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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on a question to jump to it:
Q: How do I get a book or article the library does not own?
Q: How do I renew an ILL item?
Q: What is EBSCO and how do I get to it?
Q: How do I find the full text of an article?
Q: How do I find scholarly, peer-reviewed articles?
Q: How do I find resources by subject?
Q: How do I find an item on Course Reserve?
Q: How do I access the library’s resources off-campus?
Q: How do I find out about other library services?
Q: How do I make an appointment with the writing center or with a tutor?
Q: How do I learn more about the library’s policies on late or replacement items and more?
Questions about media equipment, software and printing? See the Media Services FAQs.
Questions about technology on campus, including mobile devices, computers, Blackboard, and logins/passwords? See the IT Help page.
Also, view our Video Tutorials.
A: Use the library’s online catalog, WorldCat Local, to search for books and other materials in the HPU Libraries collection. Our catalog also allows you to search for materials held by other libraries in our area through the Triad Academic Library Association (TALA), and materials held by libraries around the world, which you can borrow through Interlibrary Loan.
A: To renew books that you have checked out from HPU Libraries, you will need to log in to your library account. If you have have not logged in before, click on “Set/reset password” and enter your HPU username (without @highpoint.edu). You will then receive an email in your HPU email that will allow you to set up your password. Once you are logged in, you can see all the items you have checked out and click on the “Renew” button next to the item(s) you would like to renew.
Q: How do I get a book or article the library does not own?
A: To get a book or other item from the library’s online catalog that HPU Libraries does not own, you have a few options. First, if the book/item is held by a library in the Triad Academic Library Association (TALA), you can go directly to that library to check out the book. Make sure to check that the book is available at that library (you may want to call ahead).
If the book/item is not available through TALA, click on the title, and then click on the button for “Request Item through Interlibrary Loan.” This will take you to ILLiad, the library’s Interlibrary Loan request system. There, you can set up an Illiad account if you don’t have one already by using your HPU email username (without “@highpoint.edu”) and password. Once you are logged into your ILLiad account, you may need to provide some information about yourself if you’re a first-time user, and then you will be able to click on the type of item you want under New Request. Please see our Interlibrary Loan page for additional information.
Q: How do I renew an ILL item?
A: To renew an ILL item, log into your ILLiad account, select the transaction number for the item you wish to renew, and click on “Request Renewal” in red. If this option doesn’t work, or if you have a special request, please email your request to ill@highpoint.edu. If the lending library allows renewals, the ILL librarian will contact you with a new due date.
A: To find an article on a specific topic, you can use one of the library’s many article databases. Our full list of databases is available if you click on Resources A-Z in the left-hand menu under “Research.” You can also browse Resources by Subject for resources and databases to help with your search.
If you need help with choosing appropriate keywords, navigating the database, and finding full text, please Contact us by email or phone or use the chat box on the right-hand side.
Q: What is EBSCO and how do I get to it?
A: EBSCO is a host of many databases, including Academic Search Complete, MLA International Bibliography, PsycINFO, and other resources such as the EBSCO E-book Collection. In the top left of the search screen for EBSCO, it will say “Searching:” and tell you which database you are in. You can also click “Choose Databases” to see and select from all of the databases it hosts.
A note about saving links to articles in EBSCO databases: please don’t save the main link you see in your browser bar. The link will expire in 24 hours, and you will not be able to return to the article. Instead, click on the permalink (you will see either the word or an icon of a link) and copy and paste from there. This is a good practice in any database, EBSCO or otherwise.
Q: How do I find the full text of an article?
A: To find the full text of a specific article, click on Journal Finder in the left-hand menu under “Research.” Enter the title of the journal that the article was published in to see if the library has access to that title. If the library has online access to that title, you will see a computer icon next to the name of the journal. If we have print access, you will see a book icon.
If we have online access, click on the computer icon, and then check to make sure that we have access to that journal for the date that your article was published. If we do not, see the question, Q: How do I get a book or article the library does not own? If we do, click on the option that will give you access to that date. Find the specific volume and issue number in which your article was published and then locate your article within that issue. Need help finding full text? Contact us by email or phone, or use the chat box on the right-hand side.
Q: How do I find scholarly, peer-reviewed articles?
A: To find articles that are peer-reviewed, you can search in the library catalog or in one of the library’s online article databases [see Q: How do I find an article? above, for more information]. Most databases provide an option to limit your search to only those articles that are peer-reviewed. Still need help? Contact us by email or phone, or use the chat box on the right-hand side.
Q: How do I find resources by subject?
A: To find out what databases, books, and other resources are available for your particular discipline, click on Resources by Subject in the left-hand menu under “Research.” Still need help? Contact us by email or phone, or use the chat box on the right-hand side.
A: To find guides for a particular citation style (such as MLA or APA), click on Citation Guides in the left-hand menu under “Research.” Each guide contains information on how to create in-text and reference list citations for that style, as well as links to other helpful resources. If you need additional help with citation, Contact us by email or phone, or use the chat box on the right-hand side.
Q: How do I find an item on Course Reserve?
A: To find items that your professor has placed on reserve for your course, click on Course Reserves in the left-hand menu under “Quick Links.” Enter your professor’s name or course number (such as ENG 2200). Click on the course number for your specific course and all the items on reserve will be listed. If the item is on electronic reserve, you should be able to click the link there to access it. All physical reserves are kept behind the circulation desk in Smith Library. Reserves must be kept in the library and typically have a 2 or 4-hour checkout period.
A: Laptops are available for students to check out at the circulations desks in both Smith Library and the Wanek Center Learning Commons. Both Macs and PCs are available to check out for up to 4 hours.
Q: How do I access the library’s resources off-campus?
A: When you attempt to access a library resource, such as a database, from off-campus, you should be prompted to enter your HPU username (without “@highpoint.edu”) and password. Once you enter this information, you should be given access to that resource. Always make sure to use the links located on the library home page, rather than a link from the open web. For more information, please see our Distance Education guide.
Q: How do I find out about other library services?
A: If you have other questions about HPU Libraries or services we provide, please Contact us.
Q: How do I make an appointment with the writing center or with a tutor?
A: To make an appointment with the writing center, go to https://highpoint.mywconline.com, register as a user, login, choose a location, and choose a time. For information about tutoring, go to the Academic Services website, where you can find the latest walk-in tutoring schedule and the tutor request form.
Q: How do I learn more about the library’s policies, including fees for late or replacement items?
A: Most of the library policies you may need to know, especially those about late equipment fees and replacement costs, can be found on the About Us page.
