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University of South Alabama Biomedical Library

Frequently Asked Questions: USA Online Students
Distance Education Homepage

F.A.Q.'s
Access
ILL/Document Delivery
Policies
Fees
General Information


Access
ILL/Document Delivery
Policies
Fees
General

Access
ILL/Doc Del
Policies
Fees
General

Access
ILL/Doc Del
Policies
Fees
General

Access
ILL/Doc Del
Policies
Fees
General

Access
ILL/Doc Del
Policies
Fees
General

Access
ILL/Doc Del
Policies
Fees
General

Access
ILL/Doc Del
Policies
Fees
General

Access
ILL/Doc Del
Policies
Fees
General

Access
ILL/Doc Del
Policies
Fees
General

Access
ILL/Doc Del
Policies
Fees
General
This page has been designed to answer the questions most frequently asked by USA Online students. It is by no means comprehensive, and if you do not find you questions answered here please contact us.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ACCESS
  1. Who has access to the USA Biomedical Library's online resources?
  2. How do I log onto the USA library system?
  3. Can I access materials and databases available from the University Library as well?
  4. Are all Library online resources available to off-campus users?
  5. I am unable to log on. What’s the problem?
  6. How do I find out what journals, books and other materials the University Libraries own?
  7. How do I find out what library journals, books etc. are available full-text online?
  8. How do I find out what library journals, books etc. are available full-text online?
  9. Why am I unable to access certain online, full-text materials that the library owns?
  10. What is OVID?
  11. How do you search OVID?
  12. What is my OVID user name and password?
  13. How do I get materials that are not available online, but the library owns them?
  14. How do I get materials that the library does not own?
INTERLIBRARY LOAN/DOCUMENT DELIVERY
  1. What’s the difference between Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery?
  2. How much does Interlibrary Loan cost?
  3. How much does Document Delivery cost?
  4. How long does it take to get Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery materials?
  5. What are the different ways the materials can be sent to me?
  6. How do I order Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery items?
POLICIES
  1. Can I check out books from the Biomedical Library?
  2. How can I find out what the University Library’s Distance Education polices are?
FEES & FINES
  1. How much does Interlibrary Loan cost?
  2. How much does Document Delivery cost?
  3. How much does it cost to check out a book from the Biomedical Library?
  4. How much are the library's overdue fines on book?
GENERAL INFORMATION
  1. What are the library hours?
  2. How do I contact the Reference Department?
  3. How do I contact the Circulation Department?
  4. How do I contact the Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Department?
  5. Is there a directory of Biomedical Library employees with contact information?

ACCESS:
  1. Who has access to the USA Biomedical Library’s online resources?
    All current University of South Alabama Students, Faculty and Staff have access to all the University Libraries online resources.
  2. How do I log onto the USA library system?
    If you are accessing USA Library materials off-campus, via the web you will be prompted to enter your last name and first two letters of your first name (for example: "Peter Parker "would be "parkerpe") and either your J Number, the last 4 digits of your social security number or your library barcode (for students, this only works if you've previously checked out a book.). This merely confirms that you are currently enrolled at the University. Having a problem? Go here: http://www.usouthal.edu/univlib/remote.htm
  3. Can I access materials and databases available from the University Library as well?
    Yes. The procedure is the same as above.
  4. Are all Library online resources available to off-campus users?
    No. Although the majority of the University Libraries' materials are available to all are users there are a few that are only accessible from campus, hardwired computers. If you are having difficulty accessing any of these resources please contact the library and we will try to help you get the materials you need.
  5. I am unable to log on. What’s the problem?
    Unfortunately there are any number of answers to this question, but the most common problem has to do with Internet Browser compatibility. Specifically library users have encountered problems when attempting to access our resources using Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher. For a quick fix for this problem, as well as other trouble-shooting tips click HERE. If you don't find the answers you need here please contact us. Another common problem results when you enter the library website through the USAOnline system. The two are not compatible and entering through USAOnline will restrict your asscess to many of the library's resources. The best course of action is to close USAOnline and go directly to the library's web page: http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/index.html
  6. How do I find out what journals, books and other materials the University Libraries own?
    The easiest way to find out the particular holdings of the University Libraries' collection is by using the library online catalog SOUTHcat. The catalog will not only tell you what titles the library owns, but what part of that title (i.e. Does the library own the January 1998 issue of "Cell Biology), where that title is located and whether or not that particular title has an electronic or online version available.
  7. How do I find out what library journals, books etc. are available full-text online?
    Specific SOUTHcat records (see #6 above) should have direct links to materials that are available in an online, full-text format. Also the Biomedical Library website contains an Online Journals & Books page that lists all of our full-text resources alphabetically by title. This collection of pages also provides electronic holding information as well as including a direct link to specific titles. The library also provides access to a series of full-text only databases including EBSCO, ScienceDirect, Cochrane's and Harrison's Online among others. These database, plus others, can be easily accessed from the library Database & Resources page.
  8. How do I print full-text articles from the Internet?
    First you must determine if the particular article you need is available online. Even if the library does own the journal title it may not have access to the particular issue you need. This is particularly true of older (pre-1995) material. If the item is available then you should be able to use the regular "print" function in your browser to print the article. Sometimes the articles are available in various formats such as html and pdf. The html file should print directly from your browser, however, pdf files require that the computer you are using has Adobe Acrobat reader which is free, downloadable software. PDF articles should appear exactly as they do in the print version of the journal.
  9. Why am I unable to access certain online, full-text materials that the library owns?
    Unfortunately there is no one answer for this question. An inability to access certain materials may result from any number of reasons, but the two most common are technical and legal. Remote users have experienced some problems when attempting to access library materials using Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher, for more information about this please click here. The other common reason that users may encounter difficulties accessing certain materials is due to licensing agreements with journal publishers. Although the majority of our materials are available to all our users, a select few are only accessible to individuals using hardwired, campus computers. If you come up against this problem, or any other regarding accessing a particular electronic resource please contact us and we will attempt to help.
  10. How do I get materials that are not available online, but the library owns them?
    See information posted below on Document Delivery.
  11. How do I get materials that the library does not own?
    See information posted below in Interlibrary Loan.
INTERLIBRARY LOAN DOCUMENT DELIVERY:
  1. What’s the difference between Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery?
    Although both activities are located in the same department they are distinctively different services. Inliterlibrary Loan (ILL) is when the Biomedical Library gets materials for its patron's that the library does not own. Document Delivery (DD) is when the Biomedical Library sends its own materials to its users. Both services can include journal articles and books.
  2. How much does Interlibrary Loan cost?
    Articles: USA Online students are allowed a combination of 20 free ILL/DD articles per month. After the first 20 additional ILL items are $5.00 each. Delivery is free unless it is sent via fax which costs $2.00 per article for in state/$5.00 per article for out of state.
    Books: Books obtained through ILL are generally free although the borrower is expected to pay shipping charges (via UPS) and insure each return package for at least $100.00.
  3. How much does Document Delivery cost?
    USA Online students are allowed a combination of 20 free ILL/DD articles per month. After the first 20 additional items are $3.00 each. Delivery is free unless it is sent via fax which costs $2.00 per article for in state/$5.00 per article for out of state.
  4. How long does it take to get Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery materials?
    Interlibrary Loan articles generally take 7 to 10 days to reach the Biomedical Library, but frequently take less time. There is no way to predict how long a given item will take, so it is always important to plan ahead when using ILL. Document Delivery generally takes between 24 to 48 hours for desktop or fax delivery. Mail delivery obviously takes longer. In both cases books will generally take longer as they must be sent by mail.
  5. What are the different ways the materials can be sent to me?
    Journal articles can be delivered to you numerous ways. The most efficient (and least expensive) is through email attachment as a pdf document. In order to view these type documents you must download Acrobat Reader (a free software) onto your computer. Articles can also be faxed to you for a fee ($2.00 per article in state/$5.00 per article out of state). You may also opt to have articles sent to you through the mail, although this is obviously the slowest way to receive delivery of materials.
  6. How do I order Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery items?
    The first thing to do is set up and ILLiad account. Illiad is the system we use to keep track of all the articles and books we get for people. To register click HERE. It is important to fill out this form as accurately and fully as possible. After you create your account this will also be the page you go to to order materials. For further information click HERE.
POLICIES:
  1. Can I check out books from the Biomedical Library?
    Books may be checked out by USA Online students, but the borrower is expected to pay shipping charges (via UPS) and insure each return package for at least $100.00.
  2. How can I find out what the University Library’s Distance Education polices are?
    To see what the University Library's policies are for USA Online students click here.
FEES & FINES:
  1. How much does Interlibrary Loan cost?
    Articles: USA Online students are allowed a combination of 20 free ILL/DD articles per month. After the first 20 additional ILL items are $5.00 each. Delivery is free unless it is sent via fax which costs $2.00 per article for in state/$5.00 per article for out of state.
    Books: Books obtained through ILL are generally free although the borrower is expected to pay shipping charges (via UPS) and insure each return package for at least $100.00.
  2. How much does Document Delivery cost?
    USA Online students are allowed a combination of 20 free ILL/DD articles per month. After the first 20 additional items are $3.00 each. Delivery is free unless it is sent via fax which costs $2.00 per article for in state/$5.00 per article for out of state.
  3. How much does it cost to check out a book from the Biomedical Library?
    Books may be checked out by USA Online students, but the borrower is expected to pay shipping charges (via UPS) and insure each return package for at least $100.00.
  4. What the library's overdue fines?
    On the 4th day that materials are late you will be fined $1.00 per item and an additional $0.25 a day thereafter.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
  1. What are the library hours?
    Current Biomedical Library hours can be found here. For University Library hours click here.
  2. How do I contact the Reference Department?
    Phone: 251/460-7044
    Email: medlib@bbl.usouthal.edu
    Live Chat Reference Assistance
    Webpage: http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/ref/index.html
  3. How do I contact the Circulation Department?
    Phone: 251/460-7043
    Email: http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/circ/index.html
  4. How do I contact the Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Department?
    Phone: 251/460-6891
    Webpage: http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/docdel/index.html
  5. Is there a directory of Biomedical Library employees with contact information?
    There is an online faculty/staff directory, with contact information, found here.
 
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DISCLAIMER
Web address: http://southmed.usouthal.edu/library/disted/faqs.htm  Last Updated: 6/7/2003
To make comments, suggestions, or get more information, e-mail medlib@bbl.usouthal.edu or call (251) 460-7044.