To help new students find their way around, we've put together a list of the top things that students should know about the library.
Ask A Librarian
If you need help, you can contact a librarian by IM, email, phone or in person at the Reference Desk in the Central Reading Room on the first floor. Don't waste time, get help. Find out more about our Ask A Librarian service.
Library Hours
Check out our hours for the current semester.
Workshops and Tours
Can't find journal articles in the library catalog? Repeatedly losing points on assignments because your citations are wrong? To help you do the best you can in classes, the library offers FREE workshops and tours. Don't miss out, check out our current offerings and register here.
Finding Articles
For most of your assignments you will need to find journal articles to support arguments in your papers. The best place to find journal articles is in our subscription databases. To find the database that's right for you, click on the Databases link on the library homepage and then select your subject from the drop down list. Or try the Galaxy Quick Search box located on the library homepage or right from the My Institution page on Blackboard.
Remember, the library catalog, STARS, should be used for finding books, journals, DVDs, CDs and music scores. You will NOT find individual article titles in STARS. Individual articles can be found using our databases.
SBU Library Research Guide
Did your instructor request articles from peer-reviewed journals? No idea what that means or how to find one? Can't tell the difference between a primary and secondary source? Never created a References or Works Cited list? Not clear on how to find articles? Take our self-paced, online tutorial to get up to speed quickly. Take 10 minutes to focus on one problem area or go through the entire tutorial in about an hour.
Off-Campus Access
Library databases, catalogs and other resources are available both on- and off-campus. When accessing resources from off-campus, simply enter your Net ID and password (the same ID and password you use for Blackboard) when prompted to authenticate. For more information check here.
Wireless Access
Got a laptop? Wireless access is available in most areas of the library. Find out more about wireless access availability and AirNet.
Printing and Photocopying
Both the Central and North Reading Rooms, located on the first floor of the Main Library, also function as SINC sites with computers and printers available for student use. More detailed information on printing, including print quotas, is available here.
A full list of computer labs (SINC sites) on campus is available here. Click on the Computer Availability link to see a real-time list of available computers.
Photocopiers are available in the Central and North Reading Rooms, the Main Stacks and at the Branch Libraries (see below). Change is available at the Photocopy Center in the Main Stacks on the 3rd floor of the Main Library.
Library Branches
Stony Brook University Libraries are made up of several branch libraries on the West Campus. When looking for books, journals or course reserves, make sure that you check the location column in the catalog. While books on most subjects are available in the Main Stacks, located on the 3rd floor of the Melville (Main) Library, the following branches house books, journals and course reserves for their respective subject areas.
There is also a separate Health Sciences Library on the East Campus which has its own library catalog. Be sure to check that catalog for subjects related to medicine such as psychology, biology, etc. A map of the campus is available here.
Course Reserves
Instructors may place materials for supplemental readings on Course Reserves. This material is usually on loan for a short duration due to its high demand. Material will be located at the appropriate library (see above) and available at the Reserves desk. The Reserve desk for the main library is located on the third floor at the entrace to the Main Stacks. Bring your ID card; it is also your library card and you will need it to check out course reserves. Sometimes, reserves are available online through Blackboard course web pages and may be accessed 24/7.
Circulation Information
Undergraduate students can check out books for 30 days and can renew them online through STARS, the library catalog. Click on the Sign-in link and then select My Account, both on the upper right-most corner of the screen.
Video Collection
Need a break from all the reading you've been doing? Perhaps a romantic comedy or maybe a zombie apocalypse is what you need to take the edge off. We have a pretty good collection of DVDs and videos located on the 3rd floor in the Main Stacks which can be checked out for 7 days.
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