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Research Help

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Library FAQ

  • Currently enrolled Cal Poly Humboldt students, staff, and faculty can borrow laptops on a first-come, first-served basis. 

    We have a variety of laptops, including:

    • 3 day Dell Laptops
    • 3 week Dell Laptops
    • Semester-long MacBooks
    • 3 week MacBooks
    • Semester-long Chromebooks
    • 3 week iPads
    • Semester-long iPads

    Check out our laptop availability on the Equipment Libguide.

    There are no renewals for digital media equipment. Re-checking out laptop loans depends on availability and is not guaranteed.

    Staff and Faculty needing a laptop longer than what we have available should check in with their department or IT services

    If you have questions, please email libcirculation@Humboldt.edu.  For technical questions, please email Tech Help at Help@Humboldt.edu or call 707-826-4357

    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 348
  • Students

    Course reserves (including textbooks) are available for 4-hour checkout. View the list of textbooks to see if yours are available. You can check out reserves at the Checkout Desk just inside the Library main entrance.

    We also provide online access to as many textbooks and course materials as possible (watch the video below to learn how to find your texts). Please check the Course Reserves list to see if your textbook is already online and available. If you don't see your course, use the Course Reserve Request Form to request your book.

    Faculty

    There are 3 options for making your course materials available through the library:

    1. eBook requests (which the library purchases)
    2. Accessible scans of textbook chapters (the Accessibility Resource Center can scan up to 15% of a textbook, or more if the instructor presents permission from the publisher).
    3. If you would like to consider using Open Educational Resources, free textbooks online, in lieu of expensive textbooks, take a look at the library's OER guide

    Please use the Course Reserve Request Form to submit eBook and textbook requests.

    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 323
  • Check Out Items

    Come to the front desk on the first floor of the Library. Have your Cal Poly Humboldt ID or picture ID ready. 

    You'll get an email a few days before the item is due. If you ever forget you can always check out your library account.   
     

    Returns

    On-campus

    For Digital Media Equipment and Textbooks on Reserve please return these to the Library Front Desk to avoid damage and late fees.

    For all other items, feel free to bring them to the Front Desk or return in any of our drop boxes.

    We have two drop boxes outside the library located at: 

    • Library Circle
    • Just outside library doors 

    We also have a drop box inside the Library located in the hallway to the right of the Front Desk, in front of the bathrooms. 

    Check out the Library Hours page to see when we're open. 

    Off-campus

    You can mail items back to us if you can't make it to campus. For books and Resource Sharing/Interlibrary Loan items, contact resourcesharing@humboldt.edu. For digital media equipment, we can no longer provide return labels at this time. You will be responsible for shipping costs and ensuring there's adequate packaging to prevent damage.

     

    Renewals

    You can renew most items to avoid late fees and other fines. You can renew online or learn more about our policies on the Borrow & Renew FAQ page.

    From your online account, you can see what items you currently have checked out, what their due dates are, and you can renew them, if eligible.

    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 310
  • Find out how to get your campus ID card here. If you have any questions, please email idoffice@humboldt.edu.

    Last Updated: Nov 18, 2022 | Topics: | Views: 249
  • View your account to see what you have checked out and to verify due dates.

    Items borrowed from the Cal Poly Humboldt Library can be renewed by clicking the "Renew" button in your "Loans" tab.

    For items borrowed through InterLibrary Loan/Resource Sharing, check the due date in your InterLibrary Loan account. Not seeing a Resource Sharing/InterLibrary Loan request? Your request may have been pushed into our backup program, ILLiad. Your library account has a link to your ILLiad account under "Requests," but you can also check here

    Resource Sharing/Interlibrary Loans typically can not be renewed. If you need a title for longer, please reach out to the Resource Sharing department at resourcesharing@humboldt.edu

    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 197
  • You can use Resource Sharing/Interlibrary Loan (ILL), to access items from libraries around the world that aren't available at the Cal Poly Humboldt Library. This service is available, for free, to current students, staff, faculty and emeritus faculty/staff

    Estimated delivery varies pending on the lending library. Digital article/chapter requests are usually delivered within 24-48 hours. Physical loans are estimated to take 4-7 business days.

    Visit our Resource Sharing/Interlibrary Loan page to learn more. 

    Please email resourcesharing@humboldt.edu if you have any questions. 

    OneSearch

    When you are signed into OneSearch, you can request items that aren't in our collection by choosing the 'expand your search' option:

    Screenshot of 'expand your search' options, located next to the search bar and at the top of the list of results.

    Many items outside our library are discoverable through OneSearch and can be requested by clicking 'Get it for me from other libraries' beneath the title and author info:

    Screenshot of the 'Get it for me' link that is listed along with other information about the item in the search results list.

    From there, you can choose to either request a physical copy of the item (e.g. an entire book) or an electronic copy (e.g. a chapter from a book):

    Screenshot of the options to 'get a physical copy' or 'need a chapter' when viewing the item details (located after the export links and item title information)

    Beyond OneSearch

    If you don't see the item(s) you are looking for within OneSearch, you will need to fill out the Resource Sharing/ILL request manually. This may require finding more information about the item you are looking for to ensure that we know exactly what you want. You can try searching Google Scholar, Open Library, or WorldCat to find details like authorship, publishing date, volume, issue, page numbers, and more.

    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 186
  • Librarians are happy to work with you to offer information literacy instruction and programming for your course. We offer in-person, synchronous, and asynchronous online sessions. Find out more on the faculty information page.


    Online Skillshops

    Our asynchronous library instruction offerings can be found in our Online SkillShops listings. These can be completed at any time and can be added to your Canvas course as assignments through the Canvas Commons (instructions on importing from Canvas Commons). For more details about using Online SkillShops in your course, visit the SkillShops Faculty support page.

    Last Updated: Jan 27, 2023 | Topics: | Views: 68
  • The Library is open to Cal Poly Humboldt students, staff, and faculty as well as community members and visitors.

    Students, Staff & Faculty

    The Library provides access to computers, study spaces, a cafe, and other services. WiFi is freely available in the library and throughout campus.

    Computers & Printing

    The Library has over 150 computers as well as laptops and Chromebooks to borrow.

    Printing is available throughout the library (most printers, including all color printers, are located on the first floor). Printing is also available across campus. Visit the ITS Student Printing page for locations and up-to-date information.

    Paying for printing

    Your C-Card is used to pay for printing. You can view your C-Card balance and add money to your account on the C-Card website

    Study Spaces

    There are a variety of study areas in the Library for individual and group study, including group computer stations, group cubicles with whiteboards, and silent study areas surrounding the book stacks on the second and third floors.

    Community Members and Visitors

    Guest WiFi access, printing, database access and borrowing privileges are available and described in full detail, including any associated costs or restrictions, on our Community & Guests page.

    Off-Campus Options

    WiFi, study spaces, and computer access (typically a 30min limit) are freely available at Humboldt County Public Libraries. Printing and other services are available for reasonable rates. You can visit the Arcata Public Library or other county branches to use their free parking lot wifi service (see hours and information on their website).

    In addition to the public libraries, if you need basic access to the internet and don’t have a device that you can use to connect to WiFi, you have a few local options, although they do charge a fee:

    • FedEx, 2021 5th St in Eureka, CA 95501
    • Staples, 3300 Broadway St Eureka, CA 95501
    • Post Haste (printing/copying/fax, no computer access), 600 F St Ste 3, Arcata, CA 95521
    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 53
  • The Cal Poly Humboldt Library provides access to thousands of ebooks for students and employees. There are also several places online where you can access ebooks for free, though keep in mind that newer titles may be difficult to access if they are not in the public domain

    Here are some options you can try: 

    1. Search for the book title using Cal Poly Humboldt Library's OneSearch tool. The library provides access to thousands of ebooks which you can access using your campus email username and password right from the website. Some are limited to 1-2 users at a time, so if you can't access it immediately, try again later. If you have any questions, be sure to ask a librarian

    2. If you have a public library card, see if the Humboldt County Library provides access to the book you're looking for. Visit their eBooks, Audiobook, and Digital Magazines page to learn more.  

    3. Try Open Library. You will have to create an account, but Open Library is totally free with no contracts or strings attached. You may have to join a waitlist to access some books. 

    4. Try the Hathi Trust Digital Library. Cal Poly Humboldt is not a partner institution, but you can still find many freely available titles here. 

    5. LibriVox provides free, public domain (copyright expired) audiobooks, read by volunteers from around the world. 

    6. Project Gutenberg is volunteer-driven and provides ebooks with a focus on older U.S. titles that are in the public domain (copyright expired).  More information available on our eBooks Research Guide

    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 34
  • We have most local newspapers available on microfilm on the second floor of the library, as well as some print copies of newspapers in the Library Special Collections. More information on the library's newspaper collection can be found on the Special Collections and Archives website

    Visit the Humboldt County News Online website to see what local media is available on the internet.

    Other newspaper sites to search are the Library of Congress' Chronicling America and the California Digital Newspaper Collection

    If you have a specific request for a project, you can contact Carly Marino, Special Collections Librarian, for research help at cm2816@humboldt.edu

    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 21
  • The Special Collections Reading Room is open to Cal Poly Humboldt students, staff and faculty as well as visitors and members of the community.

    Visit the Special Collections website to find more information about our collections and digital content. Please contact Carly Marino if you have questions or need research help.

    Last Updated: Nov 18, 2022 | Topics: | Views: 20
  • Canvas SkillShops are tutorials, created by the Library, that are available year-round on Canvas and can be taken at your own pace. These asynchronous SkillShops (online tutorials) can be completed in 1-1.5 hours or you can work at your own pace, taking breaks and coming back to continue your work later.

    In-Person Skillshops are also offered. Check our calendar to see what's scheduled. 

    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 16
  • Librarians are available 24/7 to help you with your research and any other questions you may have.

    You can contact Cal Poly Humboldt librarians by using the email us form and we will reply as soon as possible. You can also find more ways to contact us on our Research Help page, including 24/7 chat (staffed by librarians all over the world). 

    Last Updated: Feb 07, 2025 | Topics: | Views: 15
  • Yes! The Cal Poly Humboldt Library has equipment for you to check out, free of charge, including DSLR cameras, camcorders, GoPro cameras, tripods, digital audio recorders, microphones and more. Ask for any of these items at the Check Out desk on the first floor.

    View the equipment available to you at the Creating Video and Creating Audio equipment guides (you can also make your requests by clicking on the buttons in the guides).

    If you have any questions about equipment, or other aspects of a digital project, we'd are waiting to hear from you! Contact the Digital Media Lab at dml@humboldt.edu.

    Last Updated: Nov 18, 2022 | Topics: | Views: 12

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