Library Questions?

Start with GALILEO or "Find an Article" on the Library's web page.

After searching your topic in GALILEO's Discover search, look on the left-hand side of the results page for ways to limit your results. One of your choices under "Limit To" will be Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals.

If you search a specific database (from a Subject Guide or GALILEO's Databases A to Z, for example), you often can choose to limit your search to scholarly or academic journals before you run your search, or limit your results afterward.

Want to make sure the article you want to use is scholarly and/or peer reviewed? Here's a chart to help you decide.

Many times in your research, you will find a citation for an article (maybe through a database search, or in the reference list of another article), and you want to find the full article. There are several ways to go about this.

One is to go to GALILEO (from the Library's home page or under Quick Links on any of Middle Georgia State University's web pages) and search for the title of your article. If it comes up in the result list with a "Full Text" link underneath, you've found it!  If there is a purple "Find It" button instead of a full text link, click that and look for links at the top of the resulting page that will take you to the article, or the online journal it's in. If there is no full text available, use the link at the bottom of the page to order the article through InterLibrary Loan..

You can also search for your article's journal or periodical title in our Journals A to Z resource to see if MGA  has full text articles from that resource. If we do, you'll get a link to the database that has it.

Middle Georgia State University Library subscribes to print periodicals which include: professional journals, magazines, newsletters, and newspapers. Periodicals may be used only in the Library. Use the online catalog, GIL-Find, to determine if the Library subscribes to a particular periodical and view a summary of the holdings. Bound periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title on the shelves.

Some back issues may be on microfilm or microfiche. On the Macon campus, microfilm is stored alphabetically in cabinets on the second floor in the corner next to the periodicals. To obtain microfiche, please ask a Library staff person for assistance. One microform viewer/copier is available. Copies are $ .10 per page. Use GIL to see if the Library subscribes to the periodical and what years are available on microfilm/microfiche.

Whenever doing research, you are likely to find lots of information on your topic. It is important to that you select the best information to use. Evaluating all sources used in research is essential, but there are some special guidelines you should follow when evaluating websites.

• Click here for more information on evaluating web resources.

You can easily track any materials you requested or checked out through your GIL account.To access your GIL account, go to the GIL-Find online book catalog, click on Access My Library Account, and log in with your MGA email user name (including @mga.edu) and your email password. After login, you will see listed all materials you have checked out from your home library or other USG libraries through GIL Express, as well as any outstanding fines and fees you may have. Your account shows all requests, cancellations, items in transit, or items available for pick up, due dates, etc. You can renew your Middle Georgia State University Library and GIL Express books from this screen.

For books, first try GIL Express.

For books or articles, we also have an InterLibrary Loan service. Please note: InterLibrary Loan cannot be used to request textbooks.

Current students, faculty, or staff may use these services and there is no fee.

Group study rooms are available on a first-come first-served basis. If you see one empty, your group can use it. Individuals may also use available study rooms; however, individuals may be asked to yield to a group of two or more in need of a room.

GIL Express is a service offered at all libraries within the University System of Georgia (USG). The service allows students, faculty and staff of USG institution to borrow eligible circulating material from all USG libraries. GIL Express is available to all eligible patrons through both an on site (walk up) requesting service and a remote requesting service.

Please bring your MGA Knight Card with you to the Library to check out MGA books. In some circumstances, you may also use a valid driver's license or provide your MGA institution i.d. number  for identification.

Unfortunately, no.

You can, however, use scanners attached to some of the computers to scan your documents, then print them out using your print account balance.

Credo Reference is an easy to use reference tool for research projects and homework. A giant online collection that searches hundreds of encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations and subject specific titles as well as 200,000+ images and audio files and nearly 100 videos.

Individual Credo Reference books will show up in your topic searches in our GIL-Find online book catalog. Use the "View It" tab to view online books like these.

You can also find Credo Reference as a database in GALILEO (look in Databases A to Z, under "C")

Off-campus, you must log in with your MGA email user name and password to view online resources like these.

In Credo, the Concept Map displays the connections between search results in a visual, interactive and easy-to-use format. It enables users to quickly find information when they don't know what to look for, when they need topic ideas for papers or research projects, or want to expand their knowledge of a given area.

Topic Pages provide context and vocabulary around a subject.  They act as a research starting point on one easy to navigate page.

• Help @ CredoReference

Visitors are welcome to come into the Library facilities.

There are computers set aside for guests to use, without needing a university login. Stop at the Information Desk to be directed to them.

All users of Library workstations and wireless network shall conform to the University's Computer and Network Usage Policy. Library patrons may not use library computers to engage in any activity that is illegal under local, state, federal or international law. Violators of library computer policies may be refused future use of MGA computing facilities, and/or recommended for disciplinary action.

Users other than MGA students/employees must show a valid form of ID in order to be issued a library card. With that card, you can check out up to five books at a time from the Library's general circulating collection.

Exceptions: The Eastman campus library does not check out any material to community patrons or GIL Express users.

EBSCOhost ebooks show up in your searches in the Library's online catalog (GIL-Find) just like any other books. From GIL-Find, click the "View It" tab for a link that will take you to the full text of the ebook.

Off-campus access to the ebooks requires you to log in with your MGA email username and password. 

Downloading an ebook requires you to create a free EBSCOhost account / login.

• Click here to create an EBSCOhost account
• Click here to learn about the eBook Viewer
• Click here to learn how to search for eBooks on EBSCOhost
• Click here to learn how to download ebooks from eBooks on EBSCOhost
• Click here to learn how to take notes on eBook

To access GALILEO as well as other online library resources off campus, you will normally log in with your MGA EMAIL user name and EMAIL password. So, firstname.lastname (skip the @mga.edu part) and email password.

If you can't make this work, look underneath the login box for instructions that say "Alternate login via GALILEO password." You will be taken to a GALILEO screen where you will be able to enter the current GALILEO password.

Another workaround: log into your Brightspace/D2L account. On the opening page, look up at the top for the "Academic Resources" link. Select "GALILEO" from this list, and you should already be logged in.

Use of Library computers is governed by the Middle Georgia State University Computer and Network Usage Policies.

Users may not:

• Make any attempt to damage computer equipment or software
• Use any Library/SSC computer for any illegal or criminal purpose
• Violate copyright laws or software licensing agreements in their use of Library/SSC computers
• Engage in any activity that is deliberately and maliciously offensive, libelous or slanderous
• Log in other users

Restriction of a child’s access to the Internet is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.

The MGA Library/SSC computers are primarily intended for research and academic related information retrieval.  Research/academic use always takes precedence over recreation/personal use.

We don’t routinely keep copies of all the textbooks. However, you can look for it by title in our online GIL-Find catalog and see if we do. Also, sometimes your professor might put a copy on Reserve for you to view in the Library. You can check the Reserves in GI-Find, as well.

Patron Groups:

All Middle Georgia State University Libraries recognize the following patrons:

• MGA Students: Students currently enrolled at Middle Georgia State University
• Faculty/Staff: Includes current faculty and all staff persons, including administration
• Community: Anyone with a local address who is not a MGA student or employee.
• UB Patron: Students from other colleges in the University System of Georgia
• Alumni: Former students or faculty from Middle Georgia State University.

 

Library Circulation Policies

The following policies apply to all campuses:

• Non-circulating items may not be checked out. These items include magazines, journals, newspapers, reference books, microfilm, and microfiche.
• Reserve items may be checked out, but most cannot leave the library.
• Users other than MGA students/employees must show a valid form of ID in order to be issued a library card.
• Books are generally checked out for 28 days with two renewals. However, for general circulating books, faculty and staff have a limited extended borrowing period.
• Patrons returning items that are past the due date will be charged per the table below.
• Patrons returning damaged items will be responsible for the replacement cost which is the actual cost of the item. Should the Library not be able to determine the estimated cost of a lost or damaged item, the replacement fee will be $50. Outstanding replacement costs will result in a block in the patron’s BANNER record, preventing registration and the ability to obtain transcripts.
• Audiovisual material can circulate to faculty/staff between MGA campuses as long as the item is not on Reserve.
• Best Sellers/Lease Plan, Juvenile books, and textbooks can circulate between MGA campuses, but do not circulate to non-MGA affiliated patrons.
• Fines and fees:
  Macon and Cochran: Fines are paid either in the Library or the Business Office.
  Dublin: Fines are paid only in the Library on the Dublin campus.
  Eastman: Fines are paid on the Cochran campus.
  Warner Robins: Fines are paid in the Business/Administration Office only.

 

BORROWING POLICY for all Campus Libraries:

The table below reflects the Borrowing Policy at all Campus Libraries

	Fac/Staff	Students	Community/Alumni	Community Teachers (Cochran Only)	UB Patrons
Borrowing Limit, General Collection	50	50	5	10	50
Max Number Of Overdue Items Allowed	50	5	3	1	1
Max Number Of Lost Items Allowed	0	10	5	1	0
Max Number Of Claims Returned Allowed	10	5	5	1	0
Max Outstanding Fines Balance	N/A	$10.00	$10.00	$5.00	0
Max Requests Allowed	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Loan Period, General Collection	180	28	28	28	28
Renewals, General Collection	2	2	2	2	2
Loan Period, Best Sellers (Lease Plan)	28	28	N/A	N/A	N/A
Renewals, Best Sellers (Lease Plan)	2	2	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fines Per Day, General Collection	0	.20	.20	.20	0
Fines Per Day, Best Sellers (Lease Plan)	0	.20	.20	N/A	N/A
Fines Per Day, General Reserves	0	$1.00	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fines Per Day, Interlibrary Loan (No Grace Period)	0	$1.00	N/A	N/A	N/A
Overdue Grace Period (excludes Interlibrary Loan)	6 Days	6 Days	6 Days	6 Days	6 Days

---

Exception notes:

• The Macon and Cochran campus libraries allow students to check out CDs. On all campuses, any film in the regular film collection can be checked out by students for in-house use only. Films that have been put on Reserve by faculty for a class may be checked out of the library for a limited time period based on the request of the instructor.
• The Eastman campus library does not check out any material to community patrons or GIL Express users.
• MGA Library maintains Cooperative Borrowing Agreements with Mercer University (for faculty only), Wesleyan College, Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC), and Oconee Fall Line Technical College (OFTC). Reciprocal borrowing limits for Wesleyan, CGTC, and OFTC are 3 items (no media); for Mercer the limit is 10 items (no media). Copies of these agreements are on file in the Circulation Office of the Macon campus library.

 

 

Circulating books are checked out for a period of four weeks. If you need items beyond that time the checkout can be renewed. To renew a book you can bring the book to the circulation desk along with your Student ID, call (478)-471-2709 to renew over the phone, or go online to your GIL-Find account and renew there. If you have a GIL Express book from another Library, it must be renewed online through your GIL account prior to the due date or your account will be blocked.

To access your GIL account, go to MGA's GIL-Find online catalog, log in (see below), and choose "Access My Library Account." 

How do you log in?

• Current MGA students, faculty, and staff will use their MGA email login info.

• You will use your ENTIRE EMAIL ADDRESS as your username: (firstname.lastname@mga.edu)

• Use your EMAIL PASSWORD.

Logging in to your GIL account allows you to do the following:

• Check the status of requests.

• Renew books.

• Check on possible fines.

• Get the GALILEO password.

 

On the Library's web page, click either on the "Find Books" button on the left, or under Resources click on "Gil Find." Then enter the title of the book you are looking for.

If you see a book in the result list that you're interested in, look for its location. If it's a print (physical) book,you'll be able to see the MGA campus it's on, the floor and section of the Library, and the call number. Click "Get It" for more details or request options. If it's an electronic book (ebook) there will be a "View It" button with a link to view the book. If you're off campus, you will need to log in with your MGA email user name and email password to view the full text of the ebook.

If we don't have the book, we might be able to get it for you through GIL Express or InterLibrary Loan, if you are a current student or faculty/staff member.

Macon: Faxing for students on the Macon campus is provided through the Bookstore on campus which is located on the lower level of the Student Life Center .

Cochran: Faxing for students on the Cochran campus is done through the Post Office on campus, which is located on the lower level of Georgia Hall (same building as the bookstore and cafeteria). The library can fax for students when the post office is closed.

Dublin: The Library does not charge a fee for faxing, but the fax must be school-related. No fax services are available for community patrons.

Eastman: Although faxing is unavailable in the library, faxing is available on the Eastman campus.  Please visit Mrs. Andrea Yawn or Mrs. Christy Faulk in the main administrative offices on the Eastman campus for assistance.  The fax number is 478-374-6809.

Warner Robins: Since the Warner Robins library in Oak Hall does not offer that service, the Campus Store on the Warner Robins campus has a fax machine for student use.  Another option is to use the Nola Brantley public library at the edge of campus, as faxing is available through the public library.