Unlocking Knowledge: A Comprehensive Guide to Kalamazoo College Library Resources

The Upjohn Library Commons at Kalamazoo College serves as a central hub for academic exploration and discovery. This article provides a detailed overview of the library's resources, services, and access options, empowering students, faculty, and staff to effectively navigate and utilize its vast offerings.

Accessing the Library and Its Services

Hours of Operation: The library maintains specific hours, which may vary. Note that other services housed within the Upjohn Library Commons building, such as the Writing Center and Help Desk, operate under different schedules. It's important to confirm the hours of the specific service you intend to use.

Building Closure: Be aware of planned closures, such as the one on August 1 due to a campus electrical outage. Such closures are announced in advance to minimize disruption to research plans.

Weather-Related Closures: The library may also close due to inclement weather conditions. Keep an eye on official Kalamazoo College communications for updates on weather-related closures.

Streamlined Access to Online Resources: LibKey

The library utilizes the LibKey suite of tools to streamline and accelerate access to online resources. This platform integrates seamlessly with the library's systems, providing a smoother and more efficient user experience.

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LibKey Discovery and Link: These tools work behind the scenes as you browse and search, providing direct access to articles via PDF and full-text links within OneSearch results. This reduces the number of clicks needed to access desired content.

LibKey Nomad: This optional browser extension further enhances access to resources, connecting you to full-text articles available through Kalamazoo College Library subscriptions and open access journals with fewer steps.

Functionality: When an article isn't available through subscription or open access, LibKey Nomad guides you to requesting options via Interlibrary Loan services.
Installation: The extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi. Simply search for Kalamazoo College from the list of available institutions after installing the extension. No personalized account setup is required.
Remote Access: When working remotely, the Nomad extension guides you through the authentication process for off-campus access, ensuring seamless access to subscribed content.

LibKey.io: This tool streamlines searching and accessing resources using Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) or PubMed identifiers.

Usage: Enter the article DOI or PMID into the search box on the LibKey.io website. If the article is available in full text, options for PDF downloads or direct links to the publisher site will be provided.
Authentication: Off-site authentication using your K College network username and password may be required for access.
Contextual Access: The "view article in context" link enables access to the journal issue in which the article was published.
Stable Links: LibKey.io can also be used to create stable links or perform searches by prepending the LibKey.io syntax.

BrowZine: Enhancing Journal Browsing and Reading

BrowZine is a web application that enhances the experience of reading and browsing online journals available through Kalamazoo College.

Access Options:

Browser: BrowZine can be accessed from any web browser without requiring a download or personal account.
Mobile App: The BrowZine mobile app is available for iOS, Android, and Kindle devices. Direct download links are available on the Third Iron site.

Authentication: BrowZine integrates with the college's off-campus authentication system. Use your K College network username and password when prompted to log in for remote access.

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BrowZine Account (Optional): While not required for basic access, a personal BrowZine account offers additional features:

Personalization: Curate the "My Bookshelf" and "My Articles" features within BrowZine.
Synchronization: Sync your account across multiple devices for a consistent experience.
Citation Export: Export citations to citation managers like Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, and RefWorks.

Creating a BrowZine Account:

Go to the K College BrowZine platform.
Click on the cog wheel (settings) located in the top right of the screen.
Click the "Login to BrowZine" link.
Click on the “No account? Sign up now” link.

Physical Resources and Services

Circulation Desk: Located on the first floor of the library, the Circulation Desk is the place to borrow and return materials.

Study Rooms: The following study rooms are available to students on a first-come, first-served basis: ULC 211, 212, 232, 233, 234, 235, 319.

Textbooks on Reserve: The Library provides many textbooks on Reserve. These materials circulate for two hours at a time.

De-Stress Nook: Located on the first floor in the Learning Commons (behind the lobby display case), the De-Stress Nook offers a space to unwind.

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Expanding Access Beyond Campus Holdings

MeLCat: This statewide network of Michigan libraries allows you to request books from other institutions.

Process: Search the MeLCat catalog, click "Get this from MeLCat," choose Kalamazoo College Library, and enter your name and barcode number (the 14-digit number on your ID that starts with 25017…).
Loan Periods: You can check out a MeLCat book for three weeks, with an option to renew for another three weeks. Kalamazoo College faculty, students, and staff requesting a book from an academic library via MeLCat now have a 90-day loan period, with the option to renew for an additional 30 days. For books from other libraries, regular loan rules (28 days with a 28 day renewal) continue to apply.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL): This service supplements the library's resources by providing materials not available on campus. Use the Interlibrary Loan system if your item isn’t in MeLCat.

Express Interlibrary Loan: Kalamazoo College Library is part of OCLC’s Express Interlibrary Loan program, placing it in the top 10% for OCLC Interlibrary Loan. This provides Kalamazoo College students, staff, and faculty access to millions of articles with the fastest interlibrary loan service available.

Additional Resources and Initiatives

Course Reserves: Some instructors place course materials on reserve, listed on their Moodle course page.

Suggestions for Purchase: The library welcomes suggestions for the purchase of library materials. Suggestions will be reviewed by a librarian according to the library's collection priorities and policies.

Open Educational Resources (OERs): The Library supports open education on campus. Open educational resources (OERs) are teaching and learning materials freely available for everyone to use. This can include textbooks, articles, videos, and more.

Celebrating Diversity and Awareness:

Women's History Month: The Library has an extensive collection of materials written by and about women. The Library of Congress and the National Women’s History Museum also offer online resources.
International Polar Bear Day: The library provides resources related to climate change and vulnerable species.

Rare Book Room: The Todd Rare Book Room houses a distinctive collection of rare and unusual books and manuscripts that demonstrate the nature of intellectual inquiry over the past five hundred years.

Black Authors Showcase: This showcase delves into the rich literary contributions of Black authors, featuring a curated selection from the Rare Book Room collection. Among the remarkable works on display are rare first edition prints of Maya Angelou’s On the Pulse of Morning, Paul Laurence Dunbar’s Poems of Cabin and Field, Joseph T Wilson’s The Black Phalanx, and William A. Sinclair’s The Aftermath of Slavery, as well as autographed first editions of James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain and Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon.

Discrimination Resources: Librarians at Kalamazoo College have put together a centralized resource for information about historical and current discrimination of African Americans in the United States, Michigan, and Kalamazoo College.

Seeking Assistance

Research Librarians: Research Librarians (also known as Reference Librarians) are available for individual consultations online via Microsoft Teams or in-person.

Tech Help Desk: Connect with the Tech Help Desk for technical difficulties.

Kelly's Bio: Kelly is a Reference and Instruction Librarian who joined K in 2018. She loves working with students at all stages of the research process.

OneSearch: OneSearch is the library’s main search interface that defaults to searching for books, book chapters, articles, journals, streaming video, and more.

Questions?: The library encourages users to ask questions.

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