Ask a Librarian

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How can I get help from a Librarian?

1004 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Research Help

Librarians use multiple ways to help you with your information needs. You can ask questions in person at the library, call us at 412-365-1670, text us at 724-919-4645, email us, or use the chat feature on our website (look for a small chat icon in the lower right corner of any page within our site). For more in depth help, use our Research Consultation Request form, and a librarian will contact you to schedule an appointment.

Does the library have the textbooks for my classes?

1093 views | 1 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Circulation Interlibrary Loan

The library does not purchase or loan textbooks for current courses, but there is a small textbook collection comprised of donated textbooks from previous students. Browse the collection, or search under the Catalog tab on the library homepage to see if your course text is part of the collection. You can also check the library's extensive collection of eBooks, using the eBooks tab on the library homepage. If the title you need is not available, use EZBorrow to request books from other libraries.

How many books can be checked out at once from the JKM Library?

1111 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Mar 25, 2022 Borrowing policies Circulation

Current Chatham students, faculty, and staff can have up to 100 items at a time checked out. For more details, please check our Borrowing Policies.

How do I make an appointment at the Writing Center?

1127 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Academic Support Services

Questions about the Writing Center are addressed here. While the Writing Center is in the library, the Office of Academic and Accessibility Resources (OAAR) oversees the Writing Center and any questions should be directed to OAAR.

I'm not affiliated with Chatham. What do I have access to ?

1140 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 23, 2024 Library Building Library Databases Library Room Reservations

If you are not affiliated with Chatham, you can use the library building and use books while in the building, but will not be able to borrow items, access electronic resources, reserve study spaces, or use interlibrary loan.

How do I get an article that the library doesn't have?

1151 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Mar 30, 2021 Circulation Interlibrary Loan

You can request journal articles, newspapers articles, books, government documents, and more through ILLiad, the JKM Library's interlibrary loan service. Consult the ILLiad FAQs for more information.

Can I borrow a laptop at the library?

1166 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Circulation

The library does not loan laptops. Depending on your Chatham status, it may be possible to borrow laptops from IT Support Services. Please contact them directly to inquire. The library does loan laptop chargers and extension cords for use while in the library.

I need a book that the JKM Library doesn't have. What do I do?

1191 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 19, 2025 Interlibrary Loan

If the JKM Library doesn't have a book that you need, use EZBorrow or ILLiad to request it from another library. Use EZBorrow first since books are loaned for the semester. If the title you need isn't available in EZBorrow, you can search ILLiad. For further information about EZBorrow and ILLiad, check the EZBorrow FAQs and the ILLiad FAQs.

How do I find Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations written by former Chatham students?

1202 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 2 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Apr 14, 2021 Capstones, Theses, Dissertations

Use the Find/Submit Captstones, Theses, Dissertations box on the library homepage. Once on the Student Publications page use the navigation tabs to choose the type of publication you want to search for. You can search using author name or by keyword. For Graduate Capstones, Undergraduate Capstones & Tutorials, and Theses, you can also search by Program and/or Year of Submission.

I'm a Chatham alumnus, do I have access to library materials?

1223 views | 1 Vote this question as useful. 2 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Alumni Archives Borrowing policies

As an alum, you can borrow physical materials available in the JKM Library. You can request an Alumni Borrowing Card by completing this form. Borrowing privileges are for JKM Library physical materials only, you will not have access to library databases or interlibrary loan services. Please consult the full list of borrowing policies for alumni for more information.

Where are the Archives located?

1227 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 2 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Archives

The rooms that house the Archives and Special Collections are closed and not accessible. Visit the Archives Digital Collections page to browse the various collections.

How can I see what materials I have checked out?

1237 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Borrowing policies Circulation

Login to your library account to see items you have checked out from the JKM Library and EZBorrow. For items that have been borrowed through ILLiad, use the ILLiad tab to login and view items and their due dates.

How long can I borrow a book?

1238 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Borrowing policies Circulation

For Students: JKM library and EZBorrow books are loaned to students for a semester.
For Faculty and Staff: JKM library books are loaned faculty and staff for 6 months with one 6 month renewal. EZBorrow books are loaned for 16 weeks with no renewal.
You can check what the specific date is by logging into your library account.
Due dates for books loaned through ILLiad are set by the lending library and are noted on the band on the front cover of the book.
For more detailed borrowing policies, please visit our Borrowing Policies page.

How do I access online library resources off campus?

1298 views | 0 Vote this question as useful. 2 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Library Databases Off Campus Access

All library databases need to be accessed via the library website. You can choose the specific database you need by consulting the complete databases list. When you choose a database, you'll be prompted to login with your Chatham username and password. If your Chatham username and password do not work, check access to your Chatham email account and Brightspace. If your login does not work for those services as well, contact ITSS. If you receive an error message from a resource when trying to access it from the library homepage, please contact the Library Desk at 412-365-1670, via our chat service, or at jkmref@chatham.edu

How do I renew items I have checked out?

1452 views | 1 Vote this question as useful. 1 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Borrowing policies Circulation

Items that can be renewed and their renewal periods are listed in the library's borrowing policies. You can renew eligible JKM materials online by logging into your JKM Library account. To renew ILLiad items, login to your ILLiad account. EZBorrow items are not renewable.

How do I print at the library?

1561 views | 3 Vote this question as useful. 2 Vote this question as not useful. | Last updated on Aug 20, 2025 Computer Labs & Printing

The library has 5 public printers. They are located:

On the 1st floor in room 103, the 24/7 lab (106), next to the IT Support Services Desk, and next to the elevator.
In the basement along the back wall where the seating area meets the compact shelves

You can also copy, scan, and scan to email using the printers. Choose FollowMe on Print2 when selecting a printer destination on your computer (choose FollowMe-ColorPrinting to print in color, but be aware this uses more of your print quota!). Go to any printer, swipe your ID card over the black square on the top or front panel, and choose Print Release. You can release your print jobs from any printer with the FollowMe label located on Chatham's campus since your ID card releases the prints.

Consult the ITS documentation for associating your ID card, and printing from PCs and MACs.

Librarians cannot troubleshoot printing issues. If you have problems printing, contact the Copy Center at 412-365-1108 or Information Technology Support Services (ITSS) at 412-365-1112.

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