University of Massachusetts Library System

Did you know that, as a resident* of Massachusetts, you have access to the libraries at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst? You can apply for a card if you want to check material out, and even without a card you have access to hundreds of online databases at the Learning Commons. Read on…

GETTING THERE
PARKING
W.E.B. Du BOIS LIBRARY (The Tower)
LEARNING COMMONS
ONLINE DATABASES
BORROWING
INTEGRATED SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING LIBRARY
PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
WHERE TO GRAB SOMETHING TO EAT ON CAMPUS
WORTH THE TRIP

GETTING THERE
It takes about 45 minutes, depending on the route (and traffic, and weather, and what’s happening in Amherst)….

From the South

From I-91 North, take Exit 19 in Northampton. From the exit ramp, turn right onto Route 9. Travel approximately 4.5 miles to Route 116 North (turn left at traffic lights). UMass exit is 1 mile. You’ll be on Massachusetts Avenue. At the second set of lights, get in the left turn lane and turn onto Commonwealth Avenue.

If you’re familiar with the area and don’t like Route 91, you can come in “over the notch” (Rte. 116) or through Belchertown, then follow Route 9 west to University Drive. Turn right, and right again at the dead end onto Massachusetts Avenue, then left at the light onto Commonwealth Avenue.

PARKING
There are several options for parking. If you look at the parking map, the Parking Garage is bright yellow. You’ll see the W.E.B. Du Bois Library below it (very tall red brick). The main entrance is on the side opposite your approach from the garage. The Lederle Graduate Research Center is above and slightly to the right. The Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library is on the second floor.The sliver of pink is the parking area for Lederle, a very small metered lot on North Pleasant Street (enforced M-F 9-5).

The easiest option is the Parking Garage. Just beyond the Mullins Center on Commonwealth Avenue, you’ll see a sign for parking. Turn right and go up the hill to the Parking Garage. Take your ticket with you into the Library. At the Technical Support Desk in the Learning Commons, they will validate your ticket for a free hour of parking.

W.E.B. Du BOIS LIBRARY (The Tower)
Hours or (412) 545-0414 for recorded message
The best time for Massachusetts residents to visit during the semester are Saturday 9- 9 (10-6 for Reference Assistance) and Sunday 11—(open all night, but you won’t get in after midnight without a UMASS I.D.—1-9 for Reference Assistance).

On the Entrance Level, you will see the General Information Desk. If you’ve used the UMASS catalog and are looking for a particular book or section or you want to browse a specific part of the collection, the person at the Information Desk will be able to direct you to the right floor or give you a bookmark or directory. Please note that the call number system (Library of Congress) is not the same as the one we use here (Dewey), so you might need a little help getting started. Also on this floor are the New Book Shelf, the Circulation Desk with Self-Checkout units (there will be staff there to assist) and Procrastination Station (see “Where to Grab Something to Eat on Campus” below).

If you want to use the databases or consult with a Reference Librarian, you should head downstairs to the Learning Commons. There are two banks of elevators. The group on the right stops at Lower Level, Entrance Level, and Floors 2-16. The group on the left stops at Lower Level, Entrance Level, and Floors 16-26. There are also stairs located just beyond Procrastination Station. It won’t be necessary to have a card if you are only interested in accessing the online databases. Otherwise, see Borrowing, below.

Learning Commons
Please remember to set your cell phone to vibrate while you are in the Learning Commons. There is a “Cell Zone” located near the Reference Desk you can’t miss. It’s bright red and reminiscent of the London phone booths. When you close the door, it’s soundproof, so your conversation will be private.

ONLINE DATABASES
PCs for the Library Catalog and Internet research are located on the Lower Level in the Learning Commons between the Learning Commons and Technical Support Desk and the Reference and Research Assistance Desk. These computers (Libr100-145) are open to the public and do not require a UMass NetID and password. If you feel comfortable starting on your own, feel free to sit at one of the computers (or stand at the back of the quickly moving line) and get started. If you feel more comfortable asking for help, go to the Technical Support desk off to your left. They will help you with computers, printing, etc. If you need Reference help, go to the Reference Desk.

These PC workstations are equipped with the Microsoft Office 2003 Productivity software package, which includes:
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Digital Image Suite, Student Graphing Calculator, MapPoint,
Infopath, OneNote, Student, Visio Pro. Scanning is also available.

In addition to the Microsoft Office software, these PCs provide access to ~250 databases and thousands of ebooks most available to the public.

Printing from Library PCs requires a Guest Card and costs 5¢ per page and requires a reusable guest card (anonymous debit account card), which you can purchase at vending machines for $1.00 plus whatever amount you choose for printing. Follow the instructions at the printing stations or ask for assistance at the Learning Commons and Technical Support Desk.

Sorry, remote access from home and wireless access in the library is not available to the public at this time.

For information about accessing other parts of the collection, start here.

BORROWING FROM THE LIBRARY
If you think you might be interested in borrowing a few of the 3 million books available, you can apply for a card online before you go and pick it up when you get there. Here’s the link for the online application and more information on eligibility requirements and borrowing policies. You can also search the catalog online , and even request online that a book be held for you at the Circulation Desk (with enough notice). And remember, because of the Western MA Regional Library System’s delivery service you won’t have to drive the material back—you can return it right here and we’ll send it back for you.

Please note that if you are a high school student under the age of 18, a letter signed by the High School Principal or School Librarian is required along with your ID. When you get to the Library, stop at the Circulation Office (with a valid photo ID) and pick up your card. A photo ID must be presented with the borrower's card for each loan transaction. Borrowing privileges will be denied if a photo ID is not presented.

Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library (413) 545-1370
Lederle Graduate Research Center, Low-rise
Entrance to library on 2nd floor
Hours: Hours may be subject to change. Call (413) 545-0414 for a recorded message. The best times for Massachusetts residents to visit during the semester are 9-5 saturday, 1-9 Sunday.

The Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library (ISEL) is the primary location for resources in agricultural sciences, astronomy, biochemistry, biology (except medicine and health), chemistry, computer science, all fields of engineering, food science, geosciences, mathematics and statistics, physics, polymer science, and wood technology. Medicine and health-related materials are in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library. Although some Patent and Trademark resources are located in the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library, most
are in the Government Documents Collection (6th floor) of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library.  Primary support for searching is also there, so your search should begin there as well.  The following section gives more information about patents and trademarks.

PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
The Patent and Trademark Depository of W.E.B. Du Bois Library houses patent and trademark indexes and online research tools for searching patents and trademarks. For reference assistance with patents and trademarks, or if you intend to do a lengthy patent search, call ahead and make an appointment with the Patents and Trademarks Librarian.
Contact: Ben Hood (bhood@library.umass.edu)
Website: http://www.library.umass.edu/subject/patents/

WHERE TO GRAB SOMETHING TO EAT ON CAMPUS
Procrastination Station—you’ll see it when you enter the Library— is a Coffee Café offering an assortment of hot and cold beverages, featuring coffee from Rao’s Roasting Company and gourmet deli sandwiches and salads, light snacks and pastries.  The hours of operation mirror the library’s operating hours.

There are also a variety of retail locations in the Campus Center and the Student Union, both very close to the Parking Garage and the Library. On a rainy day there is a tunnel from the Garage to the Campus Center. Sorry, there isn't one to the library, unless you count the "windtunnel" effect you'll feel near the library.

WORTH THE TRIP
In addition to all the print, media and online resources, there are many subject specialists who may be able to help you. These libraries are a great resource for residents of western Massachusetts. Whether you have a specific need (business, education, patents), depth of interest in a particular subject (languages and literature, music and the arts, philosophy), or are a life-long independent learner, UMASS Amherst is worth the trip. And what a return on your taxes!

The information for this “Notes from the Information Desk” was compiled from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s library website [http://www.library.umass.edu/], consultation with two of the librarians there, a workshop for librarians held there by the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System and my own observations during a field trip. Bon voyage!

*Nonresidents have access to the online databases in the Learning Commons but cannot apply for a card except as noted in the link to borrowing above.

4/08