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Guide to Library Services for Undergraduate Students

Find the resources you need, when you need them. Wherever you are!

Borrow Materials

  • Get Set Up to Use the Library

    To get set up to use the library, you’ll need:

    • An activated ASU OneCard or Faculty/Staff ID (so you can check out materials)
    • An activated Technology Access Account (so you can access the library’s online resources).

    Here’s how:

    Get an activated ASU OneCard or Faculty/Staff ID

    Obtain a card by contacting the OneCard Office. (If you are waiting for your card to arrive, you can get a temporary ID through the OneCard office.)  When you receive your card, you can activate it here.

    Activate your Technology Access Account

    Many people activate their account at orientation. You need it for most online services at ASU — and at the library, it includes the online databases and periodicals. To activate it:

    1. Register and get your CID (Campus Identification Number).
    2. Email the Technology Service Center at ITSupport@angelo.edu to obtain a Technology Access Account.
    3. For more information about the Technology Access Account see the Technology Access Account page.
  • Access Your Library Account & Renew Eligible Items

    To see when your items are due and renew, go to the RamCat log-in page and enter your last name, Library PIN (the default is ABCD4321), and your ASU campus ID.

  • Borrowing Periods, Fines & Renewals
    Borrowing items, loan periods, renewals and overdue fines
    Item Type Loan Period* Renewals Overdue Fines**
    Books on the 2nd floor 21 days 3 $0.25/day/item (if recalled: $0.30/day/item)
    Juvenile books 21 days 1 $0.25/day/item
    Government Documents - books 21 days 2 $0.25/day/item
    Government Documents - maps & CDs 3 days 1 $0.25/day/item
    Interlibrary loans varies varies $1.00/day/item
    DVDs, VHSs, CDs 3 days 1 $1.00/day/item
    Closed/Permanent reserves 2 hours (in-library use only) 0 $0.10/minute/item
    1-day reserve 1 day 0 $2.00/day/item
    3-day reserves 3 days 0 $0.50/day/item

    *Loan periods vary depending on whether an item is recalled by another patron.

    **You can pay any fines at the circulation desk the same day you accrue them. The library accepts cash, checks, and RamBucks. After that, you have to pay your fines online via RamPort, or in person at the Bursar’s Office.
    Because fines transferred from the Library to the Bursar’s office can take up to two working days to show up in your student account, please contact the Circulation desk at 325-486-6523 for the most up-to-date information on where you may pay your fines.

  • Course Reserves

    Come get your resources for class!  Instructors put items on reserve and decide the loan period, which is shorter than usual loans so more people can access them.  Tell us the course number and instructor’s name and we’ll retrieve them for you.

    Reservation types, loan periods, renewals and fines
    Reserve Type Loan Period Renewals Fines
    Closed/Permanent Reserves 2 hours (in-library use only) 0 $0.10/minute/item
    1-day Reserves 1 day 0 $2.00/day/item
    3-day Reserves 3 days 0 $0.50/day/item

Use Equipment and Facilities

  • Print, Copy or Scan

    There are 4 printers located in an alcove near the Technical Assistance Desk.  They print in both color and black & white.  Each semester students, staff, and faculty receive 800 print credits. Additional credits may be purchased if needed. The printing default is for black and white double-sided printing with a charge of one credit for each side of the page. Five credits are charged for color printing.

    Two photocopiers are located in an alcove near the Circulation Desk. There is a 10-cent per page charge and these copiers may be used by anyone. The copiers accept coins and the OneCard for payment. For your convenience, a change machine and a RamBucks machine are located next to the copiers.

    Scanners & digital senders are available in the Learning Commons. Three scanners are located among the computers along the south wall of the Learning Commons.  One digital sender is at the Technical Assistance Desk and one is in the printing alcove.

  • Use a Computer or a Laptop

    The Library provides several computers in various locations on all three floors of the building. Use your ASU network ID and password to log on!

    Laptop computers are also available for use inside the Library. Bring your activated OneCard to the Technical Assistance Desk in the Learning Commons to check out laptops, headphones, cables, and other technology-related equipment.

  • Library Service Locations & Other Features

    The Library provides Wi-Fi coverage throughout the Basement, First, and Second Floors of the building.

    First Floor

    The Learning Commons occupies most of the First Floor and is a great place to relax or work with classmates on assignments. Key features include numerous monitors for group viewing of documents and presentations, reading nooks, study booths, and the popular practice-presentation room.

    Also located in the Learning Commons are the:

    • Circulation Desk for checking out library materials, paying library fines, and general library information
    • Research Assistance Desk for help locating books, articles, and many other resources
    • Technical Assistance Desk for checking out laptops, cables/cords, and resolving computer, software, or ASU network password problems
    • Common Grounds Café: a snack and coffee bar featuring Starbucks products

    Second Floor

    The Second Floor houses the majority of our circulating books in the “Second Floor Stacks” collection, as well as special displays of Bestsellers, Paperback Books, and New Book collections. Casual seating is located throughout the stacks.

    Also found on the Second Floor are:

    • Reading Alcove with casual seating overlooking a courtyard
    • Desktop computers and a printer
    • Quiet Study room with cubicles, lights and electric outlets
    • Group Study rooms, available for check-out; click here for more info

    Basement

    The Basement houses our Periodicals, U.S. and Texas Government Documents, Juvenile & Curriculum, and Microform collections.

    The Basement also features:

    • Quiet Study Room with tables and casual seating for individual study in a quiet setting
    • Group Study Rooms, available for check-out; click here for more info
    • Individual Study Rooms, available for check-out; click here for more info
    • Tables for use by groups and individuals

Research

  • Angelo State University Digital Repository

    ASUDR is home for anything from student theses and faculty postprints from journals, to staff newsletters. It also houses the digital files of the West Texas Collection. For those at ASU, if you hold copyright or permissions for it, this is the place to post your scholarly works on the web. Contact the Digital Repository librarian for more information.

  • Research Guides

    Research Guides are lists of high-quality online and print research materials.  They are curated by librarians and are arranged by subject and by course.  They are each divided into six areas: reference, books, databases, news, websites, and videos. Find them online, 24/7 — either from the Library homepage or the Research Guides homepage.

  • Research Help

    Need help with a research assignment? We’re happy to help and can offer several forms of assistance.

    There are multiple ways you can reach us:

    Prefer to work solo?

    Check out the Research Guides for your subject and/or course!

  • West Texas Collection

    The West Texas Collection (WTC) is the special collections department of the Porter Henderson Library. The WTC houses a variety of primary sources related to the history of the region including letters, photographs, maps and legal documents as well as being home to the University Archives. Material in the WTC is non-circulating and must be used in the reading room located on the first floor of the Mayer Museum, 2501 W. Avenue N.

    Faculty members may request primary source instruction by contacting Shannon Sturm, Head of Special Collections and Programs, at shannon.sturm@angelo.edu or 325-942-2164.

  • Online Resources

    Students, faculty, and staff have access to hundreds of databases, accessible alphabetically or by subject.  Check out our Online Resources page.  Need help using one?  We can help!  Contact one of our reference librarians.

  • U-Search

    Search approximately 75% of our most popular databases simultaneously!  The search will return links to full-text articles and e-books, as well as citations, abstracts, and catalog entries in RamCat of print and digital materials the library owns. 

    Try out U-Search and let us know at library@angelo.edu how we can better customize it to meet your needs!

Borrow Materials from Other Libraries

  • Get a TexShare Card

    Access the collections of academic and public libraries all over Texas — get a TexShare Card!  They’re good for one semester at a time.  The card enables you to go to a member library and check out items from their collection.  Find a member library near you!

    On-campus - ASU currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff: bring your picture ID and ASU OneCard to the Library Circulation Desk, and we’ll issue you a TexShare card.

    ATTENTION: Distance Learning and Dual Credit Students
    ASU currently enrolled students who do not have an ASU OneCard may obtain a TexShare Card by following the steps below:

    1. Scan or photocopy your driver’s license and ASU ID Card on a sheet of paper and add the following information:
      • your CID
      • current mailing address
      • phone number
      • note requesting a TexShare card.
    2. Send your request via one of the following means:
      • Fax it to Circulation Desk, ASU Library, at 325-942-2198,
      • Mail it to:
        Porter Henderson Library
        Attn: Circulation Desk
        Angelo State University
        ASU Station #11013
        San Angelo, TX 76909-1013
    3. We will mail your TexShare card to the mailing address you provided.

    For more information about the TexShare Card program, visit the following links:

  • Interlibrary Loans
    On Campus

    In need of items the Library doesn’t own?  ASU students, faculty, staff, and Friends of the Library can often get them from other libraries, through a process called “interlibrary loan” or “ILL.”  To learn more about this service, check out our ILL webpage!

Other Services