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Dykes Library

Frequently Asked Questions


How long can I keep an item I checked out from the library?

Books: 14 days. Books may be renewed twice if no other user has placed a hold on the item.
Journals:
3 days. No renewals permitted.
Reserve:
2 hours, 1 day or 3 days, depending on the request of faculty. No renewals permitted.
Audio-Visuals:
generally one week.

How can I renew items?

Materials may be renewed by phone: (913) 588-7166 or toll-free (800) 332-4193 (Kansas only). You may also renew items online.

Do you have fines for overdue books?

Keeping items past the due date will result in suspension of borrowing privileges and being billed for the cost of replacement. In addition, a $5.00 Labor Charge--for each late item--is added. This Labor Charge cannot be waived even if the item is subsequently returned. Questions about overdues may be directed to the Circulation staff at:

(913) 588-7166
Toll-free (800) 332-4193 ( Kansas only), or
by email: dykescirc@kumc.edu

Do you have other locations where I can return a book?

Materials should be returned on or before the due date. Materials may be returned directly to the Library, or to one of our drop boxes. Drop boxes are located:

  • outside the library front entrance;
  • In Orr-Major building;
  • West of the Hospital cafeteria.

These drop boxes are cleared only once per day. Time sensitive returns should be taken directly to the Library.

Who can use the library?

Dykes Library is open to the public. Borrowing privileges are available to all faculty, staff and students of the University of Kansas. All others may purchase a membership for the Library which will allow you to borrow library materials.

How much do memberships cost?

View the Circulation and Services Policy for membership rate information.

Do you have study rooms? Who can use them?

Group study rooms are available on the upper floor. KUMC students may reserve these rooms with their Kansas University Medical Center ID. Keys to all study rooms are available for check-out at the Public Services Desk.

How do I check out a study room?

Keys to all study rooms are available for check-out at the public services desk with a valid Kansas University Medical Center ID.

Where can I find items on reserve?

Reserve items can be found at the Public Services Desk.

I need an item your library doesn’t own. How can I get it?

An Interlibrary Loan/ILLiad Document Delivery request form must be filled out for each item.

May I print from the computers? How much does it cost?

Yes, you may. Costs are $0.8 per page. The computers default to double-sided. You must specify single-sided in the print dialog box when sending the document. A GoPrint account must be used to release print jobs. Funds on a GoPrint account are not refundable.

Are there photocopy machines in the library?

One copier is available on the ground floor of the library. Five copiers are available on the second floor in the southwest corner of the library. A GoPrint account must be used to make copies in the library. Funds on a GoPrint account are not refundable.

How much does it cost to make photocopies?

Copy costs are $0.08 per page. A GoPrint account must be used to make copies in the library. Funds on a GoPrint account are not refundable.

Do you offer classes about your databases?

For a listing of scheduled classes you can sign up for, please check the Library Classes and Instruction page.

How do I schedule a library tour for a class?

When arranging classes or orientation for students, groups or to schedule a personal appointment to learn about library resources or for research assistance, call 588-7166, or contact your school's liaison. Please provide as much advance notice as possible so we can schedule accordingly.

How can I get to the online journals and databases from home?

Remote access to the Library's electronic journals and IP restricted databases is available to current KUMC faculty, students, staff, and other eligible users. Remote access can be attained via EZProxy or KUMC On-Line.

EZProxy Proxy Service
Remote access to most e-journals is available to current KUMC faculty, students and staff by using your Novell or GroupWise ID and password to authenticate through EZProxy.

I would like to have a librarian do a search for me. How can I do this?

Dykes Library offers fee-based expert searching of the medical literature. Searches are done by our medical reference librarians, all of whom have a Master’s degree in Library Science, formal database training and extensive medical reference experience. Charges vary depending on the complexity of the search and your affiliation with KU Med and the Library.  Rush service is available for clinical emergencies only.

KU Med affiliates may use our online Literature Search Request form. Off campus users should call the Reference Desk at (913) 588-7166 to request a search.

Do you take journal donations?

Gratefully, if it is something we need. Please contact Bob Pisciotta (588-7311) if you have a long run (>5 years) of a title that the Library does not already own (please see collection criteria below). We also maintain a list of individual issues we are missing that we check journal donations against. Space does not allow for duplicates in the collection so we cannot accept them. Please do not drop off donations -- call Bob first to see if the Library needs them, otherwise they will just be discarded. The Library cannot assign a value to journal donations. However, we will provide you with a letter of acknowledgement.

Do you take book donations?

Yes, if it is something we need. All book donations are evaluated for inclusion based on the Library's Collection Management Policy. Generally, the Library is not interested in books published before 2000. Please do not just drop off donations. Contact Bob Pisciotta (913-588-7311) first to see if we can use them. The Library reserves the right to decide how to dispose of unwanted donations. The Library cannot assign a value to book donations. However, we will provide you with an acknowledgement letter. Please contact the Clendening Library if you would like to donate books that may be of rare or historical interest. The KUMC Bookstore also accepts book donations for distribution to foreign countries.

How long are journal volumes at the bindery?

Unbound issues are pulled from the shelves up to a week before being sent to the bindery. They are at the bindery for two weeks. It takes about a week to process and re-shelve the bound volumes. Total time is about 3-4 weeks.

How can I recommend the purchase of an item?

You can suggest items for purchase using our online Book/Journal Recommendation Form.

How can I find out if a journal issue has arrived?

Check the online catalog. The record for all current journals has a "Recent Receipts" line that displays the latest issue checked in. To see receipt or expected dates for other issues, enter the line number that precedes the words "Current Journal". This will usually be "1" unless we receive multiple versions of the title. Journals are sent to Circulation for shelving the same day they are checked-in. If the issue is not on the shelves check at the Circulation Desk.

Who decides what items are ordered for the library?

Individual librarians are responsible for collection development for specific subject areas. All purchase requests are given to the appropriate person for evaluation.

  • Kristin Whitehair -- Nursing, Reference, Stress Management
  • Anne Huffman -- Clinical Sciences, Exam Review
  • Bob Pisciotta -- Basic Sciences, Surgery
  • Crystal Cameron Vedros -- Pharmacology/Toxicology
  • Deb Carman -- Clincal Lab Sciences, Cytotechnology, Health Info Management, Medical Imaging Sciences, Nutrition, Respiratory, Speech and Hearing
  • Karen Cole -- General Education

How do you decide what journals to subscribe to?

The following criteria are used to decide which journals the library will subscribe to:

  • Use: (statistics are maintained for checkouts, in-house, copy, and ILS use)
  • Cost
  • Inclusion in Library's indexes: (i.e. Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, etc.)
  • Availability at other Kansas Regents libraries
  • Availability at other Kansas City area libraries
  • Impact factor: (from SCI's Journal Citation Reports)

How many books does the library have?

According to the annual statistics, prepared June 30, 1999, Dykes Library has 51,563 monograph titles.

How many journals does the library have?

According to the annual statistics, prepared June 30, 1999, Dykes Library has 1,491 current journal titles, 3,551 total journal titles current and ceased), and 167,088 total bound volumes (both books and bound journals).

How much do journal subscriptions increase each year?

Domestic journal prices increase around 10% each year. The price of foreign journals depends upon the value of the US Dollar at the time prices are set. Below is a table of journal increases for academic medical libraries prepared by EBSCO Subscription Services.

  92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97
U.S. Titles 9.44% 10.48% 10.91% 13.46% 11.60%
Non-U.S. Titles 12.91% 4.54% 9.96% 18.56% 12.20%
All Titles 11.27% 7.31% 10.41% 16.10% 11.90%

Can you help my department with journal binding?

Yes, the Technical Services Division will assist KUMC departments that need to have books or journals bound. They will be sent to the commercial bindery we use, and your department will be invoiced for the binding cost. Please see the Bindery page for information on how to take advantage of this service. If you have any other questions, please contact Will Williams (913-588-7327).