Thank you for sharing your questions on Atkins Library! I've consolidated your questions and answered the ten most common questions you had. If your question hasn't been answered, check out our longer Atkins Library FAQs to see if it has been answered there. You can also email me at nornat@uncc.edu to ask any questions you might have regarding the library and research.
For your research project, you will be finding information that touches on different aspects of your topic. For example, you may want to find information about the film or book you are choosing to examine in the form of film or book reviews. To learn more about the historical significance of your monster, you may need to find information on how that monster has been portrayed over time. You will also need to learn more about the societal issue or problem you believe that monster symbolizes.
The library catalog is the library's central search system and is a great starting point to find information on all aspects of your topic. You can access the library search system by going to library.uncc.edu.
You may also want to use more disciplinary-specific databases to find information on your topic.
To find scholarly articles or reviews of your film or book try:
To find historical information on your monster try:
To find information about the societal issue or problem your monster represents, try:
The library is currently open to students, staff, and faculty, but everyone who enters the building must follow these rules:
Due to social distancing, I would not recommend using the library as a place to study together with a group.
Library security walks around the building every hour to ensure these rules are being observed and will ask those who refuse to comply to leave. However, as I walk through the building, I usually always see at least a few people who, through ignorance or ill will, flout public health recommendations. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide how comfortable you are studying in a public space right now.
I would expect that these rules continue for the duration of Spring 2021. Even if you are able to receive a vaccine in the next few months, you will still be expected to wear a mask and socially distance at the library. You can always check back at library.uncc.edu to read the latest news on the library and COVID. I would also recommend following @atkinslibrary on Instagram and Twitter to learn of any service changes.
Later this semester, you'll be watching videos that provide a more detailed overview on how to find relevant and reliable information on your topic through the library. In the meantime, familiarize yourself with these three strategies to make your searching more efficient:
The library has an extensive collection of e-books and e-journals, making it easy to find and access reliable information on your topic from home. The library search system is your starting point to locate these materials. If you know that you will not be able to make it to the library this semester, you can immediately refine your search to only digitally available materials by selecting the "Online" filter in our main search system.
When accessing digital materials from the library from home, you will need to use your Ninernet ID and password to authenticate that you are a UNC Charlotte associated user. If you have any issues accessing digital materials at the library, please chat with us or email askatkins@uncc.edu.
If you find a book that is only available in print, you can place a hold on this item through the library search system and pick it up from Atkins when it is available. If the service desk isn't busy, you can be in and out of Atkins with your materials in minutes.
This is a great question! First, I'd start exploring the library's website, especially our Research & Write section, to become familiar with the resources we offer. Try using our main search system to locate your favorite book or film. Our search systems aren't like Google, so they may feel a little strange at first. Taking time to practice with them now will help you feel more confident when you need to start your research paper later.
Check out our short video on navigating our website to get started:
There are multiple ways you can get help from Atkins Library!
Visit our main service desk located on the first floor, near our main entrance. Stop here to ask us any questions you have! We have research librarians stationed on the righthand side of this desk to assist with any research-related questions you have.
For questions on library technology, you can visit our Tech Desk at the top of the stairs on our second floor.
For immediate questions, use the instant messaging system on our website to live chat with us. This chat is not staffed 24/7, so in cases where we aren't available, you can email us your questions at askatkins@uncc.edu. You might also find your question answers in our list of Library FAQs. Visit our Ask Atkins page to access live chat and see these common questions.
You can also email me, your course librarian, with questions you have regarding the library. My email is nornat@uncc.edu.
If you'd like more in depth help with your research, we can meet over Zoom to talk through your questions and research strategies for you to try. Feel free to shoot me an email to set up this type of meeting!
You can check out materials at our first floor service desk with your 49er ID card. There is no limit in how many materials you can check out and undergraduates get to check out books for a three week loan, along with two options to renew. Materials such as DVDs, course reserves, and technology have different loan lengths. You can access more information about borrowing library materials here.
If your book is located on the ground, first, second, or third floor (first use the library search system to find your book's location), then you are free to grab the book off the shelf yourself. If your book is located on floors 4-8, or you are unsure of how to locate the item, you can request the item be pulled and placed on hold for you. Learn how to request books through this video.
We do not mail materials directly to students. You will need to come to the library to pick up any physical items. If you do not feel comfortable entering the library building during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can call our circulation desk at 704-687-0491 or email circdesk@uncc.edu to arrange picking up the items directly outside the library.
The library has an amazing collection of Rare Books and Manuscripts located on our 9th and 10th floor. These items cannot be checked out of the library, but all are welcome to visit our Special Collections Reading Room to view these items. Browse our Rare Books Guide to see which items you might like to view. Contact spec-coll@uncc.edu to set up a time to visit the reading room and view the materials.
Unless specified by an event or Parking Services, there is no free parking on campus. Permits are required to park anytime the University is open. If you do not have a campus parking permit, you will have to pay to use visitor's parking. The closest visitor's parking deck to the Atkins Library is Cone Deck.
Select films on your syllabus are being held at the main floor service desk and can be checked out for a 24 hour loan. Just let the library employee working know which film you are looking for and that it is on course reserve. Don't forget to bring your 49er Card to check it out.
The library has a collection of Popular DVDs available for checkout on the main floor of the library and a larger collection of DVDs on the 8th floor. We also have access to a small collection of streaming films. To find a film to watch, search the library catalog at library.uncc.edu. You can browse our entire Popular DVD collection online or check out the most recent additions here.
