HARRIS LIBRARY

The staff of the Harris Library recognizes that as a student in the MSASS Intensive Weekend Program you have special needs. You have less contact with library staff and often live some distance from the campus. You are juggling school, work and family issues. Time is at a premium. The Harris Library has a number of services specifically designed to help you more easily navigate the library system. This is designed to answer some of the questions most frequently asked by Intensive Weekend students. If you don't find the information that you need, please don't hesitate to contact Library staff .

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are the Library policies the same for Intensive Weekend students?

How can I contact Harris Library staff?

How can I get reserve readings before I come to campus for class?

How do I find out what a professor has put on reserve for my class?

How can I get reference assistance?

Can I use a library closer to my home ?

How do I know what libraries are located near me?

Can I order books through OhioLINK and have them delivered to a library near me?

Can I find journal articles from off campus?

Can I have journal articles sent to me?

Can I return my library books by mail?

Are the Library policies the same for Intensive Weekend students?

All standard policies of the Lillian F. and Milford J. Harris Library regarding fines, circulation, etc., apply to Intensive Weekend students. If you have special circumstances because you live a distance from campus, please contact the Circulation Desk at 216-368-2302 for assistance.

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How can I contact Harris Library staff?

Questions regarding library materials or services should be addressed directly to the Harris Library. The local phone number is 216-368-2302. The toll-free number for those outside the greater Cleveland area is 1-800-944-2290 (ask to be transferred to the Harris Library at Extension 2302).

The Contact Library Staff section of this website will provide you with additional information on how to contact Harris Library staff by phone or email.

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How can I get reserve readings before I come to campus for class?

Material which has been placed on reserve for a course, and which is needed before the first class meets, may be requested over the phone if not available on your class Blackboard website.

By Phone
Call the Circulation Desk at 216-368-2302 or toll-free at 1-800-944-2290 (ask to be transferred to the Harris Library at Extension 2302). Identify yourself as an Intensive Weekend student and explain that you would like the readings for your first class. You will need to be specific about which course materials you want photocopied and mailed. A charge of 15 cents per page plus a nominal fee for postage will be billed to your library account. It may save you time and money to check with your local library to see if the material is there, before requesting that materials be sent.

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How can I find out what a professor has put on reserve for my class?

You should receive a syllabus with the course outline and a list of readings at least one month before the start of your class. To check to see what has been placed on reserve you can go to the Course Reserves section of the online library catalog and type in your instructor's name. Article titles will appear in all capital letters; book titles will appear in upper and lowercase letters.

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How can I get reference assistance?

A reference librarian is available Monday through Saturday. Call the main Harris Library number at (216) 368-2302 or the School's toll-free number 1-800-944-2290 (ask for "extension 2302 in the Harris Library") and ask for a reference librarian. In-person coverage varies slightly throughout the calendar year. There is no reference coverage on Sundays.

E-mail reference requests can be sent to harrisref@case.edu . Intensive Weekend students have found this to be an effective way to get assistance with a research question. Use the Contact Library Staff section of this site to communicate with individual staff members.

The Harris Library Student Resources section of this site has been set up specifically to provide resources for students in the MSASS programs. Check out this section to find Pathfinders related to specific concentrations, statistical sources , journal articles , Harris Library Tutorials , and much more!!!

The Steps To Research & Writing A Paper will take you through the process of researching a paper. If you wish to get feedback about the search strategy you have created please contact a librarian . Also take a look at Writing Resources for APA formatting information, using bibliographic management software , tutorials on the use of PowerPoint , and tips on making presentations and speaking techniques .

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Can I use a library closer to my home?

If you live or work in Ohio you can take advantage of the extensive OhioLINK resources available to you as a Case student. OhioLINK is a consortium of 85 public, private and community colleges in Ohio. You can borrow books directly from an OhioLINK school just by showing your Case ID at the circulation desk. Books are tracked on your Case library record and can be returned to either the OhioLINK library or to the Harris Library. Policies will vary by library in terms of whether you can use the Library's computer facilities or printers. A map of OhioLINK libraries is available on the OhioLINK website.

Public libraries are also an excellent provider of web-based resources. If you have an Ohio public library card you can take advantage of the electronic resources of OPLIN . Other states may have similar cooperative arrangements between public libraries. Check with your local public library.

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How do I know what libraries are located near me?

The Harris Library staff has developed a list of libraries and community resources for several geographic areas within a few hours of Cleveland. It is available at the Regional Resources area of the Harris Library Student Resources section. A map of OhioLINK libraries is available on the OhioLINK website.

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Can I order books through OhioLINK and have them delivered to a library near me?

Students in the Intensive Weekend program can arrange for a courtesy borrowing card at an OhioLINK library near to where they live or work. Having a courtesy card allows you to request books through OhioLINK and have them sent to that library (rather than a Case Western Reserve University library).

If you are an Intensive Weekend student who is interested in this option, you should contact the circulation desk of the OhioLINK library nearest to you during regular business hours and identify yourself as a student in a distance-learning program. A map of OhioLINK libraries is available on the OhioLINK website.

Students who encounter difficulties with this process should contact the Harris Library staff at 216-368-2302.

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Can I find journal articles from off campus?

Case and OhioLINK offer a number of databases that will lead you to citations for journal articles, or in some cases, to the full text of the article. The easiest way to access OhioLINK databases from off campus is by opening your VPN account and logging in with your Case ID and Password.  This will identify you as a current Case student and will allow you access to the OhioLINK Research Databases  from any computer with Internet access.  You will also be allowed access to the  OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center  (a collection of full-text articles from specific journals).

To gain access to Case Research Databases from off-campus you must set up VPN access on your computer. Click here for more information on VPN .

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Can I have journal articles sent to me?

If you need a journal article for your research and it is not available in a library near to where you live or electronically, there are a couple options available to you.

If the Harris Library owns the journal, you can request that we photocopy and mail the article to you. We will charge you 15 cents per page plus postage. Articles can be faxed for an additional charge of $1.00 per article. Contact the Circulation Desk at 216-368-2302 or e-mail the reference staff at harrisref@case.edu .

Articles from journals not owned by Case can be ordered through our Interlibrary Loan department. Please realize that it often takes ten business days for us to receive the article through ILL prior to mailing it to you. In other words, the earlier you request the article the better. You may find it quicker to work through the Interlibrary Loan Department of your local public library.

Commercial document delivery services are also available and can fax you articles for a fee (often $15.00 or more per article).

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Can I return my library books by mail?

Materials charged out in person, can be returned either in person or by mail. Books returned by mail must be postmarked before the grace period ends to avoid overdue charges (the grace period is up to 10 days after the due date). Books postmarked after the grace period will be charged daily fines until the day the book is received by the Harris Library.  Note: Some materials, such as reserve items, do not have a grace period.

Renewals may be obtained over the phone or online by viewing "My Library Account" if there are no holds on the item. Please note that there is no grace period on OhioLINK items. Click here for more information on renewing your books online .