Navigating Knowledge: A Guide to Seton Hall University Library Resources
Seton Hall University Libraries (SHU) provide a wealth of resources and services designed to support the academic and research endeavors of its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and even community residents. From traditional print materials to cutting-edge digital databases and specialized services, the Libraries are committed to facilitating access to information and fostering scholarly exploration. This article delves into the various resources available, highlighting their unique features and benefits for different user groups.
Embracing Innovation: The FOLIO Library Services Platform
In a move to enhance user experience and streamline workflows, Seton Hall University Libraries are transitioning to the FOLIO Library Services Platform (LSP). This transition involves utilizing EBSCO FOLIO hosting and implementation services from EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO). The mission of the SHU Libraries is to create and implement tools that are easy to use, suit researchers’ needs and can work with their current and prospective library systems. EBSCO FOLIO joins in this mission to aid the university in implementing the open-source LSP, marrying openness and accessibility with the innovation and collaboration that make up the FOLIO platform. FOLIO works seamlessly with existing solutions, streamlining workflows and providing ease of access and better innovative possibilities for the University Libraries. Through FOLIO’s customizable architecture, the University Libraries will be free to choose applications for its unique system while avoiding their previous ILS's forced packages and predetermined workflows. Using OpenAthens with EDS provides SHU Libraries’ end users with a complete solution that joins library resources with seamless access anytime, anywhere, on any device. This platform offers a customizable architecture, allowing the Libraries to select applications tailored to their specific needs, moving away from the constraints of predetermined workflows.
Sharon Ince, Assistant Dean of Information Technology and Collection Services at Seton Hall University Libraries, emphasizes that the decision to switch to FOLIO will significantly streamline their workflows. She noted the need to find a solution to address impasses, especially those surrounding automated acquisitions and ERM workflows. Andrew Nagy, Director of SaaS Innovation at EBSCO Information Services, adds that FOLIO will complement SHU Libraries’ existing solutions for a more streamlined experience. He states that the array of solutions and services that FOLIO can accommodate helps meet the unique needs of every library. Seton Hall University’s choice to adopt FOLIO with EBSCO FOLIO’s expertise in hosting and support will give them the freedom and ease to pick, choose, and create the best workflow solutions for the institution while saving valuable time and resources.
Accessing a World of Information: Databases and Online Resources
The University Libraries offer access to a vast collection of databases and online resources, catering to a wide range of disciplines and research interests. These resources provide access to scholarly articles, journals, books, and other materials essential for academic success.
- ProQuest Central: Covering more than 160 subject areas, ProQuest Central is the largest aggregated database of periodical content, serving as the central resource for researchers at all levels.
- JSTOR: This database contains scholarly articles from many disciplines and subject areas.
- Literature Resource Center: This resource provides access to biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses of authors from every age and literary discipline.
- MLA International Bibliography: Produced by the Modern Language Association, this bibliography offers a detailed listing of journal articles, books, and dissertations, dating back to the 1920s. It contains over 2.3 million citations from more than 4,400 journals & series and 1,000 book publishers.
- Communication & Mass Media Complete (CMMC): This database provides a robust research solution in areas related to communication and mass media. CMMC offers cover-to-cover ("core") indexing and abstracts for more than 570 journals, and selected ("priority") coverage of nearly 200 more, for a combined coverage of more than 770 titles.
- Business Source Elite: This resource provides full-text coverage of scholarly business, management, and economics journals.
- PsycINFO: The largest resource devoted to peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science and mental health, PsycINFO contains over 3 million records and summaries dating as far back as the 1600s with one of the highest DOI matching rates in the publishing industry.
- Global Issues in Context: This database focuses on broad issues such as war, genocide, human rights, poverty, globalization, world trade, and global warming.
- Wall Street Journal (Digital Backfile): The digital backfile of the Wall Street Journal provides historical coverage of business news and worldwide financial markets.
In addition to these specialized databases, the Libraries also offer access to a full-text database that combines information from major respected reference works, books, literary journals, as well as original content from EBSCO Publishing.
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Specialized Collections and Archives
Beyond the extensive digital resources, Seton Hall University Libraries boast unique physical collections that offer invaluable research opportunities. The Archives, for example, house rare book and manuscript collections focusing on Catholic and New Jersey history, Irish and Italian rare books and manuscripts, and the immigrant history of the region and university. These collections provide primary source materials for researchers interested in these specific areas.
Services to Enhance Research and Learning
The University Libraries offer a variety of services designed to support students and faculty in their research and learning endeavors.
- Research Guides: These guides provide curated resources and information on specific topics, helping users navigate the Libraries' vast collection.
- Subject Specialists: Librarians with expertise in specific subject areas are available to provide personalized assistance with research projects. They can help users find relevant resources, develop search strategies, and evaluate information.
- Interlibrary Loan: This service allows researchers to borrow books and journal articles not available at the University Libraries from other institutions.
- Scholarly Support: The University Libraries offer support for scholarly impact metrics to demonstrate scholarly impact. They also provide resources and services to support faculty scholarship with tools like Pure, an impact measurement system, and ORCID, a unique identifier for scholars.
- Instructional Support: A service to help students learn how to find information more efficiently and effectively.
- Scholarly Publishing Services: A publishing service offered by the Seton Hall University Libraries and Seton Hall Law for preservation and dissemination of SHU scholarly works.
- Disability Support: The University Libraries actively work with the Disability Support Services Office to ensure that students have materials in the proper format.
Access and Lending Privileges
The University Libraries serve the needs of currently enrolled Seton Hall University students and currently employed faculty, administrators, and staff. Lending privileges are extended to Seton Hall University students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community residents. Each student and faculty member has a library account where they see due dates for checked out material(s). Benefits are available to SHU alumni including on campus access to all print and electronic resources. The ability for a library user to borrow an item from the library for a fixed period of time.
Physical Spaces for Study and Collaboration
The University Libraries provide a variety of physical spaces to accommodate different study needs. There are many physical places to study on both the South Orange and Nutley campuses. These include individual study carrels, group study rooms, and quiet reading areas. This option is available for two or more students who need a dedicated space for collaboration. There are also dedicated spaces for graduate students and faculty.
Additional Resources and Opportunities
Beyond the traditional library resources, Seton Hall University offers other opportunities for intellectual and cultural engagement. The Walsh Gallery, for example, features collections from around the world and throughout time, offering exhibits, research opportunities, and insights into museum collections care. The University Libraries welcomes guests to use our services. Visit an exhibit, research an object, or learn how to care for museum collections at Walsh Gallery. The Gallery collections include materials from around the world and throughout time, from Asia to Europe to the earliest history of New Jersey itself.
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Navigating Copyright and Avoiding Plagiarism
The Libraries also provide resources and guidance on copyright and plagiarism. This action is designed to safeguard any type of work created by an individual under the category of intellectual property rights. Copying work that is not your own constitutes plagiarism and is a serious academic offense. The Libraries encourage users to understand copyright law and to properly cite all sources used in their research. An original/first-hand created record.
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