This document provides tips and information for students to efficiently use the TAMU Libraries resources. It outlines how students can access library services, materials, and technology using their netID. It also provides guidance on finding textbooks, reference materials, conducting research, and available help resources like chat, email, and drop-in consultations with subject librarians.

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

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); TAMU also has Endnote

3. Activate your accounts
• Go to http://gateway.tamu.edu to:
– Activate your netID
– Activate your OAL (Open Access Lab) account
• Get It for Me log in / fill out first-time user form at
http://getitforme.library.tamu.edu/
• Once you have your TAMU ID card, take it to the library
front desk to get your library account info synchronized
with your ID card so can use self-checkout machines
• 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. 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://m.library.tamu.edu/#homepage

5. 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)

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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, or afternoons by appointment.