The Circulation Department is the service point for checking out laptops, books, and other media from the library.  Other services to library patrons include: 24 hour hold shelf, lost and found, pens, pencils, notebook paper, and typing paper, laptops, change, and registration of community users.  Placing holds on material and missing material searches may be requested at the circulation desk. A valid WSU Student, Faculty, or Staff photo ID is required to check out material. More information may be found at http://library.wichita.edu/circulation/index.htm.

When research material is unavailable in the WSU Library, interlibrary loan (ILL) borrows or obtains copies of the needed material, usually from another library. ILL has access to collections in the United States and international sources. ILL also loans material from the WSU Library collection to other libraries. For more complete information, please visit the website: http://library.wichita.edu/ill/.

Consult a reference librarian at the Reference Desk to get help in using the library and doing research.  The librarian can teach the library user how to use the online catalog (to find books and other items on library shelves) or search and electronic database (to find journal articles and, frequently, links to full text).  The librarian is familiar with hundreds of reference resources, on library shelves and online, and can recommend materials that might contain the answer to particular questions.

Reference Collection
Located on the first floor of Ablah Library, the Reference Collection consists of dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, handbooks, directories, periodical indexes and a variety of other reference works.  A reference work is a compendium of information, compiled for ease of reference.  The Reference Collection is arranged by Library of Congress classification; reference works are designated by "Ref" above the call numbers. Reference works are non-circulating.

Index Tables
Typically periodical indexes are shelved on Index Tables in the reference area, along with other very important reference resources relevant to a particular subject area.  Each Index Table covers one or more subject areas.  Materials on index tables have a blue dot on their spine (as well as a call number) and are arranged to group closely related materials together (regardless of their call number order).

Reference Office
The Reference office is located in the southeast corner of the first floor in Ablah Library.  The Library's reference personnel are available on-site to provide basic reference assistance in the access and use of the Libraries' collections.  The Library's faculty --  subject experts in specific academic disciplines -- are available, by appointment, for in-depth reference consultations  to discuss specific research or information needs.

Computer Help Desk
Student workers at the Computer Help Desk provide assistance in all areas of computer use within the library, including help with printing issues, Blackboard, Microsoft office applications and the use of the library's databases.  They can also assist library users in locating library materials and other directional questions.  The Computer Help Desk is staffed at all times the library is open.

Maps
Selected geographic, political, geologic, and topographic maps are housed in the Reference Department on the first floor of Ablah Library. A collection of early maps of Kansas is located in Special Collections and can be accessed through Special Collections Maps.

The Wichita State University Libraries is a federal depository library. In 1991 the library also became a Patent and Trademark depository library. Federal depository libraries exist to make federal information accessible to the public. The collection is located on the library's main floor.  For more information see the Government Documents web page at http://library.wichita.edu/govdoc/

 

Government Documents Materials
Government Document materials are arranged following the Superintendent of Documents classification system.  Range finders attached to the end of each row are available to help locate materials.
 

NASA reports
NASA reports required by Congress and prepared by the Subcommittee on Space, transmitted to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, are located in the Government Documents Microfiche file cabinets on the 1st Floor.

The Reserve Collection contains materials in high demand, generally those needed for class assignments. Instructors for courses being taught that semester place these materials in the Reserve area on a temporary basis. Faculty may designate library books and videos to be reserved for their class or provide personal copies of books, videos, photocopies of articles, etc. For more information see this web page: http://library.wichita.edu/circulation/reserve/.
 

General Reserve Area
TVs: The televisions located in the reserve area are for viewing class materials. Headset, video, or adapter may be checked out at the Reserve Desk. Recreational watching of television is a lower priority and you may be bumped if the TV needs to be utilized for academic purposes. There is no cost for the use of these items but a current ID is required.

Computer Work Stations
Each computer has icons to show the information available at that computer.   Reserve has five computers that have Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect loaded as well as access to scanner and color printer. They also have access to the Network Launcher, Netscape, and Voyager. There is no cost to use them; however, there is a charge for printing of $.05 per page.

Microforms
The collection consists of 1,096,000 items in microfilm, microfiche, microcards, and microprints. Series and individual titles are listed in the online catalog and in special bibliographic tools in the Reference collection.   Back issues of selected newspapers and other materials in micro format are housed in Reserves on the first floor.

Newspapers
Current newspapers are displayed on rods and are hung in the Reading Room. A daily section is located on the west wall and a Sunday section is located on the East wall at the entrance of the Reading Room. When taken from current display they are placed in hanging folders in the Newspaper area at the end of the Periodicals Section. They are kept for a limited time, which allows library patrons to retrieve the newspapers they need. Newspapers cannot be checked out.

Current Periodicals
Current periodicals are displayed in call number order in the Periodical Room. They are kept there for a limited time, and then prepared to be bound. After periodicals are bound they are shelved on the respective floors according to call number order. Check Voyager for library holdings. Current periodicals may be checked out for one day at the Reserve Desk. Bound periodicals may be checked out for three days at the Circulation Desk.

New Book Room
Located on the southeast side of the Reserve Area, the New Book Room contains materials processed during the last four weeks.  New materials are added on a weekly basis. These materials may be checked out. This area also contains copies of several daily newspapers and reading lounge chairs. Also included in the new book room are the leisure reading collection and current newspapers.

Collection Development (Main Floor)

Part of the mission of the Wichita State University Libraries is to develop the library collections to meet the teaching and research needs of the WSU faculty, staff, and students. Collection development involves evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of current collections, assessing the needs of the university community, carefully selecting new materials in all formats, promoting the use of library materials, and continuing the effort to find the most effective means of providing information to the WSU community. For more information go to http://library.wichita.edu/colldev/home.htm

The mission in Technical Services at Universities Libraries is to acquire, organize, process, preserve, and provide access to recorded knowledge and information in various formats in the most efficient and effective ways possible to support the University's curriculum and research; to work cooperatively with other library units to provide the best library services possible for the users, and to follow and support national standards and practice in organizing learning resources and to contribute bibliographic records that can be accessed by a larger community. For more information see the Technical Services web pages at http://library.wichita.edu/techserv/.

Acquisitions
The Acquisitions Unit of Technical Services is charged with the responsibility for the order, receipt, and distribution of library materials. It is also responsible for the expenditure of State of Kansas funds, and it is responsible for financial record keeping concerning encumbrance and expenditure of funds.

Cataloging
The Cataloging Unit of Technical Services is charged with the responsibility for the cataloging and processing of library materials.

E.K. and Kathlien Edmiston 24-Hour Study Room - Located on the northeast corner of the library (near the front doors), this study room is open 24 hours, seven days per week.  The room is available on a first-come, first-served basis and contains 8 workstations, 6 study tables, and vending facilities. For your safety the room has been equipped with video surveillance and two emergency phones with direct connections to the Campus Police station. The room meets ADA standards for access. Restrooms are available within the library during regular library hours and in Jabara Hall for most of the hours when the library is closed. Printing is available with the use of Shocker Card.

Book Returns (Main Floor)

Ablah Library provides three book returns. The 24 hour book return is located at the east end of the library, in between the Library and the Media Resource Center.  Books may also be returned during regular library hours via the book drop located in the Library Foyer open during Library hours or in the northwest vestibule book drop open when the Library is closed just outside of the 24 hour study room. Materials may also be returned directly to staff members at the Circulation Desk or by mail.

 Adaptive Devices Facility (ADF) (Third Floor)

The room is reserved for library patrons with disabilities. It is located on the third floor, room 323. Individuals may reserve pieces of equipment but not the entire room. Reservations may be taken up to a week in advance.  An ID card must be shown upon demand when checking out the room key. Some equipment may require training or demonstrated proficiency before permission is granted for its use. 

The University Libraries houses its collections in shelving open to public browsing.  This shelving is called "the stacks." General materials are arranged by the Library of Congress classification system. Call numbers A - L are found on the  third floor M - QE on the second floor, and QH - Z on the  lower level.

Photocopy Machines (All Floors)

The Library has copiers available on all levels, including the 24-hour study room. They accept coins, Shocker Cards or copy cards.  If a copier is out of toner, out of paper, or not functioning properly, you should report it to the Circulation Desk.

 Emergency Exits (All Floors)

There are emergency exits on each floor, located on the middle of the east end of the library on every floor, the southwest corner on every floor, and the lower level near the central stairwell. To exit from the upper and lower floors using the emergency exit one must use a stairwell. 

Over 100 computer workstations are available for public use.  These workstations provide access to the Libraries' online public catalog (OPAC) and the general Internet and many are equipped with CD-ROM drives, DVD drives, and audio cards. In addition many Library workstations have been enhanced with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.  Enhanced workstations are located in the 24-hour study room, the Reserve Area, and in marked areas of the workstation clusters on each floor.

The Department of Special Collections is a department of Wichita State University Libraries that acquires, preserves, arranges, and makes available collections of rare books, manuscripts, University Archives, Kansas Maps and atlases, and photographs.  Its purpose is to enhance the Wichita State University Libraries' general collection, to support the research and teaching programs of Wichita State University, and to provide opportunities for research to the people of Wichita and Kansas, and to the research community at large.  For more information see the web page at specialcollections.wichita.edu.

The Foyer and Main Entrance to the library are located on the west side of the building.