Library Handbook
The purpose of the Academy Library is to support the mission of the United States Sports Academy by ensuring that faculty and students have access to adequate learning resources and services needed to support the Academy’s role as a sports-specific institution of graduate education. The library is available to all students both on and off campus.
Location of Library
The library is located on the second floor of the Academic wing. The entrance is from the stairs next to the Student Entrance.
Online Catalog
Through our OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog), students are able to access our holdings from anywhere in the world via the Internet.
Classification System
Books in the library are classified and shelved according to the Library of Congress Classification System. LC numbers are easily recognizable since they begin with one or two letters that are followed by numbers (ex: GV748.5 .S45 1994) as opposed to the Dewey Decimal system which uses numbers only (ex: 318.34). The letters of the Library of Congress system are used to divide all knowledge into major classes; this knowledge is further subdivided through the use of numbers.
The Collection
Print Materials
The Academy library contains a variety of print materials both in book form and in journal form. The books in the library are divided into three classes: circulating books, reference books and reserve books. The book collection comprises over 8000 volumes. The library also has a large collection of periodicals.
Circulating Books
Circulating books are those which can be checked out. They are located on shelves in the main area of the library. This includes all books not classified as reference or reserve.
Reference Books
Reference books cannot be checked out of the library. These include such books as dictionaries, indexes and directories. These books are marked with the letters “ref” above the classification number and are shelved separately.
Reserve Books
Textbooks and other materials pertinent to current courses are placed on reserve by the instructors. Some of these materials can be checked out overnight only at the discretion of the Librarian. They can be taken out one hour before the library closes and must be returned one hour after the library opens the next day. Fines on overdue reserve books are accumulated by the hour.
Periodicals
Arranged in alphabetical order by title in three areas:
- periodical room - stored in magazine holders on shelves
- drawers - newsletters, etc.
- cabinet - microfiche and microfilm copies: ask for assistance
There is an index listing all journal holdings by title at the circulation desk for student use in locating journals. The library currently subscribes to 242 periodicals, but holds 537 different titles.
Aids in Using Periodicals
The library has many web accessed databases that index periodicals. Examples are as follows. EBSCOhost supplies twenty-five spearate indices. Infotrac (Gale) provides twenty-one databases. ProQuest offers thirteen databases (one of which is Digital Dissertations). ProQuest also provides full text of 300+ U.S. and international newspapers such as The New York Times and the Times of London, plus hundreds of other news sources and news wires.
To find articles, type in keywords that describe your topic. Citations to articles and books about this topic will be retrieved. Some of these will include abstracts, some will be full text, and some will be citations only. Ask library staff for assistance in using these databases.
The library is connected to the OCLC (Online Catalog Library Consrtium) network, which accesses libraries the world (60,457 libraries in 112 countries). The library accesses OCLC through membership in our regional arm, SOLINET (Southeastern Library Network).
Newspapers
The library subscribes to print editions of the Mobile Press Register, USA Today and Chronicle for Higher Education. Current issues are kept at the desk. Back issues are in the serials room.
Vertical Files
In addition to monographs and journals, the library maintains an extensive vertical file collection. These files encompass a wide range of topics in the world of sport and are compiled from newspapers, journals, pamphlets, etc. They are indexed in alphabetical order by subject; the index is located at the circulation desk and is updated frequently. These files are a wealth of information that is ofter overlooked; be sure to check for information on your topic.
Special Collections
The library has special collections. One is The Olympic Reading Room. Due to the fact that Dr. Rosandich is a member of the United States Olympic Committee, our Olympic collection is extensive. The other is the Special Collections Room which house our art, golf, and football monographs.
Non-print Materials: Audio/Visual Collection
The library owns an extensive collection of videos and DVDs for classroom instruction and patron use. At the circulation desk, you will find a listing of videos by title and subject. The library also has some audio cassettes and cassette players that are available for student use. This collection numbers almost one thousand items.
Law Library
Located in Finance and Administration, the Academy maintains a legal library. Included in this collection is the U.S. Code Annotated and the Code of Alabama. These holdings are accessible by special appointment.
Resource Sharing
Interlibrary Loans
Books and copies of articles not located in our library can be obtained from other libraries through interlibrary loan. There is no charge for loans through member libraries in the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL). With the fax machine, articles can be received within three to four days. The library fax machine, as well as the document delivery system ARIEL, are possible through our NAAL membership. ARIEL is an extremely fast document delivery system which employs a scanner and special software. Loans may be received within one or two days, and are sometimes received in less than a day. Loans through non-NAAL libraries may have a slight charge and a longer waiting period. We cannot predict what that charge will be or how long it will take the material to reach the Academy. This depends on several factors including the United States mail.
The appropriate forms for ILLs are located at the circulation desk. Forms are also available on the Academy’s website. The electronic form can be filled out on the web and submitted electronically. There is no need to print it out. The library staff will process all forms for you.
Dissertation Express
Dissertations are extremely difficult to borrow through interlibrary loan. Sometimes libraries do not lend theses or charge a high fee to borrow them. In order to make it easier for students to obtain these hard-to-find items, the Academy Library has joined with UMI (University Microfilms International) to provide an option for purchasing unbound paper copies of dissertations. This program, called Dissertation Express, provides unbound 8 1/2” X 11” paper copies of dissertations for less than $40. Orders can be submitted to library staff members and must be prepaid. Interested students should contact library staff. Credit cards are accepted.
Networks
The Academy library is a member of OCLC (Online Catalog Library Consortium), SOLINET (Southeastern Library Network, the regional arm of OCLC) and NAAL (Network of Alabama Academic Libraries). All of our online resources are available to us at a very much reduced cost through NAAL. The library is also a member of the Greater Mobile Library Consortia. By virtue of these memberships, the library is able to access the holdings of most university, college and public libraries in most of the world.
University of South Alabama and other local libraries
Students from the Academy may use the libraries at the University of South Alabama, Springhill College and the University of Mobile, as well as the public libraries in Mobile and Baldwin County to conduct research. They may use the books and journals of these libraries just as they use those of the Academy library except they may not check out books. Students should remember though that these libraries can and do reserve the right to restrict the usage of their resources to their primary clientele. They also have the right to charge patrons for services when those patrons are not their primary patrons, which Academy students are not.
The library catalogs of the University of South Alabama and Springhill College are available over the Internet, so it is possible to find out the status of library materials before you make a trip to either of these schools. Ask library staff for assistance.
Technical Resources
Computers
A number of computers are available for student use in the computer lab located in the back of the library. All of the computers provide Internet access to students with accounts and provide World Wide Web access. Other programs available include word processing, as well as various other office functions and a statistical analysis package (SPSS). The lab hours are the same as the library hours (with the exception of computer class times).
Internet and Email
The Internet is an invaluable resource. All resident students will be set up with Internet accounts at the beginning of their first semester. The same accounts that provide you with access to the Internet also give you access to email.
Databases
Students have access to many web accessed databases that index periodicals. SPORTDiscus is produced by the Sport Information Resource Center of Canada. This database indexes over 1,000 international sport periodicals, in addition to medical journals, books, conference proceedings and dissertations. Topics covered include sports medicine, exercise physiology, psychology, physical education, physical fitness, coaching and training. It is updated semi-annually and covers 1975 to the present with monograph and thesis coverage dating to 1949. In addition, in January 1992, the SPORTDiscus added the Sport and Leisure Database, which covers research literature for the social and psycho-social aspects of sport and leisure. In 1994, a French-language database, Heracles, was added to SPORTDiscus. EBSCOhost supplies twenty-five separate indices. InfoTrac (Gale) provides twenty-one databases. ProQuest offers thirteen databases (one of which is Digital Dissertations). ProQuest also provides full text of 300+ U.S. and international newspapers such as The New York Times and the Times of London, plus hundreds of other news sources and news wires. Use by students, faculty and staff is free of charge and results may be downloaded or printed out.
Copy Machines
A copy machine is located in the library for student use. The cost of each copy is 10¢. A reader/printer is available to make copies of the microforms for 10¢ per copy. Copies are to be paid for when made.
Fax Machine
One facsimile machine is available for patron use in the library. The cost for faxing is $1.00 a page.
Online Resources
This section contains links that will provide you with access to the Academy’s vast library resources online with just a click of your mouse. These links include:
Resource Databases
You may access the resource databases through any of your online courses. At the top of each course, there is a link in the Course Home that will take you to information about the Academy’s Online Library. Click on the Academy Online Library link. From that page, you will be able to access the databases.
EBSCOhost
EBSCOhost is probably the best place to start. When you actually get into EBSCOhost, we suggest that you click on the first six databases no matter what subject you are pursuing. The first one listed is SPORTDiscus, a very important database to our students as it deals exclusively with sport.
ProQuest
ProQuest is another group of databases. ABI-Inform is here. It is business-based and, therefore, a great help in management studies. With more that 2.4 million entries, the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database is the most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses in the world. Over 930,000 dissertations and theses are available in PDF format, and many include free twenty-four page previews. Coverage begins in 1637! Gender Watch is very helpful for any research in the area of Title IX, Ethics News Watch, is an interdisciplinary, bilingual (English and Spanish) and comprehensive full text database of newspapers, magazines and journals from ethnic, minority and native presses.
Gale Group
Gale Group is another group of databases, of which Infotrac is probably the most user-friendly database in existence. Although some of these must be searched separately, it is usually well worth the effort.
Online Journals
Online Journals include links to medical journals, the Academy’s own Sport Journal, Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal, and the University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter.
As you can see, the Academy has a wealth of available resources. If you find articles that you would like and all you have is citations, we can usually get them for you even if we do not own them. Check our website for associated costs.
Circulation Rules
- Reference books and periodicals do not circulate and are generally to be used only in the library.
- Regular collection books circulate for a period of two weeks (14 days). Books may be renewed once. They may be rechecked again unless requested by another patron. Books being renewed must be brought back to the library.
- Fines charged for overdue books are 25¢ a day (not to exceed the cost of the book.) The fine charged for overdue reserve books is 50¢ for each late hour up to the cost of the book.
- The charges for a lost book include the cost of the book replacement, a re-order fee, a cataloging fee of $5.00, plus fines until the book is reported lost.
- Building rules prohibit eating, drinking and use of any tobacco in all areas, including the library and computer lab.
- Absolutely no briefcases, book bags, etc. are allowed in the library. There are bins reserved just before the entrance to the library where these items may be stored.
Fees
- Distance Learning Book Circulation: In the past, the policy of lending books to distance learners was to lend them to libraries rather than to students. If a student needed a book, the student would go to a library and request an interlibrary loan for the desired book. Now that our monograph holdings are listed online, the distance learner is capable of examining our monograph collection. With this policy all students shall be able to borrow our books themselves, without going through an interlibrary loan service. Both shipping and return postage will be passed on to the student. If the book is not returned, the student will be billed for the cost of the book. If payment is not made, a hold will be placed on the student’s account.
- Searches: A flat fee of $25.00 will be assessed for each subject searched by library staff. This will include a bibliography that will usually be mailed to the student. It can also be faxed to students if it is not long (over 10 pages); however, a fax fee of $1.00 per page will be charged for this service above the cost of the search itself.
- Interlibrary Loans: No charges are assessed if the material can be obtained from a participating NAAL library. However, if the material is borrowed from a non-NAAL library, a fee may be charged by the lending library. These charges will be passed along to the patron.
- Retrieval and Copying: A flat fee of $5.00 per every ten articles will be charged for article retrieval. A charge of 20¢ a page will be assessed for in-house copying. This does not include bibliographies generated by online searches. If the student wants these articles faxed, an additional fee of $1.00 per page will be charged.
- Postage and Handling: A $2.00 handling fee plus actual postage will be charged for all articles mailed to students.
- Invoices: The student is responsible for the payment of fees. Invoices are sent out on a regular basis.
