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library.pba.edu| Here is a brief summary of the many ways the Palm Beach Atlantic University Library can help you meet your information needs. | ||
| Library Staff | Information Desk | Media Collection |
| Circulating Books | Electronic Research Databases | Checkout Privileges at Other Libraries |
| Reserve Collection | Periodicals and Indexes | Photocopies |
| Children's Literature Collection | Newspapers | Fines and Other Charges |
| Reference Collection | Interlibrary Loan (ILL) |
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library.pba.edu |
The purpose of this library is to meet the information needs of the students, faculty and staff of Palm Beach Atlantic University. Please carry your ID card so we'll know you are part of the university family, and it will be needed to check out books and other materials. Members of the local community are generally welcomed as guests, at the discretion of the library. They must be prepared to identify themselves, and should not expect the same access or services as our primary clientele.
The first resource available to library users is the library staff itself. The staff believes in a people-centered, service-oriented approach to librarianship. If we don't offer help, please do not hesitate to ask. You are the reason we're here.
Most of the books in the collection may be checked out by members of the PBA family. For details regarding due dates and renewals, contact the checkout desk. Likewise, for information regarding access for library guests, contact the checkout desk. Most of the circulating collection of the PBA Library is housed in the octagonal wing of the library, on second floor east. Music and art books are shelved on the top floor, west wing. Except for reserve materials and musical sound recordings, all cataloged materials in the library are classified and arranged by the Library of Congress classification system. Access to books and media is through the PBA library web catalog, which shows call numbers and circulation status. (Not available = checked out; Available = checked back in)
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Books, articles, or audiovisual items that will be used by an entire class are separated from the regular collection and placed "on reserve" at the request of a faculty member. These items are shelved at the circulation desk. Their use is restricted: generally, they may be used only in the library for three hours at a time. Items in this collection are designated "RES" at the beginning of their call numbers in the library web catalog.
This special collection contains circulating books of interest to children and young adults. Call numbers of books in this collection are prefixed with "JUV" or "Child Lit." These books are shelved in a separate room near the general circulating books on second floor east.
These resources are located in the reference room on second floor west. Reference materials include standard tools of information such as dictionaries, handbooks, general and specialized encyclopedias, indexes, abstracts, and the like. These books will have a "REF" prefix before their call numbers in the library catalog. They may not be checked out. However, a photocopier is available near the reference area.
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The information desk in the reference area is staffed by a team of professional librarians, whose primary assignment while at the desk is to assist patrons. To contact a reference librarian from outside the library, call (561) 803-2227 or send email to library@pba.edu. For questions related to other library departments, call the main library number, (561) 803-2226.
A variety of databases in a wide range of subject areas can be searched by library patrons to find books, periodical articles and other information. Catalogs of other libraries can be searched via the internet. A growing number of resources may be searched with a web browser, others are accessible through PalmNet workstations in offices, computer labs, residence hall rooms, and on library computers. A few databases are available only in the library. For more details, review the Databases web page.
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The PBA Library receives hundreds of periodicals in paper, microform, CD-ROM, and online formats. ProQuest is a major resource, containing abstracts, indexing, and articles from over 2,000 periodicals. In addition to general interest titles, it includes ABI-Inform Global (business and management), several hundred newspapers, and collections of periodicals in education and religion. Copies of the articles may be printed at the library on the laser printer, for ten cents per print. Web-based indexes are described on the database information pages. The library has a sophisticated microform reader/scanner for viewing microforms as well as printing or emailing copies of articles. To see exactly what dates of a periodical the library owns, check the Serials at PBA portal.
The PBA Library has a variety of sources available to help met your current information needs. For example, the latest New York Times is available online. Every weekday, copies of local newspapers such as the Palm Beach Post and Miami Herald, are displayed in the Reference area. Specialized news is available too, such as the daily Wall Street Journal and the weekly Chronicle of Higher Education. Our ProQuest subscription also includes additional current major national newspapers. And LexisNexis Academic includes hundreds of domestic and international news sources. For research purposes, the library has microfiche and microfilm of some papers, and full text CD-ROM backfiles of the New York Times are also available. For more details, check the News Sources at PBA web page.
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If materials needed for research are not available in the PBA Library or area libraries, you may wish to use our interlibrary loan services. We have created convenient web forms which you may use to request books and periodical articles. To initiate an order, fill out the appropriate request form, supplying contact information and the complete bibliographic citations. The data you submit will be processed by our ILL staff and then entered into the OCLC system in our library. The PBA library will enter your request promptly, but cannot control the responses of the supplying library and the mail system. The time span between request and receipt is usually at least 6 to 8 days and sometimes longer, so plan ahead if the material is needed by a certain time. For detailed rules and procedures, look at the ILL Services web page.
The library has over 4,000 nonprint media items, including videocassettes and DVDs, sound recordings (both compact disc and LP) and books with computer disks. They can be identified in the library catalog by the "MED" prefix on their call numbers. Check out privileges for media items vary according to patron type, whether faculty, student, or other. For specifics, inquire at the circulation desk.
PBA faculty and students may apply for SEFLIN Library Cards with which guest checkout privileges are granted at many Southeast Florida college or university libraries. These include the libraries of Florida Atlantic University, Palm Beach Community College (Central Campus), Lynn University, Nova Southeastern University and several other colleges in Broward and Dade County.
Copies of library materials may be made on the copy machine located near the circulation desk, for ten cents per print. The copyright law of the United States (Title 17 U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies of copyrighted material. The person using photocopy equipment is liable for any infringement of copyright law.
Most libraries, including this one, operate on the principle of sharing of resources. When a patron borrows materials, it is for a limited time period, with the expectation that the items will be returned promptly so they can be made available for the use of others. Within the PBA community, several policies and procedures help us to implement that principle.
Overdue Materials
When materials are checked out, each item is given a due date. Unless
renewed, the item is expected to be returned by that date. If it is not,
an overdue fine is charged, both as an inducement to return the materials, and
to help cover the costs of notices, etc. The rate varies according to the
material type. For general circulating books, it is 25¢
per day, with a maximum of $7.50 per item. For many other material types,
the charge is $1.00 per day, with a maximum of $15 per item.
Lost Materials
When materials are not returned and the overdue period exceeds 30 days, the
items are considered lost. Overdue charges cease to accrue, but a bill is
sent for:
• replacement cost of the item (if the item is old/out of print, the cost
of a comparable new item is assessed)
• processing charge of $25.00
Billing
When charges are not paid directly at the library in a timely manner, the
obligation is turned over to the PBA Business Office, and a $10 billing charge
is added the total.
If you have questions about Fines or Other Charges, contact the circulation desk (561) 803-2226 or email library@pba.edu.
