FAQs (click to expand)
Can I have the old magazines that the library discards?
As our popular collection continues to shrink due to full-text online access becoming available, the Library does not actually have a supply of issues ready to be discarded at any one time. We also bind some of the popular weekly periodicals, as their visual content is important for research in some courses. Check with the campus mail room for surplus issues that have not been picked up. Also, check with the Tompkins County Public Library Friends group for remainders of magazines they could not sell. Here is their website for the booksale : Contact page
Does the Library have copies of textbooks?
As a general rule, the Library does not collect textbooks for courses offered at the College. This is not because we are trying to make students' financial situations more challenging.
During a typical academic year, there are approximately 2800 undergraduate and 450 graduate courses taught at IC. Using 3 texts as the average required for each course, this equals approximately 9750 books. Also, textbooks tend to be frequently updated.
In recent academic years, the Library budget has allowed for the purchase approximately 5,800 new books and ebooks to support the current research needs of all departments and programs on campus.
We do not have the funds to purchase current textbooks, while at the same time supporting student and faculty research needs.
Faculty sometimes place copies of textbooks or chapters from texts on reserve or ereserve. If you’re not sure whether your professor has put your course’s textbook on reserve, search the Reserves site to see what is available.
Please note that, as academic libraries generally do not purchase textbooks, they are not available on interlibrary loan. The IC Library does not fill Interlibrary Loan requests for textbooks in current use at the College.
The Ithaca College Bookstore provides a rental service and sells textbooks. Additional rental/purchase sites:
Chegg
CampusBookRentals.com
CengageBrain
BookRenter
Half.com
Amazon also rents textbooks
Bigwords.com
OpenStax College
The Saylor Foundation has opened its Media Library to the public, providing thousands of open educational resources, videos, articles, and full-length textbooks.
During a typical academic year, there are approximately 2800 undergraduate and 450 graduate courses taught at IC. Using 3 texts as the average required for each course, this equals approximately 9750 books. Also, textbooks tend to be frequently updated.
In recent academic years, the Library budget has allowed for the purchase approximately 5,800 new books and ebooks to support the current research needs of all departments and programs on campus.
We do not have the funds to purchase current textbooks, while at the same time supporting student and faculty research needs.
Faculty sometimes place copies of textbooks or chapters from texts on reserve or ereserve. If you’re not sure whether your professor has put your course’s textbook on reserve, search the Reserves site to see what is available.
Please note that, as academic libraries generally do not purchase textbooks, they are not available on interlibrary loan. The IC Library does not fill Interlibrary Loan requests for textbooks in current use at the College.
The Ithaca College Bookstore provides a rental service and sells textbooks. Additional rental/purchase sites:
Chegg
CampusBookRentals.com
CengageBrain
BookRenter
Half.com
Amazon also rents textbooks
Bigwords.com
OpenStax College
The Saylor Foundation has opened its Media Library to the public, providing thousands of open educational resources, videos, articles, and full-length textbooks.
How do I access the Ithaca Journal newspaper?
Click here to see the library's holdings of the Ithaca Journal. The library has a subscription to the print edition (the Newspaper shelf is at the back 2nd floor of the Gannett Center near the vending machines). When the microfilm edition is in receipt, the paper copies are recycled.
Microfilm call number: AN2 .I8
Jan. 02, 1914 - Nov. 29, 1919.
Jan. 01, 1920 - Dec. 30, 1933
1934 -
For help with using Microfilm stop by the Circulation or Reference desk.
The Ithaca Journal is available online via the statewide NOVEL program. Search the Gannett Newsstand Complete and enter "Ithaca Journal" to view selected articles back to 2002.
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Holdings in area libraries and museums:
**Check their catalog or call the library to confirm precise holdings**
Microfilm call number: AN2 .I8
Jan. 02, 1914 - Nov. 29, 1919.
Jan. 01, 1920 - Dec. 30, 1933
1934 -
For help with using Microfilm stop by the Circulation or Reference desk.
The Ithaca Journal is available online via the statewide NOVEL program. Search the Gannett Newsstand Complete and enter "Ithaca Journal" to view selected articles back to 2002.
________________________________________
Holdings in area libraries and museums:
**Check their catalog or call the library to confirm precise holdings**
- Local Newspapers (micro)
- History Center: Research Library
- Cornell University Library: MICROFILM:
- 1817-1823, American Journal (continues Ithaca gazette and Religious Intelligencer; continued by the Ithaca Journal), Olin Library, Film 6045
- 1823-1825 Olin Library, Film 6045
- 1825-1826 Olin Library, Film 6045
- 1827-1848 (missing 1835-1836) Ithaca Journal & General Advertiser, Film 6045
- 1836-1837 Ithaca Herald (absorbed by Ithaca Journal & General Advertiser), Olin Library, Film 6062
- 1848-1866 Ithaca Journal and advertiser, Film 6045
- 1866-1872 Olin Library, Film 6045
- 1872-current Olin Library, Film 882
- 1895-1919 Ithaca Daily News (merged with Ithaca Journal to form Ithaca Journal-News), Olin Library, Film 6005
- 1817-1823 American Journal, Kroch Library Rare & Manuscripts (Request in Advance)
- July 16, 1823-1825 Library Annex
- 1825-1826, Ithaca Journal, literary gazette & general advertiser, Kroch Library Rare & Manuscripts (Request in Advance)
- 1827-1847 Kroch Library Rare & Manuscripts (Request in Advance)
- 1847-1866 Ithaca Journal & General Advertiser (cont'd by the Ithaca Journal), Kroch Library Rare & Manuscripts (Request in Advance)
- July 18, 1866-1917 Library Annex
- Obituary Index 1860-1999, Olin Library Reference, Oversize CT100 .I89 +
- 1823-1825, Ithaca Journal, via Early American Newspapers database
- 1830-December 28, 1831 Ithaca Journal & General Advertiser, January 6, via Early American Newspapers database
- 1836-1837 Ithaca Herald (absorbed by Ithaca Journal & General Advertiser) via Early American Newspapers database
How do I evaluate a website?
See the Library's Guide on Evaluating Resources.
How do I get permission to film or take photographs in the Library?
Please fill out the Library Filming and Photography Request Form (pdf) and return it to the Library Administrative Office on the 3rd floor.
How do I request a search for an item that should be available but is not on the shelf?
- Use the Not on Shelf (Request Trace) form.
How long does it take to receive a journal article or book on interlibrary loan from another library?
Articles take anywhere from 1 day to 3 weeks depending on how obscure the item is and how many libraries own the journal title.
Books take anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks, for the same reasons.
For an idea of how many libraries own an item, do a search in the Worldcat database and click on the "Libraries world wide that own item" link. You may also ask for assistance from interlibrary loan staff, at the Circulation Desk or the Research Help Desk located on the main floor of the Library.
I am looking for a list of regional libraries which includes Cornell and Tompkins County Public Library among others.
Try this link.
I need help with creating citations for my research paper.
Please see the Writing and Citing guide for help with MLA, APA, and other formats.
I need to do a content analysis for an audio, written, or video communication.
- Divakaran, A. (2008). Multimedia Content Analysis: Theory and Applications. Springer.
- Fortunato, J. A. (2005). Making Media Content: The Influence of Constituency Groups on Mass Media. Mahwah, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
- Krippendorff, K. (2004). Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage.
- Krippendorff, K. (2008). Content Analysis Reader. Sage Publications.
- Message Effects in Communication Science. (1989). Sage annual reviews of communication research. Newbury Park, Calif: Sage Publications.
- Neuendorf, K. A. (2002). The Content Analysis Guidebook. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications.
- Postman, N. (2008). How to Watch TV News (Rev. ed.). New York, N.Y: Penguin.
- Riffe, D. (2005). Analyzing Media Messages: Using Quantitative Content Analysis in Research (2nd ed.). Mahwah, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Is color printing, large format printing, and laminating available on campus?
Color printing is available from any library desktop computer; .30 cents per single side, or .56 cents for double-sided. Select File -> Print -. librarycolor.
The Library has a color printer / copier, located on the main floor of the Library. It prints PDF, JPG, and TIFF files - the charge is 30 cents per copy. If you need to print a Word or Powerpoint file, convert it to PDF first.
The Center for Print Production, located in the Public Safety/General Services Building (open M-F 8am-4 pm) provides large format printing and laminating. Jobs may be submitted through WebCRD.
What are the hours for the cafe that Dining Services operates in the Library?
Please see the Dining Services site for the most current hours of the Library Café and other campus dining facilities.
What software is available on the library PCs and laptops?
Here is a list of software, available on the Library's public computers.
Why does the College not use 100% recycled paper for copying and printing?
At the present time, 30% recycled paper is the standard paper used on campus. General Services has had some experience with 100% recycled paper - they found that the increased amount of paper dust led to a high number of service calls and increased downtime for the printing/copying machines while they were being serviced. General Services continues to work with the supplier and expects to migrate to 50% recycled paper in the near future. As production technology improves, we expect that the issues with 100% recycled paper will be resolved and it will eventually become the College's standard paper.
