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Kennedy Library Updates and Resources

Updates

  Updates 

Kennedy Library Hours

Alert: Interlibrary Loan 

  • On June 1, 2023 Interlibrary Loan will (temporarily) discontinue all options to request tangible items such as books and DVDs.  Requested materials that have been delivered to Kennedy Library and not picked up by June 16th will be returned to the lending library.  This is necessary to facilitate an efficient move-out and set-up for operations during the renovation. Requests for physical items are expected to resume later in the summer.

Small Equipment for Checkout

  • Chargers, adapters, calculators, whiteboard markers, and other small tech items can be checked out at the front desk.

Off Campus Delivery 

  • Off-Campus Delivery is available to current students, staff, faculty and emeritus only: Allow 4-6 weeks for requests to be processed and delivered. Items will be shipped via UPS to the address entered when requested. You will receive an email when your item has been shipped. Continental US and Alaska street addresses only. Our apologies, we cannot deliver to Hawaii or international locations. Items can be returned to any CSU campus book drop or shipped using the prepaid UPS return label included in your shipment.

Collections During the Renovation

Access to Physical Collections

  • The majority of Kennedy Library’s physical collections will be packed and securely held in dark storage for the duration of the renovation project.  A small portion of the physical collection that is frequently used (approximately 10,000-12,000 items) will be relocated and accessible in Crandall Gym, and you may visit Crandall Gym to browse collections and check out books. Crandall Gym will also house new books acquired during the renovation, Good Reads, and physical Course Reserves.  All of these can be checked out.  The Research Help Collection will also be available to consult.  Additional frequently used materials will be stored in the library’s surge space in Building 82 and those materials can be requested and available for pick-up within one business day.
  • All physical collections in dark storage will be eligible for request and delivery through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). This option will be displayed in OneSearch beginning in summer 2023 Note: ILL items delivered via ILL cannot be placed on course reserves.
  • Kennedy Library understands the faculty need for easy and ongoing access to items in our physical collections for ongoing scholarly/creative and/or curricular use.
  • To this end we have a suggested action item for faculty:

If you need materials from the Kennedy Library collection for your own work or wish to place materials on physical course reserves during the next two academic years, please check them out of the library before the end of Spring Quarter, 2023. They will be automatically renewed, and you will have them available for the duration of the renovation.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

  • As mentioned above, Kennedy Library is reprogramming the OneSearch catalog software to make all our physical collections in dark storage available from another library through Interlibrary Loan. Library personnel are optimizing the delivery of ILL materials prior to the building closure for the renovation, and this work will continue this spring and summer with further updates coming in fall 2023. You may continue to request materials we do not own through ILL from our international network of lending partners as usual. Again, note that items delivered via ILL cannot be placed on course reserves.

Physical Course Reserves

  • Kennedy Library’s physical Course Reserves service will return in fall quarter of the 2023-2024 academic year, and those physical materials will be available for checkout in Crandall Gym. More information will be forthcoming in late spring and summer as we plan for the restart of this important library service.

   Get Online Help 24/7

Use 24/7 live chat to reach us anytime and from any place! 

24/7 Live Chat Help

   Access Library Resources From Home or Anywhere

Cal Poly students, faculty and staff can easily access our databases and other electronic resources from off-campus. Sign in to My Account using your Cal Poly User ID and password (the same ID and password you use to log into my.calpoly.edu portal.)

For more information, see Off-Campus Access.

Students in need of technology may visit the ITS Tech Rentals page or call 805-756-7000.
Need assistance with technology? Contact the ITS Service Desk at 805-756-7000.

Off-Campus Access   Contact ITS

    Online Research Tools, Databases, and E-Books

Kennedy Library has access to gazillions of digital materials - articles, books, data, streaming media, and more.  The most comprehensive way to get access is to sign into OneSearch to access subscribed content and place requests for for items not instantly available,  You can also access subscribed database content by simply signing into your mycalpoly portal.  Hundreds of databases  provide access to full-text articles, videos, and more. Our Librarians and specialists have created helpful subject, course, and topic guides to help you navigate the research process. 

Research Guides  

OneSearch   

Online Databases   COVID-19 Limited-Time Access Resource List

Special Collections and Archives

E-Books

Kennedy Library provides access to more than 600,000 e-books in all disciplines. All are discoverable in OneSearch.
Not all e-books are created equal. Some e-books, for example, can only be viewed by 3 users at a time, but the majority of e-books have minimal restrictions. The E-Books Guide below describes how to identify e-books to which we have access, and to see the terms of use for that item.

E-Books Guide   

Streaming Video

The library subscribes to several streaming video databases, and users can view streaming content from these databases when they are logged into the Cal Poly portal.

Docuseek

Academic Video Online

BBC Shakespeare Plays

Kanopy

Commercial or ad-supported streaming services

If instructors can't find the video they need in one of the library resources above, they can search for additional streaming options at JustWatch.com and Reelgood.com.  This will help determine if the video content is site exclusive (e.g. Netflix, PrimeVideo, or HBO), or if it is available on an ad-supported or low-cost rental platform (e.g. Vudu, Google Play or YouTube).  NOTE:  The library cannot pay rental costs on commercial services. Ad-supported and free platforms vary in quality and reliability--always preview the entire film yourself before linking it to your students.

JustWatch

Reelgood

   Online Library Tutorials for Students

We have online tutorials, videos, and guides that provide students with instruction on library research strategies and tools.

Research 101 Tutorials and Videos 

Finding Data Tutorial 

Research and Course Guides 

  Course Reserves

We can assist faculty in making course materials available digitally, either using already library-licensed digital materials or, in some cases, by licensing ebooks via faculty requests.  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide print and physical course reserves in academic year 22-23.

To place e-materials on reserve, check OneSearch to see if the library already owns the item. If you find an electronic copy in OneSearch, please  fill out a Course Reserves request form, and include a OneSearch permalink to the item in the “Special Instructions” box. Placing it on Course Reserves makes it easy for students to find and for us to ensure that the licenses stay current.

If you cannot find the item you are looking for in OneSearch, submit an E-Reserves Purchase Request Form.

Accessing Course Reserves and Materials

To access course reserves you can search for course reserves and materials by course number (ie COMS 101) or instructor name
 

Search Course Reserves

 

   Don't See Online Access or Full Text?  Interlibrary loan options may be available

When you are signed into OneSearch your request options will appear.  These may include physical books/media, digital articles, digital book chapters, and more. If no request option appears you may always fill out a request for Interlibrary Loan.

If you are searching in Databases, look for the "Get It" button, that will drop you into OneSearch and request options for an item.

You can view and track all your requests from “My Account

Submit a request online:

Interlibrary Loan 

Questions?  You can email: ils@calpoly.edu