A citation gives you the details you need to find an article.

Do not search the entire citation at once. It usually works better to search one part at a time.

What should I look for in the citation?

For a journal article, the most helpful parts are:

• Journal title: the name of the journal where the article was published
• Article title: the title of the individual article
• Author
• Year, volume, and issue: details that help you find the correct journal issue
• Page numbers: help confirm you found the right article

What should I search first?

Start with the Journal Title. 

1. From the library homepage, just below the search bar select the "journals" button
2. Type in the title of the journal in the Journal Search bar
3. You will be given options for which database to select that contains the journal. Start with the top option.
4. Select the correct year, volume and issue number.
5. Find the article by title and author

How do I tell the difference between the article title and the journal title?

• the article title is the title of one article
• the journal title is the name of the publication that contains the article

Example:

Smith, J. A. (2023). Study habits of first-year students. Journal of College Learning, 15(2), 45–61.

• Article title: Study habits of first-year students
• Journal title: Journal of College Learning

You will narrow down from the year, to the volume, and then to the issue.

What if the library does not have the article?

You may still be able to get it through interlibrary loan. [opens in a new window] 

Step 1:

To use EOU Library databases, start at the library homepage library.eou.edu and click on the "Databases" link. Which will take you to an alphabetical list of our databases.

 

Step 2:

Once you are viewing the list of Databases, you can select a database by clicking on the name. If you aren’t sure which database is best for your topic, Academic Search Complete is a good general-purpose starting point. You can also use the "Subjects" drop down menu to limit the list of databases to a general subject such as “business” or “sociology”. That way you will only see the databases that cover that broad subject area. You can always ask a librarian or your instructor for suggestions as well.

Step 3:

Once you’ve chosen a database, select its title from the list. If you are working from off campus, you may have to log in to your library account to get access.

Search features vary from one database to another, but nearly all will let you search by keyword, by topic or subject, by author, or by other criteria. In some databases, those from EBSCO for example, there is an option to limit your search results to scholarly, peer-reviewed articles.

Most of the databases contain full text, meaning copies of the articles you find will be available in the database. But sometimes databases don’t include the actual articles, just information about them, possibly including abstracts (summaries).

In these cases, look for a Find It button.  Find It will search all the library’s databases and will take you to the full text, if available, or present other options.

Both Summit and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) are services to share resources among libraries, but they fill different needs. Here is a brief description and comparison of the services. 

Summit is the borrowing system for member libraries of the Orbis Cascade Alliance--academic libraries in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. To maximize efficiency and predictability, libraries agree to basic policies and procedures. For example, 

• All books in a library's general collection circulate through Summit. Individual libraries may allow additional physical collections to circulate, such as audiovisual items.
• Summit supplies physical loans only--no copies of articles or chapters. 
• The standard book loan is 6 weeks. If a library allows an additional collection to circulate through Summit, the loan period is either 6 weeks or 6 days.
• There are no renewals.
• There is no cost associated with each individual request, since a contracted courier delivers materials on a fixed expense to the library.
• You find and request materials through Primo

Interlibrary Loan involves over 10,000 academic, public, and special libraries across the United States and the world. There are standards of practice but no shared policies or procedures for participating libraries. 

• All kinds of materials are shared through ILL. The broader network of libraries loans books, audiovisuals, microforms, and other physical items not available through Summit borrowing, and it supplies scanned copies of articles and book chapters. Some libraries also scan items they will not lend physically (special collections and archives, for example) to share electronically.
• The owning library sets the due date for a physical item loan. When you receive an electronic copy, it is yours to keep. 
• Renewals are at the discretion of the owning library.
• Expenses associated with individual requests vary due to lending fees and shipping costs. 
• One pathway to make a request is ILL request tab.

To find articles on a particular topic start with the Search Primo on the library homepage. You can limit to "articles only" to help eliminate other source types, such as books or ebooks. This will filter your results to just articles that the library has access to.

Type your search terms into the box.

Use the filter options on the left side of the results list to refine your search. Here you can limit to peer-reviewed articles or refine by type, subject, date, etc. Click on the article title to access the full text.

It is important to be note that Primo does not contain all of the library resources. EOU Library subscribes to many databases and not all database content will be available in Primo. Often it is best to go directly to a subject-specific database in order to find more focused results and to conduct more exhaustive research.

To learn more about selecting and using a database for finding articles please see our FAQ How Do I Find Databases?

Using Books and Other Items

EOU students, faculty, and staff can checkout EOU owned library items through a request process. Library staff will pull items you request, and items can be picked up at the library or mailed to your home address. Please note that for mailed items you will be responsible for return postage. Instructions for requesting items through Primo are listed below. Please contact us with any questions.

How To Request Items from EOU

1. Begin by searching for your topic or item in Primo.

2. Click on the title of the item you want. Sign in to Primo to access the request option.

3. In the Find & Request section choose the link that says “Request From EOU”.

4. Fill out the request form.

• If you want to pick up the item at the library select the EOU Library pickup location and you will receive an email when the item is ready for pick up (usually within 1 business day).
• If you are an online student or unable to pick up the item then select the Home Address pickup location and the item will be mailed to the mailing address listed in your EOU account. If you need the item sent to a different address, please specify this in the comments section. You will be responsible for return postage when sending the item back.

Once you have filled out the form click on the Request button to submit the request.

5. Once your item has been processed you will receive an email to your EOU email address with further instructions for pickup or confirmation that your item has been mailed to you.

Books sent to you should have come with a self-addressed shipping label. You are responsible for the cost of return shipping. IF for some reason you didn't receive the label or it was misplaced you can request a new label by emailing 

How To Request Items from Summit

You can request books directly through the EOU library’s catalog. Search for the book you need, if it is not available through the EOU Library you will see Find & Request instead of a shelf location.

If the item is available from another Alliance library, you can place the request online by signing into your account and choose Request From Summit. Most Summit books arrive within a few business days, and you will be notified when your item is ready for pickup. If you do not see a request option, contact the library for help [opens in a new window].

If you are an online student we will send your requested item(s) to your home address and you will be responsible for return postage.

EOU graduates have access to the physical library during public opening hours. Alumni can borrow EOU materials by applying for an EOU Alumni Library Card. Alumni do not have access to Summit or free Interlibrary Loan services. Interlibrary Loan requests can be made at a per-item charge. Alumni do not have online access to databases or library resources.

Primo Search

EOU’s Primo Search is your access point to a vast amount of information resources, including books, DVDs, CDs, Vinyl, and other physical items found in library collections. To search for books and other materials owned by EOU, start with the EOU Library search scope, located in the drop down list in the Primo Search bar.

A keyword search is the best way to start if you are looking for materials related to a general topic. If you are looking for a specific book or other item, you may want to use Advanced Search to search by title or author, or choose to search for items in a particular format.

Choosing “Advanced Search” will let you construct a search with many different conditions. For example, you can do a keyword search narrowed down to a certain author. You can also search by language, publication date, or other criteria.

Once you have a list of results, you can narrow down to a particular resource type. Use the limiter option for "Resource Type" to limit to the format you want such as eBooks or Print Books.

If you would like to request books to either pick up at the library or be sent to your home then please follow the instructions on the Request Materials page.

Summit

If you can’t find what you need in EOU’s collections, try expanding to the EOU + Summit search scope. This will give you access to books and other materials owned by other Summit Libraries. To request a Summit book click on the “Find & Request” link and then the “Request from Summit” link.

If you are not signed in then you will need to do so with your Mountie Pass. Once you are signed in, click on the “Request Summit Item” link.

Submit the request form to complete your request. You will then receive an email when your item is ready to be picked up at the Circulation Desk.

Interlibrary Loan

If EOU and Summit Libraries don’t have what you are looking for you can search in two other catalogs and then request the item through our Interlibrary Loan service.

You can access your library account from the library homepage, select the blue button labeled "Library Account", in the bank of buttons below the Primo Search bar.

This will take you to the One-Login where you'll use your user name and password that you also use for Canvas.

Your library account allows you to keep track of what materials you have checked out, renew materials, and see requests that you've made.

 

You can see what items you have checked out and when they are due by logging in to your library account.

Using the navigation bar across the top to select "Loans" if the list of your items doesn't automatically appear. You can select individual items to renew, or renew the whole list.

Each item will indicate if it is renewable.

Items from EOU and Summit can be renewed online directly in your library account. Interlibrary Loan items can usually be renewed but must be requested through the Interlibrary Loan Department.

How To Renew EOU Items

• Click on the Renew link next to the item in your account.
• The new due date will update immediately.

How To Renew Summit Items

• Click on the Renew link next to the item in your account.
• The item will show that the renewal is pending approval.
• You will then get an email on whether or not the renewal has been approved.
• Some renewals may not be granted if the book has been requested by another patron.
• If a Summit item does not have the option to be renewed in your account then please contact Kadie Backlund, kbacklund@eou.edu for assistance.

How To Renew Interlibrary Loan Items

• To request a renewal, contact the Interlibrary Loan Department at least two days before the due date with your name and the title of the item.

See the Borrowing and Access page for full details on loan periods, renewals, and fines.

Finding eBooks

You may still use the databases if you physically come to the library. However, under the contract terms for database subscriptions, we may not provide off-campus access to anyone other than current EOU students, faculty, and staff.

If you are able to come into the Library, you would need to check in at the front desk to sign a Community Patron Internet and Computer Use Agreement.

There are also several places you can search for freely available scholarly literature from off campus (not all articles have full text, but many do ):

1. Google Scholar has an amazing number of links to open-access scholarly articles (when they are available, be sure to use the links to the right hand side of the citation, rather than clicking on the title).
2. If you are in Oregon, the State Library and your local public library provide access to Gale databases, including Power Search and Academic Onefile, which have a lot of full text scholarly resources. 
3. PubMed is medically focused, but includes a wide variety of scientific topics, some of which may deal with your topic.
4. ERIC covers education topics, including some related psychology.
5. Agricola is produced by the USDA and focused on agriculture and its sub-disciplines (which include many topics you might not not initially think of)

All EOU Library study rooms are first-come-first-served. 

You can link EOU Library to Google Scholar so that when you search in Google Scholar it will provide a link for finding the full text at EOU Library. 

Here are very simple, accessible steps to link your library in Google Scholar:

1. Go to the Google Scholar website.

2. Click the menu icon (the three bars symbol) in the top left corner.

3. Click Settings.

4. In the left sidebar, click Library links.

5. Type the name of your library (Eastern Oregon University).

6. Check the box next to your library when it appears.

7. Click Save at the bottom.

That’s it. Now, when you search, you may see links like “Find it @ EOU" next to articles.

 

 

Still cameras, video cameras, tripods, and other accessories for use by students with permission of a faculty member.

Available equipment includes:

• 1 Panasonic AG-HVX200 digital video camera
• 10 Canon HV 20 digital video cameras
• 4 Canon FS10 digital video cameras
• 10 Canon EOS 30D digital still cameras
• 2 Canon EOS 20D digital still cameras
• 19 Panasonic Lumix FZ50 digital still cameras
• 6 Panasonic Lumix FZ30 digital still cameras
• 7 Vivitar V3800N 35mm SLR film cameras
• 9 Bogen/Manfrotto tripods
• 10 Sony tripods

Equipment can be checked out and returned at the circulation desk, normally for three days at a time. You will need to come to the library to fill out a Tech Fee Media Library Usage Agreement form and have it signed by a faculty member.

We can scan chapters of books, or place requests for chapters from other libraries if we do not hold the item in our collection. There are some limitations. A request can be for a single chapter, or depending on the size of the book, 20-25% of a book. We don’t do whole books. The scanned material is to be for study, or research, not for commercial distribution. To request a chapter or set of pages to be scanned, you will need to complete the Book Chapter Request Form (link takes you to a new window). This form can also be found on the Interlibrary Loan page on the library website.

 

Yes, more information is available on the Oregon Library Passport webpage. 

The Oregon Passport Program allows cardholders of legally-established public libraries in Oregon to borrow from other legally-established public libraries. The Passport Program is meant to be an exchange; a library extends service to users of other participating libraries, and vice versa.

The Oregon Library Passport Program provides access to materials: checking out materials, placing holds on materials, etc. The Participating Library can determine what other services, if any, are extended (for example, Inter-Library Loans from outside the area or access to online resources).

In order to participate, patrons are required to have a Home Library card first. This becomes his or her “Passport” to other Participating Libraries. Patrons present their Home Library cards at each Participating Library in order to register for cards at those libraries.

Patrons who reside in areas that are not served by a public library may purchase a library card at a neighboring library. This becomes their Home Library for the purposes of this Program.

Note: If you need basic information about using Summit vs Interlibrary Loan (ILL) borrowing you can access the "What is the difference between Summit and ILL" FAQ.

If you are an EOU student that lives near one of the other Summit member libraries, you can go to the Summit library nearest location and have them create a visiting patron account for there. You can use this account to check items out at that library, and also use that account to place requests for items located at other Summit libraries. 

The benefit is that you are able to get the materials much more quickly and also avoid having to mail them back to the EOU Library.