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Services for Thesis Writers

FAQ For Senior Thesis Writers

  • Workshops for Senior Thesis Writers

    • The library offers workshops for Senior Thesis Writers and Essayists each September. Thesis writers who attend get expanded interlibrary loan services.

      Topics covered: interlibrary loans, reference services, information technology, finding resources here and elsewhere, EndNote, and more. 

      In September, dates, times, and locations for these workshops will be posted here.

  • What are the library's hours?
  • How do WesIDs work?

    • A valid Wesleyan ID that is linked to the library database is needed to charge out library materials. The IDs of continuing students remain active, including during the summer months, while they are enrolled in the University, and expire either upon graduation, or withdrawal from the University. The IDs of temporary students remain active only during the semester or semesters in which they are enrolled. ID cards are nontransferable, and may not be used by anyone other than the person to whom they were issued.

      New ID cards can be linked at the circulation office in Olin Library 115. Should you encounter any difficulty with your ID, please come to the Circulation Office in Olin Library 115 to have it revalidated. If you have questions concerning ID cards or library circulation issues, in general, please call 860-685-3877 or send e-mail to circ@wesleyan.edu. Library users assume responsibility for notifying the library of change of address, loss or theft of the Wesleyan ID card, and loss or theft of books charged to them. Receipts for returned items are available upon request. You also accept responsibility for the materials borrowed on your ID card and for returning them to the library by the due date.

  • Are there check out limits?
    • There is no limit on the number of items a user may charge out at any one time. To view a full list of library materials checked out to you, go to the library home page and click the link for My Account, then log in with your Wes ID number and last name.
  • What is the loan period?

    • Loan periods differ according to the type of material being charged:

      Wesleyan/ CTW Books - due in May of the academic year
      ILL Items - due dates vary
      Government Documents - due in May of the academic year
      CD-ROMs – 7 days
      Music CDs - 7 days
      Cassettes - 7 days
      Music Scores - due in May for the academic year
          (M1-M4 restricted scores may not be checked out)
      DVDs and Videos - 3 days
      Bound Periodicals in Olin - 14 days
      Reserve Items - 2 to 24 hours (items vary).

  • How does the extended loan period work?
    • Honors College issues a list of Honors candidates in early/mid October. Students on that list are automatically accorded extended borrowing privileges. Any library item checked out after the Honors candidate list is issued will not be due until mid May of the academic year. This means that items checked out prior to the issuance of the Honors candidate list need to be rechecked out in order for them to be due in mid May. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL LIBRARY MATERIALS BE RENEWED BEFORE THEY ARE DUE. The extended loan privilege only applies to books (not periodicals) in general collections at Wesleyan, Trinity and Connecticut. The Honors College reissues its list of candidates in mid February. Students not included on this list will immediately lose the extended loan privilege although books they have already checked out will still be due in mid May.

      Books borrowed on extended loans may be recalled by another library user and are due within 7 days. Borrowing privileges are suspended if a recalled item is not returned and recalled items are subject to fines.
  • How many times may an item be renewed?
    • There is no limit to the number of times an item may be renewed, provided it is not needed by another library user. Telephone renewals are accepted at (860) 685-3967 from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. You may also renew your items online, click "Renew Items" from the library home page and log in with your Wes ID, and your last name. You must renew your books via online catalog before they are overdue.
  • What happens if an item is recalled?
    • Library recall policy strives to balance the needs of the current borrower with the needs of the user requesting the item. The current borrower is guaranteed a loan period of 14 days for monographs, and 7 days for bound periodicals. After 7 days, the item may be recalled for another user. We will send a recall notice to inform you that the item must be returned in 7 days provided it is not already overdue. If a recalled item is not returned on time, you will be charged the recall overdue fines, $7.00/day to a $70.00 maximum. Your library privileges will be suspended until the item is returned.
  • What about using CTW materials?
    • Connecticut and Trinity Colleges, along with Wesleyan University, comprise a library consortium known as CTW. The CTW Consortium shares an online library catalog, and borrowing privileges are extended to the user communities of the three institutions. Wesleyan students may borrow items from the other institutions either in person at the lending library with a valid student ID, or they may use the online catalog to place their requests. Photocopies of journal articles must be requested through ILLiad. The turnaround time for CTW online requests is usually about 48 hours.
  • What types of fees/fines are there?

    • There will be no general overdue fines for materials. However, all students are subject to recall and reserve overdue fines. The recall overdue fine is $7.00/day to a $70.00 maximum and $0.60/hour for reserve overdue. If an item is lost or stolen, the Item Replacement fee is $50.00 minimum, or the actual cost of the item if greater. There is a non-refundable replacement processing fee of $35.00 per item. There will be no additional fees for repair or binding of damaged items; however, extensive damage may result in the charging of replacement and processing fees.

      Payment of Library Fines/Fees:   Payment of library fines/fees is via your Student Account.   If your total fines/fees balance is greater than $1.00 these fines/fees will be sent to your Student Account weekly.

  • Can circulation privileges be lost?
    • Circulation privileges may be suspended under the following circumstances: 10 items are overdue, one recalled item is overdue, one reserve item is overdue, or $100.00 in fees/fines are unpaid.
  • Are circulation records confidential?
    • Wesleyan University Library is committed to the protection of the privacy rights of all of its students, faculty, staff and other library users. In the spirit of CT state law C.G.S.A. § 11-25, and in accordance with the American Library Association policy on "Confidentiality of Library Records," all library records are considered to be confidential transactions. Library staff will not release the name of any person to whom an item is currently charged, nor will they release past circulation records (this includes interlibrary loans). For exceptions, individual faculty, students and staff must request, in writing, that the library is authorized to share circulation information with other persons who might request such information. Persons making requests for circulation information must state the specific purpose for which the data is being used. If faculty and students would like to share their circulation information with each other, both parties must agree in writing to this arrangement and be approved by the University Librarian. All exceptions must be submitted in writing to the University Librarian, Olin Library, Room 202A.
  • What types of reference services are available?

    • Reference services are available at the Olin, Art and Science Library as well as Scores and Recordings and Special Collections & Archives. Advise the Reference Department of your research interests and a staff member will discuss library services with you, give you a tour of our facilities, or help you begin your research.

      Please stop at the reference desk, call one of the numbers listed below or go here to ask a reference question. You can also reach us by email at reference@wesleyan.edu

      • Olin Memorial Library     685-3873
      • Art Library     685-3326
      • Scores and Recordings     685-3899
      • Science Library     685-3729
      • Special Collections & Archives     685-3864
  • Is it possible to set up personal research sessions?
    • In addition to in-class instruction, and classes offered throughout the semester, you can request a Personal Research Session with a librarian to work on a particular research project. This allows us to work with you one-on-one, on your schedule, and concentrate on your particular needs. Set up a session here
  • Can special collections and stored items be accessed for research?
    • Older and lesser used materials are housed in off-campus storage facilities. These materials may be retrieved upon your request, and they will normally be available for your use within 24 to 48 hours. All items in Special Collections & Archives are housed in closed stacks and they will also be retrieved, upon request, for your use. They are available for use in the SC&A reading room on the same day that you make your request, or as soon as the reading room opens the next day. SC&A reading room hours are Monday--Friday 1:00-5; Summer hours are Monday--Thursday 1:00-5. To request materials either from storage or Special Collections & Archives, use the "Request" option in the online catalog, or complete the "Request Items from Special Collections or Storage" form available at the main circulation office or the reference desk in Olin Library.
  • What if an item is missing?
    • If you are unable to locate a book in any of the Wesleyan Libraries, you may place a search request. Library staff will initiate a systematic search for the item and notify you of the results.
  • Can online resources be accessed from off-campus?
    • Wesleyan University Library subscribes to a wide array of online indexes, electronic journals, and other databases available over the Internet. Since they are paid subscriptions, access to them is generally limited to users from the Wesleyan campus network. If you have a valid Wesleyan email account and password you may be able to access these databases off campus. Go through the library home page to the index, journal, etc, and enter your Wesleyan email username and password when prompted.
  • Is it possible to access materials outside of CTW?
    • Purchasing Materials not in CTW:

      The library routinely purchases books based on user recommendations. You may send acquisitions suggestions directly to acq@wesleyan.edu or via the Recommend a Purchase form.

      Interlibrary Loan Services:

      The Interlibrary Loan Department supports your research by borrowing materials which are not available in the CTW consortium libraries. Generally this service is limited to books, theses and dissertations, photocopies of articles and microfilms. Turnaround time is approximately two weeks depending on the location of the lending library. Requests can be made electronically through ILLiad.
  • Are there restrictions on ILLiad loans?
    • Undergraduates are limited to 15 active ILLiad requests.  Any questions about ILL services and requests should be addressed to ill@wesleyan.edu or x3876.
  • Can students access other restricted libraries?
    • Some libraries of private institutions do not allow non-affiliated users to access their collections without a letter of introduction from a librarian, stating that the material is not available at the requestor’s institution. If you know that a restricted access library has specific items which you need and which we do not have, contact the Reference Department in Olin (860-685-3873) for a letter of introduction.
  • Can study abroad students utilize library resources?

    • Wesleyan University Library offers numerous online services to our students and faculty regardless of where they may be located. The following are a few useful suggestions about how you can perform online research through our library homepage no matter where in the world you may be.

      1. Be certain that your e-mail account is current and fully functional before you leave the Wesleyan University campus.
      2. Access subscription resources (indexes, journals, etc) through the library home page, and log in with your Wesleyan e-mail username and password when prompted. 
      3. We will be happy to answer you reference questions from abroad. Simply click on the link to Ask a Reference Question from the library homepage.
      4. We strongly advise against taking library books when you travel abroad. There is a replacement fee consisting of the cost of the lost book in addition to a $35.00 processing fee for each item you lose.
      5. If you plan to write a thesis that will be based on publications you find while you are abroad, please bear in mind that it is often difficult for the Interlibrary Loan Department to gain timely access to unpublished or non-English materials, or foreign government publications.
  • How are thesis carrels reserved?
    • Early in the fall semester, seniors may apply through their portfolio for a carrel in the Olin library.  Seniors may apply via a paper application at the Science Library circulation desk for a carrel in the Science Library. Interested Honors candidates should submit the application by the specified deadline. Selections are made by a lottery system. Applicants whose names are on the waiting list have the option of an Olin locker.  For more information about honors carrels, go to the Honors Carrels page.
  • Do thesis carrels have internet access?
    • All carrels are wired for direct Internet access. If you need assistance, call Dale Lee at x3886 or send a email to dtlee@wesleyan.edu. He is available Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.