Tutorials
Books and Other Materials
- Request items from the EOU Pierce Library catalog
- Request items from the Summit catalog (Oregon and Washington academic institutions)
- Request items from the Sage Library System (EOU and libraries of eastern Oregon)
- Request items from WorldCat (libraries worldwide)
- Request items following a Google Books search
- Renewing library materials
- Request items from other OCLC databases (books, government docs., papers, medical research, etc.)
Journal Articles
- General instructions for searching subscription databases
- Guidelines for using SIRS Researcher's Topic Browse feature
- Research and request articles online from ArticleFirst (OCLC--worldwide catalog)
- Request items from other OCLC databases (books, government docs., papers, medical research, etc.)
- Interlibrary loan request using the online forms available from the Pierce Library home page
- Search tips for EBSCO research databases
Books and Other Materials
Request items from the EOU Pierce Library catalog
Begin at the EOU Catalog, or use the search box labeled "Books & more" on the library home page. Enter terms in the search field and click on "Search," or use the Advanced Search link for a more detailed search.
The location and availability of each item is listed in the search results. If you see "By Request" in the location, choose "Request" from the title information in the result list, and log in with your EOU ID number and library password. Continue with your request according to these pickup and delivery options:
If you live in Union County and would like to pick the item up in the library, choose "EOU Pierce Library" as the pickup location at the next screen. You will receive an email notification when the item is ready to pick up at the Circulation Desk.
If you live in Union County and would like the item delivered to a library near you, choose any library listed as a pickup location. You will be able to pick up the item at that library. You are not responsible for return postage if materials are returned to the same library.
If you live outside of Union County, you may have the item delivered to any library listed as a pickup location, or you can have it mailed to you. You are responsible for return postage for items mailed to you.
Additional information and materials delivery options can be found here.
Using record summary details
You can choose a title from search results to see complete record summary details. Location and status (availability) of the item is included in the copy summary information near the bottom of the page. Be sure to check the shelving location.
Examples of shelving locations:
- Main Collection Locate this item by call number in the main collection stacks.
- Reference This item is in the reference area, for library use only.
- Closed Stacks/Periodicals - Ask at Circ Desk This is a print journal in storage. Contact the circulation desk to request the issue you need.
Request items from the Summit catalog
Go to the search page for the Summit catalog, or use the search form labeled "Books & more" on the library home page. Enter search terms and click on "Search," or use the Advanced Search link for a more detailed search.
Select the title you wish to borrow from the results list, and then choose "Request Summit Item." Select Eastern Oregon University as the institution with which you are affiliated, log in with your EOU ID number and library password, and fill in and submit the "Request This Item" form.
The material will be sent to Pierce Library within 5-7 business days, and you will receive an email notification. We ask that students living in Union County pick up interlibrary loan requests in person in order to reduce our shipping costs.
Students living outside of Union County have two options for Summit catalog materials delivery.
Request items from the Sage Library System catalog (EOU and libraries of eastern Oregon)
Go to the search page for the Sage Library System catalog, or use the search area labeled "Books & more" on the library home page. Select "Sage catalog," from the menu, enter search terms and click on "Search," or used the Advanced Search link for a more detailed search.
Request the item from the search result list, where you will also see item location and availability, or link to the title to see a complete record summary and request it from there. If you live in Union County, we ask that you pick up interlibrary loan items in person in person in order to save shipping costs. Log in with your EOU ID number and library password and choose "EOU Pierce Library" as the pickup location at the next screen. You will receive an email notification as soon as the item is available for check-out at the Circulation desk in the library.
If you live in Union County and would like the item delivered to a library near you, choose any other library listed as a pickup location after you log in. The item will be delivered to that library for check-out. You are not responsible for return postage if materials are returned to the same library.
If you live outside of Union County, you also have the option of having the item delivered to any library listed as a pickup location, or you can have it mailed to you. If you choose to have an item mailed to you, please include your home address in the special instructions section of the request form. You are responsible for return postage for items mailed to you.
Additional information and materials delivery options can be found here.
Request items from WorldCat (libraries worldwide)
Please try to find materials in the EOU, Summit, and Sage Library System catalogs before using WorldCat; it will usually take longer for WorldCat requests to arrive. If you are unable to locate the item you need from the other library catalogs, use the search form on the library home page labeled "Books & more." Select "WorldCat," enter search terms, and click on "Search," or use the Advanced Search link for a more detailed search.
We ask that students living in Union County pick up interlibrary loan requests in person in order to reduce our shipping costs. Interlibrary loan materials requested from WorldCat libraries will be mailed to the home address of students living outside of Union County.
Request items following a Google Book search
Go to the search page for Google Books, or use the search form on the library home page labeled "Books & more." For books that are out of copyright, or where the publisher has given permission, you will be able to see a preview or the entire text of the book.
If the full text is not available from Google Books, search the other library catalogs for a copy as described above.
Renewing library materials
Look at the bookband to see if a renewal request can be made. If a renewal is permitted, please make the request 2-3 days prior to the due date.
- If the book was obtained through the Sage Library System, you can renew it online. Log in to renew items at "My Account" on the Pierce Library home page. After you access your account, you can view and renew the items you have checked out, unless another patron has placed a hold on the item.
- Summit catalog items cannot be renewed.
- For interlibrary loan renewals, contact the Interlibrary Loan Department by phone at 541-962-3735 or by email. Make sure to give us your full name and the title of the book you are renewing. One renewal of interlibrary loan material is allowed by most libraries. Borrowers are allowed to retain the book for one week after the due date pending approval or disapproval from the lending library. If approved, borrowers are notified of the new due date via email. Renewal requests are not possible if the book has become overdue.
Journal Articles
General Instructions for Searching Subscription Databases
Registered students have access to all Pierce Library subscription databases. To use databases from off campus, you will need to log in with your EOU ID number and library password.
To search an online database, go to the library home page. Select the Databases tab and click on "List" to bring up the alphabetical list of databases. Academic Search Premier is a good database to start with because it is a large, general purpose database with many full-text articles. After entering the search terms and optionally selecting a search field, click on the "Search" button. This basic search method can be used in any database.
If a search field (title, author, subject, etc.) is not selected, the terms will be searched as keywords that appear anywhere in the article. Below the search term windows there are typically options that will narrow your search. For instance, in EBSCO databases you can check the "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" or "Full Text" boxes.
Sometimes databases include abstracts, or summaries, of articles, but not the full text of the articles. In these cases, you may see a link to "Find It@EOU." Follow the link to search for the full text in other databases to which EOU subscribes and in our print collection. If we don't have access to the article, you will be directed to a form that will allow you to request the article through Interlibrary Loan.
We encourage you to explore the wide range of databases available to you. If you are unable to locate an article in our online databases, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) using the Article Request Form. Look for ILL on the "Services" menu on the library web site.
Guidelines for using SIRS Issues Researcher's Topic Browse feature
Access SIRS Issues Researcher from the library home page by selecting the Databases tab and clicking on "List." The database contains current articles (all full-text) and graphics covering general reference, social issues, maps, health, science, business and government.
Topic Browse is useful when you want to search for a possible research topic or to narrow down a general topic to a more specific area.
- Select the "Topic Browse" tab and then select the topic you wish to browse.
- Subtopics and/or titles appear. The most recent article titles appear first when viewing the full-text databases. Internet sites appear in alphabetical order.
SIRS Researcher is a valuable tool for researchers, and also provides resources and standards correlations by state for educators.
Research and request articles online from ArticleFirst (OCLC--worldwide catalog)
Go to the library home page and select the Databases tab. Click on "List" to bring up the alphabetical list of databases. Scroll down the page to find ArticleFirst.
Choose search fields - author, title, source (journal title), publication date, etc. - to find articles needed. When you find the article, click on the title to bring up the bibliographic record.
Each article record will include a button and link to "Find It@EOU." If full-text is available, you will be sent to the article. If it is not, you will see information about obtaining it from a print journal in the library, or a link to request the document via Interlibrary Loan.
Articles can typically be located and emailed to you electronically. Learn more about electronic document delivery (Ariel) in the library FAQ, which is also available beneath the "Help" menu.
Requesting from other OCLC databases (books, gov docs, papers, medical research, etc.)
Access OCLC databases by the method used for searching ArticleFirst above.
When the OCLC FirstSearch screen comes up, click on the down arrow next to ArticleFirst to see a list of databases. Choose WorldCat for books, GPO for government documents, Medline for medical research, PapersFirst for research presented at scholarly meetings, etc. Proceed with research and request functions as described in the ArticleFirst procedure above.
Interlibrary loan request using the online forms available from the Pierce Library home page
Interlibrary Loan and the book and article request forms can be found on the library home page beneath the "Services" menu. If you are unable to locate library materials by the methods outlined above, fill out the appropriate form and submit it. The request will be processed by the Interlibrary Loan department, and you will be notified upon arrival, or the material will be sent to you.
Additional information about the interlibrary loan process can be found on the library FAQ, which is also available beneath the "Research Help" menu.
