Student Resources

If your professor has requested a textbook (or other materials) to be put on reserve at the Library Services Desk, you can check them out for two hours. Please ask for the course number (i.e., Psychology 100) and the professor's name. See our FAQ on how to find items on reserve, and watch this video to see how to search for books in The Ames Library catalog.

You can also request items from other I-Share institutions. 

If the item you need is not available at The Ames Library or through I-Share, you can submit an Interlibrary Loan request. See our FAQ for more information.

• Sign into your I-Share borrowing account or watch our video on, "Requesting Through I-Share".
  Click on "Sign In" on the upper right to set up your account to borrow books from over 90 I-Share libraries across Illinois. Sign in with your University NetID and password. 
  
  
• Setup your ILLiad account or watch our video on, "Requesting Articles Through ILLiad".
  Use ILLiad (Interlibrary Loan) to request articles that the Library does not have access to electronically or in print. Sign in with your University NetID and password.
  
  
• Customize Google Scholar to search IWU resources
  Configure Google Scholar to show you when IWU provides access to an article
  
  
• Begin Your Research Tutorials
  Learn about basic research skills need to complete assignments
  
  
• Assignment Calculator
  Manage your time and tasks efficiently
  
  
• MegaSearch Minute Videos
  Learn how to use MegaSearch

• Library Services Desk
  Located on the entry level, you can check-out books & technology equipment, pick up a reserve item, and much more
  
  
• How to Print
  A guide to PaperCut, IWU's print management system.
  
  
• Podcast Studio
  High quality audio recording
  
  
• Reserve a Group Study or Project Room 
  Project Rooms are equipped with computer, projection, and some rooms also have DVD/VHS players
  
  
• Tate Archives & Special Collections
  This is where you can find information on the history of the University
  
  
• IT Services Desk 
  Located on the bottom floor of the Ames library. You can also enter a request here or visit the ITS homepage.
  
  
• Writing Center
  Tutors are available to help you with your writing assignments

• Begin Your Research Tutorials
  Learn about basic research skills need to complete assignments
  
  
• Cite Sources
  Learn about the main bibliographic styles, such as MLA, APA, Chicago, ASA, etc.
  
  
• Contact a Librarian
  A librarian is always available to help your with your research and assignments
  
  
• Course Guides
  These guides help with advice on completing assignments for a specific course
  
  
• Academic Honesty
  Learn more about how to avoid plagiarism. You can complete a self-paced tutorial here. 
  
  
• Zotero
  A tool which helps you manage references and create bibliographies
  
  
• Research Guides
  These guides include resources related to a specific subject
  
  
• Writing Center
  Tutors are available to help you with your writing assignments
  
  
• Survey Monkey for Students
  A tool for creating and running surveys for class projects, registered student organization use, etc.

• Ames Library Artistic & Scholarly Research Award
  Provides a funding opportunity for an IWU student to propose a significant research or creative project in their specific fields of study
  
  
• Contact a Librarian
  A librarian is always available to help your with your research and assignments
  
  
• Copyright
  Learn more about copyright
  
  
• Digital Commons@IWU
  Submit your final research papers for publication in our Institutinal Repository
  
  
• IWU Undergraduate Journals
  Checkout our student journal publications
  
  
• Open Access
  Learn more about Open Access materials
  
  
• Zotero
  A tool which helps you manage references and create bibliographies
  
  
• Right to Research Coalition
  An organization which promotes open access
  
  
• Using Tate Archives & Special Collections
  This is where you can find information on the history of the University