Library Services

The following is a brief overview of the services available from the Mildred M. Kelley Library. Library users are advised to consult the library's Handbook for a more complete explanation of the library's policies and services.

Service Statement

It is the Library's policy to provide access in some form to all information contained in its collections or available through its services to faculty, students, staff, alumni, and the professional artistic community. In order to insure that all users of the Library have equal access to vital information, limitations on circulation of some materials is often necessary. Library users should understand that the Library must serve the information needs of everyone in The Art Institute community and promptly return materials when they are due.

Use of the Library

Because the Library exists chiefly to support the educational needs of the students and faculty, users of the Library should remain respectful of others and keep noise to a minimum. Eating, drinking, smoking, and similar activities (including the existence of food and drink containers) are not permitted in the public areas of the Library. Adhesives, cutting implements, paints, or containers of any of these items are also not permitted in the Library. Cellular telephones, beepers, and other electrical devices must be turned off or switched to a status that does not make noise. Telephone conversations on cellular telephones is not permitted in the Library. Library study rooms are available for individuals wishing to view videos or slides and for team meetings.

Locating Information

The Library's holdings are kept in an online public access catalog (OPAC) called Athena. The Athena terminals are located across from the Circulation Desk or from the "Search the Catalog" link on this Web site. Searching with Athena is very flexible. Consult the Library Handbook for advice about searching with Athena.

Circulation Policy

Loans of materials and other services of the Library are only available upon presentation of a valid Art Institute identification card. Faculty and staff have their identification codes kept at the Circulation Desk. Students and faculty of Brookhaven, El Centro, Richland, and Eastfield Colleges may check out books but must make their initial visits between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, so that their college IDs may be validated and entered into The Art Institute's library network.

Most circulating books may be checked out for one week and renewed twice thereafter. Late fees for most overdue books is $0.25/day.

Videotapes and DVDs may be checked out for three days and renewed once. Late fees for overdue videotapes and audiotapes is $1.00/day

Tutorial CD-ROMs may be checked out for three-days and may not be renewed. Late fees for overdue tutorial CD-ROMs is $1.00/day.

Image and sound CD-ROMs may be checked out for one hour and should not be taken off campus. Late fees for these CD-ROMs is $1.25/hour.

Calculators and mat cutting devices may be checked out for four hours. Late fees for these items is $1.25/hour per item.

For a full listing of the library's circulation policies, see the Library Handbook.

Electronic Databases

The Library subscribes to several online databases via the Internet. Access to these databases is available from any computer in the computer labs, as well as the Library Computer Lab. Oxford Reference Online contains more the 120 dictionary, language reference, and subject reference titles in all major fields from Oxford University Press. WilsonWeb Omnifile Full Text Select is an index to periodical literature listing full-text articles for over 1,600 titles. ReferenceUSA lists more than twelve million businesses in the United States, a resource particularly useful for career marketing. Lexis Nexis Academic includes news items, company news and financial information, federal, state, and international legal decisions, medical and health research information, and general reference sources. Bigchalk eLibrary includes full-text periodicals, international newswires, classic books, maps, photographs, and major reference titles. Hoover's Online contains detailed information on thousands of businesses nationwide. Grove's Dictionary of Art Online is an expanded online version of the 34-volume print Dictionary. It also includes a comprehensive set of links to collections of fine art and architecture images. The Design and Applied Arts Index is a periodical database which indexes trade and small-run periodicals on art and design subjects as well as providing hundreds of biographies of people in the arts and crafts movement. RedBooks provides online access to the bibles of the advertising world: The Standard Directory of Advertising Agencies and The Standard Directory of Advertisers. AccuNet AP Photo Archive provides one hundred years of photojournalistic images from the Associated Press archives.

Reference Services

The Library provides reference service from 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Librarians are available to help with ready-reference answers to specific factual questions and provide individualized instruction in the use of the library catalog, locating materials, online database searching, and research assistance. At the beginning of each quarter, librarians conduct orientations to the library and classes in online database searching. Classroom presentations on bibliographic aids and/or use of the library are available to faculty at any time during the quarter. Interlibrary Loan services are available on request.

Additional Services

A photocopier is available for student use at 10¢ per copy. Computers in the Library computer lab provide access to the Internet and word processing. Image scanning is available on both Macintosh and Windows platforms. Calculators and mat cutting materials may be checked out for use on campus.

Forms

BI Survey