Library Access for Distance Learning

“Access to adequate library services and resources is essential for the attainment of superior academic skills in post-secondary education, regardless of where students, faculty, and programs are located. Members of the distance learning community are entitled to library services and resources equivalent to those provided for students and faculty in traditional campus settings.”   Association of College & Research Libraries, Distance Learning Guidelines, June 29, 2004.

The West Virginia State University Drain-Jordan Library works to adhere to the ACRL Distance Learning Guidelines in providing library services to students and faculty participating in WVSU distance learning programs. These services are designed to assist those affiliates who receive all their courses off-campus. Outlined here are the services and resources available to distance learning participants through the WVSU Library.

Borrowing services are available to distance learners through the library’s Document Delivery services.  Library materials will be charged out to your library account and forwarded to your Permanent Address via mail if you live 50 miles outside of Institute, WV.  

Individuals who borrow library materials are responsible for adhering to the library rules.

Loan periods and returning or renewing materials:

• Material usually is checked out for 30 days.
• If the end of the semester is LESS then 30days, the default due date is the last day of class
• All materials should return at the end of the semester
• If the campus closes due to virus your checkouts will be extended until the campus opens. (We will adjust due date to that day as we check-in the items so “no fines” will be charged due to the closure.)

You can return materials to the book drop in front of the library or by mail at any time. The library address for mail is: West Virginia State University,  Drain-Jordan Library, P.O. Box 1002, Institute, WV 25112.
If you write “Library Rate” on the library package you will be charged less; the borrower is responsible for return postage.

Borrowed items may be renewed via email to edward.lomax@wvstateu.edu or by calling the circulation desk at 304-766-3116. Distance learners receiving materials through the mail from library collections are subject to the same overdue fines, replacement costs for lost items, and charges for damaged or mutilated materials, as all borrowers. ILL (Interlibrary loans borrowed from other libraries are due when that library has determined. Please be prompt.)

Photocopying of items owned by WVSU’s Drain-Jordan Library is limited to 25 pages per request. Copies will be scanned and sent to the user electronically whenever possible. Fill out the Interlibrary Loan Form (ILL) or Circulation/ILL Office Administrator at (304) 766-3116 or email at edward.lomax@wvstateu.edu  for further customer service assistance.

Copy costs: Requestors will be billed $2.50 per request for 25 pages or less supplied through Library copying services. Users will be charged $.10 per page after the first 25 pages per request.  Copies will be forwarded to the user electronically when possible, or mailed when necessary. Copying charges will be added to the requester’s Banner account, and invoice will be mailed. 

Research databases are accessible to all current affiliates of WVSU including distance learners. 

First, under Research Tools you can find a “Databases: Alphabetical List” found at this URL: library.wvstateu.edu/DB-sets/DB-entireAlphaList-Main.html
You select one of the databases by clicking on the box at the end of its description labeled off campus.
This takes you to the campus proxy server which validates you as part of WVSU for the database vendor.
Off campus access uses the same login and password as your email and mystate (remember your login is the part before the @), and passes you onto the selected database page.
          
E-journals – The e-journal portal at wvstateu.edu/students/library/research-tools provides access to all online journal titles available in the Library’s e-resources collection. Journals may be searched by title, keywords, and standard numbers.
           
Course Reserves are additional or required readings reserved for a specific class by the professor. Print reserves may be checked out for two hour use in the Library; multimedia items for four hours.  E-reserves can also be accessed directly through your Sakai course site.  Articles are available electronically through the Sakai. Loan periods for print and media materials are selected by the course instructor.  Print materials must be requested in-person at the Circulation Desk.  Because of the shortened loan periods and limited use, course reserves in print or media will not be mailed to distance learners. The Course Reserves access tab is available on the Library Home Page.  

COURSE RESERVES INFORMATION FOR FACULTY: The Library will put any material the Course Instructor requests on Reserve for use by their students. However, to ensure the materials are available when the students need them, a few steps must be followed by the Instructor to ensure that the request is properly served. To obtain this information, teachers should go to this URL: wvstateu.edu/students/current-students/library/faculty-library-resources for this information.

Interlibrary Loan services are available to distance learners. Articles will be forwarded electronically to the user.  Books will be mailed to your home if you have added the information that you are “A Distance Learner” to the form. Please add it in the field for Library Card Number. Notification of availability of materials and overdue notices for ILL materials will be communicated to the borrower via their WVSU email account. Learn more about ILL policies at wvstateu.edu/students/current-students/library/library-services

The West Virginia State University’s Drain-Jordan Library Website, wvstateu.edu/students/current-students/library is designed to provide information about the library and access to many services and resources for all WVSU library users.  Here you will find operating hours, calendar, online catalog, electronic resources, news, policies and procedures. There are also forms for submitting questions and requests. If you are unable to find the information you need, there is contact information for all departments, service desks and staff.

The Library Online Catalog provides access to the more than 160,000 books, periodicals, and microform, e-books and media materials in the library collections. Access the online catalog located at the Research Tools tab of the Library Home Page Library Catalog.

Reference services are available to all WVSU affiliates, including distance learners.  Users may contact the Reference Staff via telephone, e-mail, chat, text, or can schedule an appointment for a phone consultation with a subject librarian from our Ask-a-Librarian page located at https://library.wvstateu.edu.