Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. It doesn't matter what carrier you personally use for mobile service. The contract is between WOU & T-Mobile. So you might have AT&T as your personal mobile carrier, and as long as T-Mobile's network  covers your location, you can use a library hotspot. 

Current students, faculty, and staff have a digital pass to The New York Times through WOU Library's group subscription. 

Your WOU network credentials are activated as an NYT account and a subscription pass to nytimes.com and to the NYTimes mobile news app. Faculty & staff subscription passes expire at 4 years, and students’ pass expirations depend on enrollment status. Passes can be reactivated.

• Subscription benefits include articles back to 1851 (as text and/or digital replica), subscription-only newsletters, the NYT Audio app, The New York Times Magazine and T Style Magazine, and 10 gift News articles per month. 
• Not included in the Group access: Games, Cooking, Wirecutter, or The Athletic.

1. Activate or reactivate your pass 

   • while connected to the campus network: nytimes.com/grouppass

   • or from off campus https://wou.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://ezmyaccount.nytimes.com/group-pass and login to WOU Portal.

2. Log in or Create an NYT account using your WOU credentials

   • Do not use the single sign-on option.  Either:

   • Choose the Continue with Google button, sign in with your @mail.wou.edu account, etc., OR

   • Type in your WOU email address--either the @wou.edu or the @mail.wou.edu format--and a password you choose.

Tips and Troubleshooting

• Do you already have an NYT account with your WOU credentials AND you pay for a subscription? You must cancel your subscription before the account can activate our group subscription.  
• You may change the email address associated with an existing NYT account–from a personal address to your WOU address, for example. You will still need to activate the group subscription as described above. 

"On reserve" is when a professor creates a collection of materials that are "reserved"--excluded or from general circulation--to support a specific class. Instructors often put their personally-owned items on reserve as well as library-owned materials. The instructor chooses what short-term loan is appropriate--as short as four hours or as long as a week. Reserves optimizes sharing among class members since no one borrows the course materials for a standard six-week loan. 

See also: 

• How do I find a book my professor put on reserve?

A Request ensures that you are the next patron to check out an item. It's also called a Hold. If the item is currently available, library staff removes it from the open collection to the Hold Shelf at the Checkout Desk. The item can only be checked out by the requesting patron unless the hold is canceled. 

If the item is currently loaned to another patron, a Request puts you in line for the item. When the previous patron returns it, Primo sends you a notice that the item is now available for you to pick up.

A hold expires if the patron doesn't check the item out within a few days. The item returns to open circulation--or moves to the next patron in line. You can cancel any holds you no longer want under My Account→ Requests.

Both Summit and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) are services which facilitate the sharing of resources among libraries. Here is a brief description and comparison of the two services.

This is intended to be informational.

When you place a request, you do not need to choose one service or the other. The system will automatically route your request for the greatest efficiency.

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

For example: 

• All books in a library's general collection circulate through Summit. Individual libraries may choose to allow additional physical collections to circulate, such as audio/visual items.
• Only physical items may be requested through Summit. Digital copies of articles or bookn chapters 
• The maximum number of Alliance items that an individual patron can have out on loan is 200.
• All materials circulate for 12 weeks and are eligible for one renewal of 6 weeks unless the item is requested locally.
• Summit Materials may be returned to any Alliance member library. 
• You find and request materials through Primo. 

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service which allows you to borrow books, journal articles, and occassionally other items from libraries acrocss the world. If an item is not available from Hamersly Library or a another library within Summit, it may be requested through ILL. There are standards of practice, but no shared policies or procedures which participating libraries must adhere to.

• While all participating libraries will generally loan books from their main collection, each one individually decides whether they will loan additional such as DVDs, maps, etc.
• ILL can supply physical items, as well as digital copies of articles and book chapters. Full-text ebooks and digital videos are not available. 
• 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 ther owning library. 
• ILL items must be returned to Hamersly Library. If your item came with any paperwork, please make sure it is returned with the item as well.
• If you're unable to locate the item you need in Primo, you may request it using the ILL form in your My Library account. 

Request a shipping label from the library. WOU will pay for the shipping expense.

In this request, you will indicate the shipping service you will use.:

• UPS: UPS Locations (we prefer UPS, if it's available to you)
• United States Postal Service: USPS Locations

A shipping label will be emailed to you within a few business days from bullisl@wou.edu. 

Please pack carefully to prevent damage during shipping. Some UPS locations offer packing services if you want help. To pack the shipment yourself, you need 

• A sturdy box, a minimum dimension of 5.5” x 8.5” and spacious enough to not crowd the contents.
• Cushioning, such as bubble wrap or packing paper, to protect contents and fill packing voids. 
• Packing tape 

 

Print Credits

1. Your network account gets 225 print credits added each term you are enrolled. Your Portal page displays your current balance.
2. Purchase additional credits at any time through the Portal link, and you can use them immediately. 
3. Unused credits roll over to the next term, Fall through Summer intersession. In mid-September, just before Fall number, everyone's accounts get zeroed out and start over at 225. 
4. One page sent to a black & white print queue costs one credit, and one page sent to a color queue costs five credits. Double-sided printing costs two and ten credits, respectively.

Choose the Printer & Queue

1. Make sure to choose a nearby printer--the computers do not have location-based defaults, and you don't want to have to wander the Admin building to find your paper! Look for the sign with the printer's name. 
2. The printers in Hamersly Library are: 

• Lab-HL-Ref or Lab-HL-Color: 1st floor east reference area [your printout will come from one of the three printers on this queue]
• Lab-HLRefWest or Lab-HLColorWest: 1st floor west reference area  [your printout will come from one of the two printers on this queue]
• Lab-HL108 or Lab-HL108Color: In room 108, the computer lab and classroom
• Lab-HLAlcove or Lab-HLAlcoveColor: 2nd floor southwest corner in the Computer Alcove 
• Lab-HL-DMC or Lab-HL-DMC-Color: 2nd floor northeast corner in the Digital Media Center [11x17" printing available]
• Lab-24HourRoom or Lab-24HourRoomColor: in room 106, by the Monmouth Ave. entrance.

See Also:

• I sent something to the printer and it didn't come out. What's wrong?
• Can I print onto my own specialty paper? 

Booking is making a reservation on a library item--scheduling for a future specified time. For example, an instructor may book a DVD for classroom use weeks in advance, or a student may reserve a camera for an upcoming project or event.

The item continues in open circulation, but due dates are shortened when necessary to ensure it's available for the booking.

Yes, after registering for a public library card, WOU students can access those resources as well as those available through Hamersly Library. Register by going to the city library for your current address and presenting a government-issued photo ID (driver license, passport, etc.) and a recent rental agreement or bill (cable, internet, cell phone, electricity, etc.) that includes your address. Students who live on campus can print out their RSC address from WolfWeb. You may also register online for a temporary account and complete the process in person. 

If you live in Monmouth, Independence, Dallas, Salem or elsewhere within Marion, Polk or Yamhill counties, register with the CCRLS library district. Like the Summit system, CCRLS allows you to borrow books from any of the partner libraries, either in person or through the catalog. A daily courier delivers your requested material to the library of your choice at no charge to you.

Or register with Corvallis-Benton County Public Library if that's appropriate.

Yes, but indirectly, through WOU's virtual desktop (VDI).

To print from your laptop: 

1. email yourself the needed document
2. use a web browser to go to wouvdi.wou.edu. Select VMware Horizon HTML Access and login with your PawPrint. Click the 1. Lab Stations box.
3. within the VMware window, retrieve your email and download the document.
4. still within the VMware window, send the document to the printer of your choice. 

Alternatively, you can send the document to yourself (or save to a USB drive), then log onto a library computer and proceed to print as usual.

If you are using your laptop for online work (Moodle, article databases, etc.) and there's a chance you'll want to print to a campus printer, connect to VMWare first and use the web browser there. 

See Also:

• How do I print in the library?

Summit is the system in which Hamersly Library and nearly 40 partner libraries share physical resources. When you discover a book or DVD, for example, in Primo and it's not available at Hamersly Library, you place a Summit request and an owning library sends it to us for you. It takes an average of 2-3 business days for delivery, and you receive an email (or text, if you sign up) when it's ready for you to pick up from the Checkout Desk. There is no charge to you. 

All of the Summit partner libraries are members of the Orbis Cascade Alliance, a consortium of college, university, and community colleges in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. 

See also: 

• Can I visit other Summit libraries? 
• What's the difference between Summit and Interlibrary Loan?
• How long can I check out a book?
• How many books can I check out?
• How can I get text messages about my borrowing activity?

 

During the COVID-19 closure:

Our audio and video equipment/rooms are not available while the library is closed. It is still possible to make recording using your phone or the webcam on your computer. Check out our guide for resources to help you with creating and editing while away from campus.

During normal circumstances:

The library has several options for you to do video recording. The Digital Production Room for Video (HL 222) is set up with a camcorder and DSLR camera on tripods, lighting equipment, and black and green screen backdrops. The room is also equipped with video editing software and equipment, and technical assistance in nearby during Technology Tutoring Hours or often as needed during weekdays. You may reserve the room, or if it's not currently in use, you may pick up the key at the Checkout Desk. 

You can also checkout equipment to use elsewhere. We have full camcorders as well as simple Flip cameras, and floor and tabletop tripods.  See the Equipment Guide for the inventory as well as user manuals. Other equipment of potential interest includes a webcam, desk- and camera-mounted microphones, and black and white backdrops. 

See also:

• Can I reserve a room? 

Most academic libraries, including Hamersly Library, use Library of Congress (LC) call numbers. The system is not hard to use, it's just a different method of organization than the Dewey Decimal System that you might be used to. Primo displays the call number horizontally, like this:
GT2110 .H3 1998.
On the shelves, you'll see the call numbers stacked vertically, like this: 

 

First, make sure you are in the correct location (collection) of the library according to Primo. Then take the call number in "chunks" and proceed alpha-numerically in order. 

Once you find the large section of G, then find GT. 

Once you find GT, look for GT2110. 

Once you find GT2110, look for GT2110. H

Finally, look for GT2110. H3

The 1998 is the publishing year but is only relevant when there are multiple editions of a book on the shelf. 

Occasionally the last bit of the call number will indicate a volume number from a multi-volume work or a copy number if we have more than one. 

The LC Classification Outline defines the topical organization. 

See also:

• How do I find a book? 

 

 

You can check out as many general books, DVDs, etc., at one time as you want. You can have up to 200 items owned by our Summit partner libraries at any one time.

See also:

• What is Summit?

You can return equipment to the library either in person or by shipping it at WOU’s expense. Besides the main device, be sure to include all parts listed on the inventory. Each part has a numbered label matching the device's barcode. 

Yes! First, at the computer, start the Print command, then:

1. select the printer queue you want (ex. HL-Ref, HL-Alcove-Color),
2. click Advanced or Preferences, select the Bypass Tray, and click OK to apply the preferences.
3. Complete the print command.

Now go to the printer with your paper. When the printer is ready to print your document, its screen displays  an alert screen with your username and the file name, indicating that it needs the paper in the bypass tray to continue. Fold down the bypass tray on the front of the printer and place your paper on it. The printer will detect the paper there and automatically pull it in to print.

This is easiest when you select a queue with only one printer, such as HL-108 or HL-Alcove. But when multiple printer devices serve the queue, wait to see which device picked up your print job.

 

See also:

• How do I print in the library? 

Primo provides three details you need to find an physical item. They are the item's

1. location, or collection, within the library (ex: Course Reserves or Books Floor 3 or Juvenile Fiction or Video),

2. call number (ex: HV8025 .P74 2002 or E BEA or 13-7 pc or REC HOF

3. status (ex: Available or Check Holdings)

The location is very important because a call number could be placed in any of five collections. Having only a call number is like having a house number without a street name. 

See also:

• How do I use the call number?
• What if the item I need is checked out or missing? 

The current day's hours appear on the right side of the library's homepage.  Here are this week's hours for the library generally (at the top), and for The Press and Technology Tutoring in the grid.

If you are a current WOU student, staff, or faculty member, you may register at other Summit libraries as a Summit Visiting Patron. This status allows you to borrow directly from the "adopting" library's collections and/or the option of picking up your Summit requests at that library rather than at Hamersly. To register, take your WOU ID card to the library's checkout or circulation desk and ask to become a Summit Visiting Patron. The staff will have you login to My Library to verify your current status and your library expiration date in our system. You may need to occasionally renew your status at the adopting library. 

 

If Primo says an item is Available but you cannot find it, please ask at the Information Desk or contact us. After we make sure you didn't overlook it, we'll do a full search for it and contact you if we find it. In the meantime, we can also help you request a Summit copy or find it in a nearby public library. 

 

See also:

• How do I find a book?
• How do I use the call number?
• What is Summit?
• Can I use the public library as a WOU student?