Constitution Day

Monday September 17th was Constitution Day. On that day in 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the proposed Constitution and submitted it to the Congress for consideration.

Signatures on the US Constitution, 1787.
By Constitutional Convention of 1787 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The library has a large collection of items for learning more about the Constitution. Such as these titles:  

Alexander Hamilton and the Constitution

The Constitutional History of the United States 

The Debate on the Constitution 

The Essential Federalist and anti-Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers

Hamilton, Madison, and Jay on the Constitution

James Madison: Father of the Constitution, 1787-1800

James Madison: Creating the American Constitution

Original Intents: Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, and the American Founding

A Pocket Guide to the US Constitution: What Every American Needs to Know 

Let us know if we can help you find information on the Constitution or any other topic at 254-968-9249 or reference@tarleton.edu. 

Computers in the Library

Do you know there are over 200 computers (desktops and laptops) available for use in the Dick Smith Library?  Machines are located on each floor.  

Last year (FY 18) our desktop computers were used more than 323,747 hours with over 180,250 logins! 

Because our computers are so heavily used, we provide a Real Time Computer Availability map that shows which computers are busy and which ones are available for you to use.

Here is a list of some of the most used software and websites on library computers.  See your favorite on the list?

• Google Chrome - 62,870 launches with 38,464 focused hours
• Firefox - 51,461 launches with 26,786 focused hours
• MS Word - 70,920 launches with 25,044 focused hours of work
• MS Excel - 6,352 launches with 1,899.6 work hours
• YouTube - 1,108 launches with over 849.4 hours of videos watched
• Gmail - 1,959 launches and 100.2 hours of use 
• Photoshop -  873 starts with over 285 hours of use

The best thing about library computers is that they come with help!  The staff at both the Reference Desk and the Tech Spot are nearby to assist you if needed. 

If you have any questions about the computers in the library please contact the Library System Department (libsys@tarleton.edu) or 254-968-9030.

How to Renew Items from the Dick Smith Library in Stephenville

1.  On the library’s home page (www.tarleton.edu/library), select “Services” in the right-hand column, then “Renew Items.”

2.  Log in with your NTNET user name and password.

3.  Then click on the "Checkouts" tab.

4.  Use the checkboxes to mark the books you want to renew, or check the "Select All" box, then click the "Renew" button.

5.  If an item does not renew, you will get a message, and you will need to return the item. 

6.  Items won’t renew if someone else has placed a hold on them. Items also won’t renew beyond the last date of the current semester.  Finally, you can only renew items three times online.  If you need to renew the item again after that, you will need to bring it back to the Circulation Desk on the main floor of the library and ask to speak to a supervisor.

Interlibrary Loans

The library's software for processing interlibrary loan requests changed over the summer.  Here are the steps you go through to request a book or other physical item be sent to you from either another Tarleton library, or from a library somewhere in the world that might have the item:


1.  On the library's home page (https://www.tarleton.edu/library/), click “Services” in the right-hand column to open the menu, then click "Interlibrary Loan.”

2.  READ everything on the Interlibrary Loan page (https://www.tarleton.edu/library/services/ill.html), then click "Login to Interlibrary loan" (in center of screen). 

3. Login using your NTNET user name & password.

4. Then click the "Create Request" button.

5. This example is a request for the loan of a book or other physical item, and not an article from a periodical such as an academic journal or a newspaper, so click the "Loan" button.

6. Then use the drop-down menu to select the correct Pickup Location.

7.  All the fields with an asterisk * (also highlighted in yellow below) on the page should be filled out.  Some of the fields, such as your first and last name, and the service type, should already be complete.  You can add information for the other fields, if you have it.  For the "Needed Before" date, you should probably put the date the assignment is due.  Keep in mind, though, that most loans of physical items will take at least a week to arrive, even if they are coming from another Tarleton campus, so plan accordingly.

 

8.  Finally, click "Submit Request" at the bottom of the screen (as in the photo just above).


For an article from a periodical, you'll still need to provide/check your first and last name, your NTNET number, and the Needed Before date.  Under About my item, the required fields are Journal Title and Date, Page Numbers, and Title of Article.  The Service Type should be COPY.  Articles can often be sent as a PDF and so often they will arrive quickly, but again, you need to plan for delays.

If you have any questions, please ask a librarian or contact the Interlibrary Loan staff at ill@tarleton.edu, or 254-968-9660.