Borrowing Materials
The GIL Universal Catalog allows anyone to search the catalogs of University System libraries, the Atlanta History Center, and the Georgia Department of Archives and History. Through GIL Express, currently enrolled students may request materials from a remote site and pick up the materials at their library. Also, students may visit another University System library and check out materials on site. You will need a picture id to do this. It is also a good idea to check with the library you plan to visit before the visit to ensure your familiarity with their procedures. All students utilizing GIL Express on site use are expected to adhere to the policies and procedures of the library used.
These services are open to all enrolled University System students, including ecore and WebMBA students.
You may also want to obtain a library card from your local public library for checking out materials there.
Your GIL Catalog Page
How to find it / "Your Account"
Your home institution library has two faces on the World Wide Web. The first face is its GIL catalog. The catalog of a library is where you find out what books, periodicals, government documents, audio-visual materials, maps, and other materials are in that particular library. The second face is its Web site where you can find information about hours, services and find frequently used forms. More information about what you'll find at library Web sites is available on the next page.
GIL Catalog
Your home institution's GIL catalog is accessible via the following URL (link will open in a pop-up window):
GIL [http://gil.peachnet.edu/]
Find your institution on the map and click on the link. The link will take you to your institution's GIL catalog. Be sure to bookmark it for future use.
'Your Account'
To access your account, click on the 'Your Account' link on the GIL home page. You will be prompted to enter your Barcode and Last Name. If you do not know what your library barcode is, contact your home library.
Once logged into 'Your Account,' you can get the GALILEO password by clicking on the 'Request' button on the top menu.
WANT MORE about GIL?
>Unit 6 > GIL
Your Library's Web Page
A wealth of valuable information
There are two ways to find your library's Web site:
- Go to your home institution's general Web site. A link to the library's Web site should be available from there.
- Go to your home institution's GIL catalog page. At the bottom of the catalog home page screen you'll see a link titled 'Library Information.' This link will take you directly to your home institution's library Web site.
Be sure to bookmark your library's Web site for future use.
What you'll find there
The information found on library Web sites varies. Here is a list of things you might find there:
- Distance Education Links (more on this below)
- Phone numbers (Circulation, Reference Desk)
- Hours
- Interlibrary Loan information and forms
- Course Reserve listings
- Library Policies
- Special Collections information
- Tutorials or guides on researching and using library services
It is especially important for distance education students to spend some time becoming familiar with the services offered. Doing so may save you time and money!
Distance Education Links
As indicated above, some libraries provide links to information specific to distance education students. Examples of what you might find:
- Unique services available for distance students
- "Ask a Librarian" link
- Information about in-class instruction
- Tutorials on strategies for learning at a distance
- Tutorials or self tests on the challenges of learning at a distance (is it right for you?)
- Policies and procedures
- Institutional Definition of a 'Distance Education Student'
Although it varies from library to library, here are some of the services that may be available to you as a distance student:
- Toll free calling: A 1-800 number for calling your library
- Delivery of books to your home: Through first class mail or UPS delivery
- Photocopying
- Materials supplied in digitized form
Charges are applied to some of these services. Check with your library to see if they provide any of these services and, if so, the charges applied.
The GALILEO Password
What you get and how you get it
GALILEO is an invaluable resource for distance education students. It is a doorway to a wealth of information. Through it you can potentially access over 150 databases indexing thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals. Over 7000 journal titles are provided in full-text. Other resources include an encyclopedia, business directories, a collection of over 10,000 full-text books and government publications.
WANT MORE on GALILEO?
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Passwords are required for off-campus (remote) access. These passwords change regularly.
Contractual restrictions prohibit some databases from being made available for home or remote use. Such databases will have a red warning message next to the database's title which states 'This database is not available off campus'.
Obtaining the Current Password
Distance education students can obtain GALILEO passwords in one of the following ways.
Contact your home institution library
WebCT Courses
If you are taking a WebCT course the GALILEO password may be available from your 'MyWebCT' page under 'Announcements.'
GIL
When logged into 'Your Account' in your library's GIL catalog, you can obtain the GALILEO password by clicking on the Request button on the top menu.
Southern Regional Electronic Campus (SREC)
If you are a student enrolled in a course or program in the Electronic Campus you must fill out a form to request library services. More information and the form are available at the following URL (link will open in a pop-up window):
Electronic Campus Library Services Information
Having Trouble Researching?
"Ask a Librarian" Services
Having trouble? Your library may offer a service called "Ask a Librarian" or "Ask a Question." Check the library home page.
"Ask a Librarian" is a reference service providing patrons with answers to brief, factual questions. Questions are submitted through an online form or in an email message.
These reference services can help you:
- verify the Libraries' holdings
- look up addresses and/or phone numbers of companies, publishers associations or government entities
- locate factual information, such as abbreviations, definitions, or biographical information
Some links may also provide answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs). Be sure to check these out prior to emailing — your question may have been answered already.
GALILEO also has an "Ask a Librarian" link. For more information on this service, go to:
Unit 3 > What All Libraries have > Just Inside the Door
