Getting started with the Texas A&M University Libraries. Set up accounts, tips for efficient use of library resources.

1. Tips & Tricks for Efficient Use
Getting Started
with the TAMU Libraries

2. One Login – Multiple Library Services
• Services with your netID and password include:
– Borrowing books, movies, laptop computers, calculators,
projectors, Kindle Fires, and other physical items
– Access to full-text electronic resources on-or-off-campus
– Get It for Me – free scanning and electronic document delivery
for print items 50 pages or fewer in length; free interlibrary loan
services for books, conference proceedings, etc.
– Use of Open Access Lab computers and printing
– Reserve group study rooms online; check out individual study
rooms at the desk
– Citation and information manager programs RefWorks (create
your own personal login) and Endnote (software.tamu.edu)

3. Activate your accounts # 1 Claim Your netID
• Go to http://gateway.tamu.edu
• Need to borrow library items or use library computers
before you have your accounts set up? – With UIN and
official photo ID can get temporary account and log in at
the front desk.

4. Activate Your Accounts #2 Open Access Lab
• Go to http://oal.tamu.edu/
• Need to use library OAL computers before you have
your accounts set up? – With an official photo ID
(driver’s license or passport) and local mailing address
you can get a temporary login at the library AskUs desk
(service desk near entrance)

5. Activate Your Accounts #3 Get It for Me service
• Get It for Me log in / fill out first-time user form at
http://getitforme.library.tamu.edu/
• Electronic & physical document delivery, interlibrary
loan services
• Details – FAQs & online tutorial on sign-in screen

6. Mobile Computing and Library Resources
• See http://tamulink.tamu.edu for setting up wireless
access for your laptop in the library and elsewhere on
campus
• Information, apps for mobile computing at TAMU are
available http://www.tamu.edu/mobile/
• The library’s mobile site is http://library.tamu.edu/mobile/
– Access research guides, catalog, help services (chat, text, etc.)
– Reserve group study rooms online
– Mobile resources – databases and apps, e.g., WorldCat mobile,
Web of Science, eBrary
– Library hours, directions, contact info

7. Overview of Information-Gathering Process
• Choose an information resource to search according to
topic and type of info needed (see
http://guides.library.tamu.edu for recommendations)
• Capture the citation information for items of interest –
e.g., export marked results to citation manager such as
Endnote or RefWorks
• Use Find Text @ TAMU to link to full-text retrieval
options
• Use the Get It for Me service to get items that are not
online; optionally, check local catalogs for availability
and retrieve items yourself (faster in some cases)

8. Where are textbooks and reference works?
• See our Textbooks and Course Reserves guide
http://guides.library.tamu.edu/Textbooks
• The E-Books guide may also be helpful
http://guides.library.tamu.edu/e-books
• Finding Books page http://library.tamu.edu/help/help-
yourself/finding-books.html
• Most individual subject guides have sections with
recommended reference works in that discipline
• The Safari Technical Books online database has
current reference works for computing applications,
operating systems, programming, etc.

9. Some Tips
• To take full advantage of full-text linking options and Get It for
Me automatic fill-in of request forms, access resources
through the library’s web pages (including Google Scholar
link on library’s home page, which will activate full-text linking
to TAMU-owned or licensed resources)
• Even if your goal is the most recent scholarly articles, your
search in an article-indexing database may be more efficient
if you look first at background information on your topic in an
encyclopedia or handbook
• Another strategy is to look for recent review articles or highly-
cited articles – most article databases have options to restrict
results by publication type, and Web of Science lets you sort
results by most highly cited

10. Help Resources
• Ask the Libraries – Chat and text 10 am -10 pm most
days; email questions, report problems, request class
instruction or individual appointments with subject
librarians, also links to tutorials, FAQs,
http://guides.library.tamu.edu/AskTheLibraries
• Librarians available for drop-in consults near the front
desk, 10 am -10 pm M-Th, 10 am – 6 pm Fr, 2 – 6 pm
Sat, 2 – 10 pm Sun
• Ask me, Pat Alford, palford@tamu.edu, 979-862-1049
• I am available for drop-in consults 6 – 10 pm Sun – Th
nights near AskUs desk, or afternoons by appointment.