy machines?
Copy machines are located in three places on the 4th floor:
• turn left out of the library and left again at the first hallway.
• turn right out of the library in N409.
• turn left out of the library and follow that hallway around to the south end, outside room S410.
There are also copiers on all the other floors, including the Copy Center in SG08.

Is there a light table?
A light table is in the Chart Room at the north end of the library. There is also a smaller light box, that may be borrowed, in the Chart Room.

Where can I sharpen a pencil?
You may borrow our nifty manual sharpener.

What is the default printer for the library workstations?
The default printer for the library is hp27. Turn left as you leave the library and left into the first doorway, room 411.

Is there a microform reader/printer?
A reader/printer for microfiche and microfilm is near the reading area of the library. The on/off switch is around the right side and there are loading instructions on the tray on the right for microfiche and below the spool on the left for microfilm.

Is there a scanner attached to a public computer?
There are two scanners attached to PC Chopin at the north end of the library. Directions for use are in the notebook on the table. The smaller one creates PDFs for scanned documents.

What/who is pandora?
Pandora is a unix workstation by the door to the balcony. Its primary function is access to the library home page, but may be used for checking remote email as well by using telnet://your.machine.name in the URL box or any other web-accessible email client.

What should I do if a piece of equipment doesn't work properly?
If a piece of equipment doesn't work properly or isn't responding the way you think it should :
• for copier problems, notify the Copy Center at extension 2619, room SG08.
• for library workstation problems, notify one of the library staff.
• for printer problems, notify the helpdesk electronically or at extension 4400.
• for scanner problems, notify one of the library staff.

Miscellaneous

How can I obtain a copy of an instrument handbook?
How can I access electronic journals from outside the ST ScI domain?
How can I get a Hopkins (MSEL) library card?
How do I get my paper into the ST ScI eprint series?
How can I make a suggestion or comment?

How can I obtain a copy of an instrument handbook?
Instrument handbooks are available online. Paper copies can be obtained from Dixie Shipley in N410B.

How can I access electronic journals from outside the ST ScI domain?
One may "fake" being in the ST ScI domain by using our proxy server or by having the helpdesk provide you with the VPN client.

How can I get a library card for the Hopkins library (MSEL)?
Contact Human Resources. There is a form to be filled out that HR then sends to the Eisenhower Library.

How do I get my paper into the ST ScI eprint series?
Contact Sharon Toolan who can supply you with an eprint number and even help you format and submit your paper.

How can I make a suggestion or comment?
To make a suggestion or comment, you can see one of the library staff, email the librarian, or phone the librarian at x4961. Please include your name and how to reach you in case we have a question or need to respond.


		Ask-a-Librarian!
		Email: library [at] stsci [dot] edu Call: 410-338-4961 Mail: STScI Library 3700 San Martin Drive Baltimore, MD 21218


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Merriam-Webster Unabridged

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