Project 1 - Library visit

I visited the CSULB library. This was my first visit there since I graduated from CSULB 5 years ago.

If you have never been to this library it is located near the top of the hill on the CSULB campus at 1250 Bellflower Boulevard. The library’s main phone number is 562-985-8472. Their website is www.csulb.edu/library.

Give yourself some time to explore. The library is 5 stories tall. Well, actually 6 with the lower underground level. This link gives a detailed description of the library’s collection http://www.csulb.edu/library/guide/loc/index.html. They use the Library of Congress classification system.

If you need assistance ask one of the reference librarians. The reference collection is on the 1st floor. You can make a one-on-one appointment with one of the subject specialist librarians for more in-depth assistance. I took advantage of this as a student and it made my life easier in my upper division classes. This library also has distance assistance available 24/7 via a link on the library’s home page.

The CSULB library’s hours differ depending on the time of year and day of the week. For instance, in June to August the library is open from 8:00 am to 9:30 pm Mondays-Thursdays. Fridays they open at 8:00 am and close at 5:00 pm. Saturdays they have shorter hours – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sundays they are closed. They are also closed on Independence Day.

When the fall 2009 semester start the library is open longer to accommodate the students, as would be expected. Starting August 31st the hours are Mondays to Thursdays 7:00 am to Midnight. Fridays are 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Saturdays are 9:30 am to 5:00 pm and Sundays are 12:30 pm to Midnight. They are closed on Thanksgiving Day.

The library’s OPAC is called COAST. You don’t have to be a current library user to access it. I did a simple search in COAST using “art history” as my search term and my search brought back over 5,000 results. I was able to see which books were available, which were checked out and when they were due, etc. They have a large collection.

I was excited to see that anyone with a computer can access close to 40 databases with links provided on the CSULB library’s site. Click on this link to see a list of the databases: http://csulb.edu/library/eref/alumni_databases.html. You may not be able to get the full text of articles, but you can request ILL articles.

I was curious to see if I could check items out. And I can - alumni can get a library card once they join the CSULB Alumni Association (I need to do that!).

Current community college students, such as those of us at Long Beach City College, can check out items as long as you have a current student ID card. I wish I had known that while working on my A.A. degree. Please click on this link to read the reciprocal borrowing agreements between LBCC and CSULB libraries http://csulb.edu/library/guide/LBCC_guide.pdf.

Even high school students can use the CSULB library. Library staff will issue them a special card. This applies ONLY to high school students in the Long Beach, Los Angeles and West Orange County students.

So please do yourself a favor and check out the CSULB library. I know I’ll be back.