Search VCU Libraries

Use VCU’s Journal Finder to see if a journal is available in a database (only dual enrollment students with VCU eID’s have full access to VCU’s databases; others are limited to guest access).

Borrowing privileges

All MLWGS students and faculty – as long as you complete a registration form each year by the deadline publicized at MLWGS, Ms. DeGroat will submit your form to VCU so you can enjoy high school borrowing privileges at the James Branch Cabell and Tompkins-McCaw Libraries. These privileges require a photo ID (but not necessarily a VCU photo ID) and are equivalent to those of community borrowers who pay $50 per year. These privileges come with responsibilities. Here are a few highlights:

• You may borrow no more than 10 items at a time.
• Books and most other print items circulate for 28 days.
• You may renew most items once as long as you don’t have overdue items and no one else has placed a hold on the item you wish to renew.
• Overdue fines are 25¢ per day per item (maximum of $10 per item).
• You will be charged a replacement fee (minimum of $70 per item) for items 42 days past due.
• Fines for damaged materials vary; the minimum is $10 per item.
• You may access VCU’s online resources (e.g. databases) from computers in the VCU Libraries in accordance with guest access guidelines.

Communications from VCU Libraries
The VCU Libraries send electronic notices about overdue books and bills by mail for lost book fees.  Beginning with the 2009/2010 school year, if you are a 9th, 10th, or 11th-grade student at MLWGS, your overdue notices will be emailed to Ms. DeGroat and delivered to you at school.  If you are a senior at MLWGS or an underclassmen enrolled in a VCU dual-enrollment course, VCU Libraries will communicate with you via your VCU email address.  If you do not plan to use your VCU email account, then take the time to set up forwarding of messages from your VCU email account to an email account you check regularly.  All students with VCU V-ID numbers may renew books and check their library accounts for fines online.  Fines may not be paid online, but may be paid in-person or over the phone.

Computer access at VCU Libraries
VCU offers limited guest access to the computers in the James Branch Cabell Library. This access is valuable because it permits you to use any of the online resources to which VCU Libraries subscribe. The related procedures are outlined on VCU’s Guest Access page. View the First Floor map to orient yourself and follow these tips to make the most of your visit:

• If you need research help (e.g. Where is the best place to look for ___? or How do I search the ____ database?), visit the Research Assistance Desk BEFORE requesting guest computer access at the Circulation Desk (otherwise your clock will start ticking before you’re ready to search).
• To request a temporary login for one of the four computers (yes, only four) available for guest use, take your photo ID to the Circulation Desk. If you plan to print from the computer, this is also a good time to purchase a rechargeable Rambucks card ($2: $1 for the card, $1 in print credit).
• Your pass is good for ONE hour. You must log on to the assigned computer within 10 minutes after receiving the pass. You will get a 10-minute warning before your hour runs out. Except as noted in the guest access guidelines, you are only eligible for one hour per day.
• If you need to leave the computer to pick up printing during your hour, you may lock the computer so that someone else does not log on to it while you are gone.

Students enrolled in VCU dual-enrollment courses have the same level of borrowing privileges as undergraduates (see center column of chart – the one with the yellow background). In addition, they may access VCU’s online resources off-campus with their VCU eID username and password.

Inter-library loan services for MLWGS faculty
MW Library has a limited budget for inter-library loans. In regard to VCU, you may request multimedia items eligible for loan (such as many videos and DVDs in Cabell Library). You are responsible for returning the item to VCU on time and for any resulting overdue fines and/or replacement fees. To make a request, please complete and sign a Multimedia Item Request Form and submit it to Ms. DeGroat. To inquire about interlibrary loans with other institutions, please email Ms. DeGroat or stop by the library. You may wish to check for availability of the desired item by searching WorldCat.

Arranging for your class to visit the James Branch Cabell Library
Your class may be able to visit VCU Libraries; however, group visits must be coordinated by Ms. DeGroat, and since VCU Libraries has over 30,000 students to serve, group visits are only possible when VCU classes are not in session. Available dates for 2009/2010 are as follows: October 15-16 (VCU Reading Days), December 16-18, January 4-15, March 15-19 (VCU Spring Break), and May 13-21.  To discuss arranging a group visit for your students, please email Ms. DeGroat or stop by the library.