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Frequently Asked Questions

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Where can I borrow a laptop or laptop charger?

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Laptops, laptop chargers, and a variety of other equipment are available to support your learning needs on the 1st floor at the Library Services Desk.  A Bearcat ID is required to check out materials.  

How can I find a textbook in the library?

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The library does not regularly buy these. If available, try searching by title or author to locate textbooks in the general collection. Some may have been placed on Reserve by the course instructor.

How do I renew a book?

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Most library materials can be renewed online if you are a Northwest student, faculty, or staff member. 

Can I post a flyer or poster in the library?

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B.D. Owens Library has a designated area to post posters/flyers, located in the vending area (behind Starbucks) on the 1st floor, for the posting of University-related materials.  All postings on campus must have prior approval and an approval stamp from Student Affairs, University Marketing & Communication, or the Office of Student Involvement.  More information is located on the Posting Policy web page.

How much does printing cost?

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Printing to a University-networked printer does not require payment at the time of printing.

  • Users who print to a campus networked printer are auto-billed by their login credentials for the size of their print job.

    • Black and white printing is 10 cents per page.

    • Color printing is 25 cents per page.

    • Your specific printing charges will appear on your University bill within 2 to 3 business days of printing.

Read more about printing/copying on-campus

How do I request a book through interlibrary loan?

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If B.D. Owens Library or MOBIUS does not own a book, it can be requested using the Borrow a book form.  Read more information about cost, how long, etc.

Where can I find copies of old Northwest Missouri State University yearbooks?

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All of the NWMSU yearbooks (called Tower) are available on the third floor in the Quartos collection (call number q 378.778 M67t) and in the Archives. Some years are also available online. 

How do I print to a networked printer in the library?

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Each printer has a set of directions for installing the correct print driver and provides the networked printer's name.  Please ask for assistance at the first-floor Library Services Desk or follow the printer's directions provided by the Office of Information Technology.

Does the library have a public fax machine?

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The library's photocopier on the first floor has a fax option. The next closest public fax machine service is located on the Administration Building's 1st floor, in the Cashiering/Student Account Services Office. It costs $1.00 per page to use. 

Are food and/or drinks allowed in the Library?

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Food and drink are both allowed in the Library.  However, everyone is asked to be careful and to clean up after themselves because crumbs and spills can damage library materials and attract insects.

Where can I find a B.D. Owens Library staff directory?

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Contact information (phone, email, office numbers) is located in the Staff Directory.

Where can I find a journal abbreviation?

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For journal abbreviations, search the CAS Source Index (CASSI) Search Tool.  If unable to locate the abbreviation in this source, please Ask a Librarian.

Where can I find a scanner?

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A document scanner can be checked out at the Library Services Desk.  The first-floor photocopier is also a scanner.  Items can be scanned and emailed for free.  Ask for assistance using the photocopier at the Library Services Desk. 

How do I find test preparation and practice test eBooks for the Praxis, MoGEA or MEGA/MoCA?

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A list of test preparation eBooks for the MoGEA, MEGA/MoCA, and Praxis is listed on the Education Research guide.  

How do I find Blu-ray, DVDs and videos?

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Popular (award-winning and bestselling) and educational videos are located on the 1st floor.  

To search for videos:

  • In the library catalog, click Advanced Search (to the right of the search box)
  • Type an asterisk (*) in the first search box
  • Beneath FORMAT, select Blue-ray, DVD, and Streaming Video
  • Click Search
  • When the results display (beneath the search box), change Relevance to Year (newest) to display the most recently published videos first

Note: DVD/Blue-ray players can be checked out at the Library Services Desk

To search for streaming videos, search one of the video databases.  

How many books can I borrow?

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The maximum number of items (regardless of whether it is a book, DVD, etc.) that anyone can have checked out varies as follows:

  • Undergraduate, graduate students, staff, faculty, alumni, family of faculty/staff: 50
  • Maryville Public Library patrons: 5
  • Additional user groups

The Circulation Composite List document lists how long items can be checked out and how many renewals are available.  

How long can items be checked-out?

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The number of items, check-out length, and number of renewals for each type of resource (general collection items, popular books, curriculum materials, juvenile books, DVDs, etc.) are listed on the Borrowing Guidelines and Circulation Composite List page. 

How can I get writing help?

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The library staff does not proofread or edit papers/presentations. 

For writing help:

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