The staff of Forsyth Library would like to welcome you to the FHSU family.  We are happy to assist you in any way we can.

Once you have set up Off-Campus Access (see below), you will have access to the same materials as students on-campus.   This includes:

• Personal assistance by phone or e-mail (785.628.5283 / refserv@fhsu.edu). This includes limited research and literature searches with approval of your professor. 
• The Online Catalog, a list of all books, periodicals, government documents, videos and CDs owned by Forsyth Library.
• Online Databases containing articles or article citations on virtually every topic, from journals, newspapers, and magazines, most of which are not freely available on the Web.
• Full-text electronic books which can be read online
• Distance Services, through which you can obtain books and articles owned by Forsyth Library, or from other libraries. 
• Research Assistance Wiki contains lists of online databases for a topic, search tips, help with citations, how to locate a specific article, finding the full-text of articles, and more.
• Research Subject Guides contain the best databases, journals, reference books, citation guides and more, tailored to a specific topic or discipline.

If all of the changes you did were correct, then you should be allowed to search the databases. If there was some problem with your “reconfiguration process”, then you will not be allowed into the database.  At that point, you should 1) recheck all of your settings, 2) make sure any firewalls on your computer are disabled, and 3) check the “troubleshooting guide” on the “Off Campus Access” page.  If you still have any problems, there is a number on the instructions page for the CTC Help Desk (785.628.5276 or 1.800.628.FHSU and ask for the CTC Help Desk). 

If you have problems once you are in the database, then call the Reference Desk at (785.628.5283) and we will work with you on searching.

Locating Resources for Research

Examples of some database titles:

General Multidisciplinary databases:
Academic OneFile, General OneFile, Expanded Academic, Wilson OmniFile
Newspaper Databases:
Lexis Nexis Academic Universe, Custom Newspapers

Consult the Research Subject Guides or the Research Assistance Wiki “Resources by Topic” page for lists of the best databases for specific disciplines, such as Nursing. 

Distance Services Department

Submitting requests:
This department can obtain articles or books (those owned by Forsyth Library as well as other libraries).  Choose the link above or choose the quick link “Services”, then “Distance Services” from the library's web page.  You may submit your requests in one of three ways:

*** Note*** Fill out and submit a Statement of Responsibility Form, it is required for a first time user and/or if information has changed.

Receiving articles from Forsyth Library using our Electronic Document Delivery System:

We scan and post the document information (usually articles) to a website for you. You will receive an email from: Interlibraryloan@fhsu.edu. This email will give you a password (which is case sensitive and usually some form of your name) and an URL. At that URL, you will enter your email address and the password. You will then be taken to a web page designated for you with your documents listed. Select an article and it will appear on your screen. (You will need Adobe Acrobat on your machine (latest version preferred -- free download at: www.adobe.com). You will also need Java (free download at: www.java.com) on your computer (there are links for both on the URL page). Make sure you have disabled any pop-up blockers as the document opens in another window. You can then read your document or print it off. The article/item will stay at this website for 28 days.

Receiving Books:  via mail (you must reimburse the library for postage)  

If we own the book you request, we will check it out to you and mail it to you via the U.S. Postal Service.  If we do not own the book, we will request it from another library, mail it to you, and you return it to us prior to its due date.  Due dates can vary from each lending library.  Sometimes the lending library will allow renewals, if requested prior to the items due date.

Assistance with research:

Don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or e-mail if you need help finding information for your assignments.  We will be glad to “walk you through” searching the databases or online catalog.  We will also do limited research for you with professor approval.

Reference Desk / Distance Services:  785.628.5283 or e-mail us at refserv@fhsu.edu