Library Services For Faculty & Staff

The mission of the university library is to support the teaching, research, and service programs of the university.  This shall be accomplished through instruction, networking, and access using the appropriate technology, acquisition, organization and maintenance of necessary information resources.  The university library shall also provide the optimum learning environment for its diverse users.

This is what we are here to do, so do not hesitate to ask us for help teaching your students or yourself. Have a look at our Annual Report (.PDF) to learn more about what the Library is doing, what we have planned for the future, and why.

If you would like something placed on reserve for your students, fill out this form and bring it to the circulation desk. If you'd like something to be scanned and made electronically accessible for uploading in Moodle, fill out this form and bring it to the circulation desk.

Also, if you or your students have Special Needs, you can learn more about our services for you here.

Subject Librarians (your liaisons)

The Academic departments of ULM are divided amongst the reference staff, allowing them to properly focus their attention.  These are your contacts, or Liaisons, at the Library, and you may ask them for help finding information, acquiring materials, helping your students, and more.  To find out who your department's Librarian is, go here.  The Reference Desk is staffed from the time the Library opens to 9:00pm or all day if the Library closes before that.  Feel free to ask questions or contact us with any concerns, and do encourage your students to do the same.

Instruction Program

Do not assume that just because most of your students are young they must know how to do research and find valuable information.  Information literacy and technological competency are related, but they are not the same thing.  Wikipedia may be the only source some students like using, and you very likely want something better.  If you suspect that your students need some assistance with research, or you just want to be sure about it, the Librarians can come to your classroom (if it is "smart") and teach about the Library, or the class can be sent here to our own classroom (depending on number of students). Go here to to learn more about the Instruction Program.

Also, have a look at our page for students and our collection of online tutorials and past presentations.

Finding Resources Yourself

Sometimes Faculty do need help with the same things students do.  This is not embarrassing, and your Library Liaisons would be more than happy to help you.  It is understood that you are quite busy, and we can possibly save you some time by showing what we have to offer. Here are some things you can do to learn about the library:

• Have a look at our Online Library Tour
• Browse our Frequently Asked Questions
• Visit Our Subject Guides page
• Learn how to access our resources remotely

Do keep in mind also that many of our databases offer detailed instructions on how to use them under links such as "help," but they also offer advanced usage tips.

Acquiring New Materials

It is well-known that funding can be difficult to procure for many endeavors.  The amount of money your department has to spend depends on how much as been allocated to your department by the university.  Library Allocations will be sent to Department Chairs by The Dean of the Library when the time comes.  If you have questions about your department's allocation, do contact him.  See our Purchase Requests page to learn more about how to ask for new materials or donate them.  A list of past expenditures can be found in our Annual Report (.PDF).  Suggesting books, periodicals, electronic resources, and other things is still always welcome.  To do so, contact your Subject Librarian.  For a very detailed explanation of what we do or do not acquire, have a look at our our Collection Policy (.RTF).

As for the opposite of acquiring new materials, if there is something you feel must be removed, contact your subject Librarian and fill out the Censorship Form at the end of the Collection Policy (.RTF).

Your Graduate Assistants

GAs can check out materials for faculty members. The professor should send the student to the circulation desk with the professor's ID, and a letter with his/her signature which identifies the student who is authorized to check out materials for the professor. The letter will be kept on file at circulation. This procedure will need to be repeated if/when the professor changes GAs.
GAs may also pick up Interlibrary Loan materials, and can be added as "authorized users" on the professor's ILL account. To learn how, visit the ILL page.