FAQ Answers

Reference Services:

#1) When is the Reference Desk open? Is this different than the Library's hours?
The Reference Desk's hours vary. The Desk may not be staffed during some of the later hours that the Library's building is accessible. Please check this hours of operation chart for details on the current term.

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#2) Where is the Reference Desk located?
The Reference Desk is on the 1st floor of Berry Library.

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#3) How do I contact a Research Specialist?
Please see the Research Specialists page for information about contacting a specialist for help.

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#4) Can I ask questions over the phone or e-mail?
You can ask questions by calling (603) 646-2704. E-mail questions can be sent to Baker-Berry Reference. This e-mail account is monitored when the Reference Desk is open. While an effort is made to answer questions the same day they are received, it is best to call or visit the Reference Desk if your query is urgent. Please note that reference service by e-mail is restricted to Dartmouth College students, staff, and faculty, or to questions about Dartmouth and its libraries.

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#5) I'm not affiliated with Dartmouth College. Can I still take advantage of Reference Services?
Visitors outside of the Dartmouth College community may consult any of Dartmouth's print collections and all are guaranteed access to the United States Federal documents housed in Baker-Berry. Reference consultation is limited to 15 minutes with further help available for a fee. Please refer to Circulation's policies on services for visitors.

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The Reference Collection:

#6) Can the Reference Collection be used when the Reference Desk is closed?
Yes. The Reference Collection is available the same hours as the Baker-Berry general collections. Please consult the hours of operation chart for details on the current term.

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#7) How is the collection organized?
The Reference Collection in Baker-Berry is arranged in call number order using the Library of Congress classification system. The Oversize collection is shelved separately against the east wall of the Reference Area.

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#8) Can I check out reference materials?
No. Reference Collection materials are non-circulating. We made this decision to maintain the availability of the collection for all our patrons. Government Documents are available for circulation to registered library users.

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#9) Should I re-shelve reference books when I'm done using them?
No. Reference materials will be reshelved by the library staff for you. Please put books on the reshelving cart when you are finished using them.

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#10) Can I take reference materials to a different part of the Library?
Reference materials can be used anywhere within Baker-Berry Library as long as you do not go through a security gate. This means that you may not take reference materials down to the Novack Cafe in Berry. You may also not take items into the Reserve Corridor or the Tower Room.

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#11) What do I do if Dartmouth doesn't own a book or article I need?
The Library's Interlibrary Loan service allows you to borrow materials from other libraries. All you need is the full citation to the desired item.

• DartDoc is the Library's system for requesting materials in all formats. It includes what is traditionally known as “interlibrary loan” as well as the ability to request material from libraries on the Dartmouth campus.
• Borrow Direct allows faculty, students and staff at Dartmouth College to quickly request books from the combined library catalogs of Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University. Books arrive within 4 business days. If the book you want is not available in Borrow Direct then request it through the DartDoc service.

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#12) I have a call number for a book located in Baker-Berry. Where do I find it?
Guides to the stacks and maps of the floors in Baker-Berry are provided by Access Services. If you need more help locating materials, please ask at the Reference Desk.

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#13) Where can I find street or other specialized maps?
Dartmouth College has an impressive collection of maps housed in the Evans Map Room on the 2nd floor of Berry.

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#14) What is Microfiche? Is it different than Microfilm?
Microfilm and Microfiche are collectively referred to as Microforms. These are either small squares of transparent plastic or rolls of film that can be viewed through special machines. Most often historical newspapers and government documents are provided on microform. Dartmouth's collection is housed in the Jones Media Center on the 2nd floor of Berry.

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#15) Where are all the VHS tapes and DVD discs?
Baker-Berry Library's video collections are housed on the 2nd floor of Berry in the Jones Media Center.

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The Library Catalog:

#16) Where can I find detailed help for the features in the library catalog?
Online help is available for the Dartmouth College Library Catalog by clicking on the HELP button at the top of the Catalog Home Page. You may also get help with the catalog at the Reference Desk.

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#17) Who can I contact if I need help using the catalog?
Please contact any reference desk in the Library for personal assistance.

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Photocopiers and Telephones:

#18) Where can I get coins for the copy machine, a stapler, paper clips, etc.?
You can get change from the Circulation Desk. Please note that the photocopiers will take one dollar bills. A stapler, paper cutter and three-hole punch are provided at the North Information Desk as a courtesy to our patrons.

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#19) Is there a photocopier in the Reference Area?
Two photocopiers are available in the Reference Area along the wall behind and to the left of the reference desk. Both machines take coins, dollar bills, and copy cards. Copies are 5 cents each with the copy card and 10 cents each using cash. Legal size (11"x17") copies are 20 cents each.

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#20) Where can I get a copy card for the photocopiers?
There are three copy card vending machines in Baker-Berry: (1) in the Baker Reserve Project Room ; (2) in the Reference area in Berry (next to the photocopiers); and (3) in the Greenprint printer cluster on Berry's Lower Level. Copy cards can be purchased for $1.00 using EXACT CHANGE ($1 bill only). The REUSABLE card comes with $.20 cents of value, to which additional money may be added.

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#21) How do I add money to my copy card?
You can add money to your copy card at any photocopier vending machine or at the card dispenser vending machines.

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#22) Where can I find other photocopiers in the Library?
Copiers accepting cash and copy cards:

• Berry Level 1 — Two copiers in the Reference Area
• Baker Level 1 — News Center
• Berry Level 2 — Evans Map Room (Coins or Copy Card; no bills)

Copiers accepting copy cards only:

• Berry Lower Level — near Greenprint stations (access through Elevator 2)
• Berry Lower Level — Stacks (access through Elevator 4)
• Berry Level 3 — Stacks
• Baker Reserve Project Room

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#23) Where is there a campus phone for public use?
Campus telephones can be found throughout the library:

• Berry Ground Level — Near the vending machines in the Novack Cafe.
• Berry Lower Level — In the Stacks next to the stairs.
• Berry Level 2 — East & West Ends opposite stairs/elevator.
• Berry Level 3 — East & West Ends opposite stairs/elevator.
• Berry Level 4 — West End near stairs/elevator.

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#24) Where are the nearest pay phones?
A public pay phone can be found at the West end of the Baker Reserve Corridor by the hallway to Sanborn House.

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Computers and Printing in the Library:

#25) Where can I find a (MacOS, Windows, or UNIX) computer with access to the Internet and Dartmouth's network?
Public computer clusters are provided throughout Baker-Berry Library and are maintained by Computing Services. A variety of Dell models running WindowsXP, iMacs running MacOSX, and three Silicon Graphics workstations running UNIX are available throughout Berry. For laptop users, Ethernet ports are available throughout Berry (bring your own ethernet cable), and wireless access is available campus-wide.

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#26) Why aren't Microsoft Word and Excel on all of the computers in the Berry Reference area?
The two tables of iMacs and Dells just in front of the Reference Desk are provided as research workstations for library patrons. As such, we have not provided access to word processing or other "productivity" software in an effort to maintain the availability of these machines for research and reference work. Additional public workstations with a larger selection of software are provided in Baker-Berry and throughout the campus by Computing Services.

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#27) How do I use GreenPrint from a Public Computer?
Please refer to Computing Services document GreenPrint FAQ .

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#28) Where can I find a GreenPrint Release Station?
There is a duplex (double-sided) Greenprint release station adjacent to the North Information Desk in Berry. For additional locations, please refer to Computing Services document GreenPrint Release Station Locations.

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#29) Is there a scanner available for public use?
There is a scanner on Berry Level 3 across from Stair 1 (West side). Instructions for use can be found under the "Apple" menu of the iMac it is connected to.  Additional scanners are available in the Novack Cafe, and the Baker Reserves Project Room.  Computing Services also offers scanners for student and faculty use.

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#30) Where can I find a MacOS computer with a floppy drive?
There is an iMac next to the North Information Desk on the 1st floor of Berry that has an attached floppy drive. The Jones Media Center also has a floppy drive which can be attached to an USB equipped Apple Macintosh computer.

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