McNeese State University
LIBRARY

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access the databases from Off Campus?

You need to know your Library User ID and PIN. These are unique to the Library, and not the same as other university User ID's and PIN's.

If you are a student, faculty member, or staff member, your Library User ID is simply your Social Security Number plus two extra digits. Do not use any spaces or dashes.

Note: For Friends of the Library, contact the Reference Desk for your User ID.

Since 2002, all newcomers have their PIN's initially set as 'CHANGEME'. If this does not work, please contact the Reference Desk to get your PIN. You may call them at (337) 475-5725, send an email to reference@mail.mcneese.edu, or instant message a librarian.

Once you have obtained your PIN, you may change it by going to the McNeese iLink Library Catalog and clicking on "My Account." Change your PIN Now.

Please note that some of the databases may still not be configured for use with the Library User ID and PIN. If you are having trouble accessing a database, please contact the Reference Desk at (337) 475-5725.

What happened to E-Reserves?

E-Reserves is no longer run through the library. If your instructor has an item on reserve, you should be able to find it on the instructor's Blackboard course page.

What are the Library's Hours?

During the academic school year, the hours are as follows:

Day Hours
Monday – Thursday 7:45 A.M. – 10:30 P.M.
Friday 7:45 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Saturday 1:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Sunday 2:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.

For more specific hours (holidays, breaks, etc), please see the Library Hours page.

How do I find a listing of the Library's databases?

From the Library Homepage, click on Find Journal Articles, etc.

Can I access full-text copies of journal articles from my home computer?

Yes. Many of the Library's online databases contain some full-text content.  To get to the online databases, from the Library Homepage click on Find Journal Articles, etc.  If you are working from home, you will have to know your Library UserID and PIN.

If you would like to check to see if we have any full-text availability in a particular journal, go to Journals/Newspapers by Name and then click on Alphabetical List of Full Text Journals.

What journals do you have in the Library?

To see a listing of the print journals available in the library, from the Library Homepage click on Journals/Newspapers by Name.  Then click on Print Journals Holdings List.

What do I need in order to check out materials?

A current McNeese I.D. Card serves as your library card. If you are a community member and are not currently a student, you may check out materials by joining (for a small fee) the Friends of the Library.

For how long may I check out materials?

Materials can be checked out for three weeks at a time. Faculty and staff may check out materials for a semester at a time.

May I renew my materials?

You may renew your materials up to three times (faculty and staff only twice). You can either renew in person or online. To renew online, go to the McNeese iLink Library Catalog and click on "My Account" and then "Renew my Materials."

Note that any materials that have been requested by other patrons may not be renewed.

Can I check out periodicals?

No. Periodicals always remain in the library for all to share. However, photocopiers are available.

If McNeese does not have an item I want, can I request it be sent from another library?

Yes. Please go to the Interlibrary Loan Page for more information.

What happened to the ABI-Inform Database?

ABI-Inform was cancelled at the end of December 2003. This change was a result of decisions made by the LOUIS Consortium, of which McNeese is a member. In place of ABI-Inform, you might try some of the new databases that were acquired in the Summer of 2003, including Business Source Premier and Academic Search Premier.

None of these FAQ's answer my question!   What can I do?

Please call the Reference Desk at (337) 475-5725, send them an email at reference@mail.mcneese.edu, or you may fill out a web form by going to the Ask A Librarian page.

 

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Please send any Comments or Questions regarding
this page to Jessica Hutchings at jhutchings@mcneese.edu

This page last updated June 26, 2008