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Services for Distance Education Students

What Do I Need?

  • Registration in an officially designated “Distance Education” program.
    • CSU Long Beach's Masters in Social Work joint program
    • Educational Leadership Doctoral program
    • Hutchins Action for a Viable Future Masters program
    • Liberal Studies Ukiah program
  • A 14-digit Library barcode (usually from the back of your campus ID card or call Circulation Desk at 707-664-2375)
  • A Library PIN
  • A valid email address from an educational institution (.edu)

What Do I Get?

Online access to 100+ databases,  over 30,000 online full text  journals,  approximately 25,000 eBooks, Interlibrary Services

Here’s how:

  1. Have your Library Barcode and PIN on hand
  2. Go to the Library's Homepage
  3. Select “Books” or “Articles” to begin searching
  4. Enter Library barcode and PIN if prompted
  5. Start searching!

Interlibrary Services - Delivery of library materials to your home

Books can be sent to your home via UPS, eliminating the need to come to the SSU campus regularly.  This includes materials from SSU’s library as well as materials we borrow for you from other libraries. Generally, book loans are free; if there is a charge, you would be notified for approval in advance.

  • SSU Library books can be renewed one time online through "My Library Record."
  • Renewal requests for books borrowed from other libraries can be made through your Interlibrary Services account (see step #1 below). Renewal approval for these items is the discretion of the lending library, and changes in due date will be reflected in your Interlibrary Services account .

Most articles requested through Interlibrary Services are posted to a website where you can pick them up when notified by email.   There is a 10¢ per page photocopy fee for articles delivered to us in print, which accumulates on your Library Record. For continuation of library services, this balance must remain below $10.00.  These articles will be sent to you via U.S. mail and are yours to keep.

Here’s how:

  1. Fill out the one-time registration for Interlibrary Services.  Specify “Electronic Delivery” as a preference.  A valid .edu email address is essential!
  2. For each item, log onto Interlibrary Services and fill out request form, or follow the FindIt link to Interlibrary Services.
    1. IMPORTANT: For each request, note in the “Special Instructions” box which distance education program you are enrolled in and give us your complete mailing information.
    2. Make sure you maintain current .edu email address information in your library record so we can notify you of arrivals and due dates.
    3. Provide a complete and accurate citation.
  3. Delivery details
    1. Books will be sent to you via UPS, with a prepaid return label.  We can only supply one of these, so if the label is lost, return costs become your responsibility, and must be returned via UPS.
    2. Before the due date, package the book, apply the return label and drop the item into an official UPS drop box.  Here’s the link to locate your nearest drop box:  http://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US
    3. Loan periods vary:  SSU book loans are either 28 days or semester long.  Due dates on books borrowed from other libraries are set by the lending library.  The due date will be clearly indicated on each item you borrow.    Overdue fines are outlined here:  http://library.sonoma.edu/services/fines.html

LINK+ Pick up Anywhere

Requests via regular LINK+ are not possible because of the shorter loan period for these items.  However if you live near a participating LINK+ Library http://csul.iii.com/screens/members.html you may use a specialized LINK+ service called Pick up Anywhere.  See http://library.sonoma.edu/services/link.html  for details.

eReserves

Online access to articles, documents, and notes posted by instructors.  Searchable by course number or instructor.

Research Assistance

Research assistance is available via the Need Help? link on the home page or through the following links:

  • Email Us Email --usually within 24 hours.
  • Chat 24/7 --real time chat with a librarian or library assistant (not necessarily from SSU). More info...
  • Phone Us Phone --immediate assistance during library hours.
  • Tutorials on our resources and research techniques are available on The Library Channel

Other CSU Libraries - if you live close to one you may seek research help there. Be advised that any questions regarding database access should be directed to SSU.

Students from Other Universities

If you are currently enrolled in a distance education program at another campus of the California State University (CSU):

  • You may check out books by showing your current library card or campus ID at the Circulation Desk.
  • CSU students must have a library card or campus ID (from your CSU campus) with a sticker or other indication you are registered for the current term in order to be eligible for services from this library.
  • If you are a student in a distance education program at an institution that is not part of the CSU system, we are unable to offer you library services. Please check with your home institution to see what library services they offer.

Note to SSU Distance Education Instructors   

If you are an instructor of a distance education course sponsored by Sonoma State University, please contact Raye Lynn Thomas (thomasra@sonoma.edu) for an update on the services we can provide you and your students.

  • It is the instructor's responsibility at the beginning of each term to send us a current roster of students enrolled in your courses. We need these rosters in order to provide services to your students!

The rosters should include for each student: name, address, current email address, and student I.D. Please send or e-mail these rosters to Julie Dinkins (julie.dinkins@sonoma.edu) at the Circulation Desk.