Frequently Asked Questions
The Library
Photocopy and Print Services
MELVYL
The Library
- Where is the Physical Sciences &
Engineering Library?
- The Physical Sciences Library is located between the Physics/Geology
Building and the Chemistry Annex, near Mrak Hall. The closest visitor
parking is in Lots 1 and 2 on Old Davis Road at Mrak Hall Drive.
View map.
- Where is a campus telephone?
- A campus telephone is located inside the library to the immediate
right as one enters.
- Where is a public telephone?
- Public telephones are located in front of the building.
- Where is Lost and Found?
- Lost and Found is located at the Circulation Desk.
- Where are the new books displayed?
- The New Books Display is located on the first floor in the
Reference Area. All new books are displayed for one week. They can be
requested at the Circulation Desk and are available for checkout at the
end of the display period.
- Where can I find this call number?
- Following is a brief guide to the locations of call numbers:
Library maps are posted throughout the library and are available from
the kiosk on the right of the stairwell.
- Where can I return books?
- Reserve, Government Information and Interlibrary Loan materials must be
returned to the department from which they were borrowed. Books and
other materials can be returned to the Circulation Desk, the book drop
outside the library entrance, or book return bins at the following
remote locations:
- Hutchinson Drive in front of Surge III building
- On A St. between Hutchinson Dr. and Peter J Shields Ave.
- (First Street) near the Information booth.
- California Avenue, West of Kerr Hall.
- On LaRue Rd. near Bioletti way in front of Meyer Hall.
- On LaRue Rd. next to the Information booth by Orchard Park Dr.
intersection.
- Where can I hook up a laptop?
- There are six laptop carrels next to the stairwell: two on each
floor except the first. Internet cables and connectors can be checked
out from the Circulation Desk. Instructions for connecting to and
accessing the network are included with the cables and ethernet
cards.
- Where can I make suggestions?
- A suggestion box is located on the first floor next to the
photocopier.
- What are the "stacks"?
- The term "stacks" is used to indicate the shelves in the library.
The phrase "the book is in the stacks" means that the book is filed in
call number order on a shelf.
- What is NRLF?
- The Northern Regional Library Facility (NRLF) located in Richmond,
California is a storage location for low use or older items. Material
housed at the NRLF can be obtained by submitting a book or article
request at the Circulation Desk or Reference Desk. NRLF requests may
also be submitted on the ILL web forms. On weekdays, material is
generally available within 48 hours of request.
- What is the Annex?
- The Annex is located near campus and is a storage facility for low
use or older items. Material housed in the Annex is generally available
within 24 hours of receipt of the request.
- What is "Open Reserves"?
- Open Reserves is a collection of older textbooks, primarily in
chemistry, engineering and mathematics, and it is located in Room 030
on the Lower Level of the library. Books on Open Reserves are not
cataloged and are not listed in MELVYL®. They can be used in the
library or checked out at the Circulation Desk.
- Does the Library have a Proxy Server?
- Yes. See our Proxy Server
page for more information.
- Does the library provide internet access?
- Yes. Work stations on the first floor of the library allow access
to the World Wide Web. Use of these work stations must comply with the
Campus Acceptable Use Policy. Library work stations are not to be used
for personal e-mail or for accessing chat rooms.
- There are also network connections in the library for personal
laptop computers. The connections are at work stations on the lower
level, second, and third floor of the library. Cables, equipment and
instructions can be checked out from the Circulation Desk.
- Is there a place in the library where I
can access my e-mail?
- Yes. Located on the first floor of the library is a terminal set up
to access the campus ISUN server and/or Geckomail.
- Can I renew my books without coming to the
library?
- Yes. Research staff with quarterly or general appointments, general
staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students may renew books by
telephone, e-mail or on the Internet.
- How can I obtain material which is not
owned by the Library?
- Material not owned by the Library can be obtained through
Interlibrary Loan. Inquire at the
Reference Desk.
- How can I find out if materials I
requested are available yet?
- Phone the library where the request was placed.
- Who can I contact regarding overdue notices?
- Contact the Circulation Desk for all questions relating to
overdues, replacement bills or recall notices for Physical Sciences
& Engineering Library materials.
- Are there old exams, problem sets and
lecture notes on reserve at the Physical Sciences Library?
- No. All materials placed on Reserve are available at the Shields
Library Reserve Department. For more information, check the Shields Library Reserve home page.
- May I use the library if I'm not
affiliated with UCD?
- Yes. The libraries at UC Davis are open to the public.
- Can I get a library card if I'm not
affiliated with UCD, and how much does it cost?
- Individuals, 18 years of age or older and residents of California, may
purchase a library card at the Circulation Desk. Library cards may be
purchased either as a member of the public or by joining the UCD
Library Associates. The library card is a benefit of membership to the
Library Associates. Restrictions to services may apply.
-
Fees for cards are as follows:
- Public borrowers: $100/year
- Library Associate Membership: $55.00/year (basic membership)
- How do I report unusual behavior or
potential problems I observe?
- Contact the Reference or the Circulation Desk immediately.
Photocopy and Print Services
- Where are the photocopiers located?
- There are six photocopiers in the library and they are located as
follows:
- How much do copies cost?
- Photocopies cost 10 cents per page when coins are used. Copies cost
less with a purchased copy card, depending upon the value placed on the
card. For instance, the cost of copies on a $5 card is 9 cents each, a
10% reduction; on a $10 card the cost is 8 cents, a 20% reduction, and
on a $20 card the cost is 6.7 cents per copy, a decrease of 33%. Value
beyond $20 on a card does not lower the cost per copy below 6.7 cents.
It is prudent to place no more than $20 on a card at a time: copy cards
are just like cash - if found, they can be used by anyone.
- Is there a change machine in the library?
- There is no change machine in the library. Change machines are
located in Shields Library adjacent to Reserves on the first floor and
adjacent to Government Information in the lower level. Photocopiers
provide change for bills or coins whenever a copy is made. Copiers do
not accept bills if they do not contain enough money to provide
change.
- Where do I get a copy card?
- Copy cards can be purchased from the card dispenser located next to
the first floor photocopier. The dispenser accepts a $1.00 bill and
vends a copy card worth $1.00. Additional value can be added to the
purchased card by inserting it into the card reader of any photocopier.
Copies for an amount less than $1.00 can be made by adding exact value
to an empty card. Zero value cards are found in receptacles located
next to each photocopier.
- Copy cards can also be purchased in any amount at the ASUCD Student
Services Office at 367 Memorial Union. ASUCD accepts cash, check, or
recharges to a campus account.
- Will other types of copy cards work in the
library photocopiers?
- The library photocopiers accept only Richoh or Taylor Made copy cards.
- How do I add value to a copy card?
- To add value to a copy card, insert the card into the card reader
of any photocopier and place coins or bills in the appropriate slots.
Value of cards can be increased in any amount.
- Can I recharge to a department?
- Cost of copies can be recharged to a department only at the Shields
Circulation Desk using the Library's Document Delivery Service. Recharges
can be made by providing a departmental account number.
- Can I get a refund if I do not use up all the
money on my copy card or I lose money due to a malfunction?
- Refunds are not made for unexpended money on copy cards or for lost
cards. If money is lost in a photocopier because of a malfunction ask
at the Circulation Desk..
- Can I enlarge or reduce copies or make copies
on different paper sizes?
- All copiers reduce and enlarge. All photocopiers make 8 1/2 X 11
and 11 X 14 copies. Selected machines at Shields Library (lower level
and Bio/Ag) also copy onto 11 X 17 paper.
- Where do I report a photocopier problem?
- Report all problems with photocopiers to the Circulation Desk.
Specify the nature of the problem, the number of the malfunctioning
copier and its location.
- Where do I report a copy card problem?
- Report all problems to the Circulation Desk. Two common problems are:
- Stuck cards. Cards stuck in the reader can be released by
inserting another copy card part way into the card reader slot and
quickly pulling it back out again. This usually releases the stuck
card. If not, report the problem at the Circulation Desk.
- Flagged card. If the card reader on a photocopier reads
"flagged," the card must be returned to the Campus Repro
Graphics. Ask at the Circulation Desk for assistance. Please note
the number or location of the machine that flagged the card.
- Where do I claim or turn in a lost copy card?
- Claim or turn in a lost copy card at the Circulation Desk.
- Can I print from library computers? How much
does it cost?
- Yes. A laser printer for printing directly from library computers is
available on the first floor near the Reference Desk.
- The cost of printing is 10 cents per page.
- Where do I get a diskette for downloading?
- Diskettes for downloading are available at the Circulation Desk and
can be checked out for a one week period.
- Can I print from microforms?
- A microfiche/film reader/printer is located in the Reference Area next
to the microfiche collection. The cost of printing is 15 cents per page.
The printer accepts Ricoh or Taylor Made copy cards only.
- The Shields Library Circulation Desk makes fiche to fiche copies for a
fee. Copies from opaque microprint and microcards can also be made through
the Shields Library Circulation Desk.
MELVYL
- What is MELVYL?
- MELVYL is the UC system-wide union catalog and contains records of
UC's book holdings, and records of other materials such as maps, videos,
sound recordings, etc.
- How can I save the results of my MELVYL
search?
- You can e-mail the results of a search using the MAIL command. After
completing the search, type MAIL [which records][in what format] TO
[e-mail address]. Do not type brackets, just fill in the brackets with
your specific information. Example:
MAIL 3-5,20 LONG to youraddress@ucdavis.edu- The e-mailed file can then be saved to a diskette or hard drive.
- For saving options for the web version of MELVYL, visit the Melvyl User
Guides.
- How can I print the results of my MELVYL
search?
- Within the Physical Sciences & Engineering Library, results of
MELVYL searches can be printed on the networked printer located next to
the Reference Desk. Printing costs 10 cents per page.
- To print from MELVYL telnet, select one of the following from the File
pull-down menu:
- Screen: prints the current screen.
- Selection: prints a section that has been highlighted.
- Auto Print: opens a print log. Use the Display Continuous command
in MELVYL to display without page breaks. Click on Auto Print a second
time to print displayed items.
- To print from MELVYL web:
- Run a search
- Select records for printing
- Use the Print/Email button
- For additional information on printing, see the Melvyl User
Guides
- How do I connect to the MELVYL system from my
home or office?
- Access the MELVYL system via the internet using the MELVYL web
interface, available from most Library web pages. You can also access
MELVYL by going directly to http://melvyl.cdlib.org/F/?func=file&file_name=find-b&local_base=u-cdl90
- Additional information and help is available on the MELVYL home page on
the web.
- When do I need a CDL/MELVYL password?
- CDL/Melvyl passwords were phased out on 12/31/02. To access the
databases that were previously accessed using the password, you will now
need to use the library proxy server. Please see the information about the
library proxy server at:
http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/ul/services/connect/setup/.
- Where do I get a MELVYL password?
- CDL/Melvyl passwords have not been provided since 12/31/02. For access
to UCD licensed databases and electronic journals when off the campus
network or when using an ISP or DSL connection, you must now use the proxy
server. Please see:
http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/ul/services/connect/setup/ for more
information.
- Where do I get more information about using
the MELVYL system?
- Guides to the Melvyl catalog are available at
http://www.cdlib.org/inside/instruct/melvyl/.
- Classes in the use of MELVYL are offered throughout the school
year. View the classes offered by the library at http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/dept/instruc/class-schedule.php
