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University Library

Research Help Toolkit

New to Research Help? This guide is a good place to start.

Who does what?

Access Services

The access services department handles questions related to:

  • Borrowing
  • Renewals & Returns
  • Reserves
  • Fines & Fees
  • Laptops, Charges, & Headphones
  • Community/Alumni/reciprocal University Memberships
  • Printing

Resolving Facilities issues:  Alyssa Corona handles submitting work orders and communicating issues to facilities. If you notice something in the building that needs attention, let her know at coroalys@sonoma.edu

Who are they? Contact for questions about... Before you contact!
Alexandria Lowery
  • Access Services Policies & Procedures
  • Troubleshooting material loans in ALMA
Have you checked the Public Services Handbook on the wiki?

Michael Cullinane

Lee Gillespie

  • Night circulation
  • Library closing procedures

Have you checked the Public Services Handbook on the wiki?

Have you seen library closing procedures on the wiki?

John Muller
  • Accessing and using library media (DVDs, CDs, LPs) 
    • Includes borrowing and reserves.

Have you reviewed borrowing privileges or placing items on reserve on the library's website?

Have you checked the Multimedia page or the Course Reserves page on the wiki?

Dawnelle Riccardi
  • Interlibrary Loan / CSU+

Have you reviewed borrowing from other libraries on the library's website?

Have you checked the CSU+ and Interlibrary loan page on the wiki?

Jack Ritchie
  • Course reserves
  • Day circulation

Have you reviewed course reserves or placing items on reserve on the library's website?

Have you checked the Course Reserves page on the wiki?

Flora Williams-Bonner
  • Library Student Assistants
Have you reviewed student jobs in the library on the library's homepage?

Technical Services

The technical services department handles questions related to:

  • Acquisitions
  • Cataloging
  • OneSearch and Subject Database Management
  • Library Collection Maintenance

Automated Retrieval System (ARS):  Darren Sargent and Varame Coalala handle issues related to the ARS. If you notice the ARS is not functioning properly, let them know at sargentd@sonoma.edu or coalalav@sonoma.edu.

Who are they? Contact for questions about... Before you contact!

Laurie Baggs-Ortega

  • Library funds for collections and electronic resources
Have you checked the general acquisitions ordering guidelines on the wiki?
Laura Krier
  • ALMA permissions and navigation
  • PRIMO (OneSearch) use and functionality
  • Library purchase suggestions (print and electronic)
  • Usage information for library collections
  • E-resource troubleshooting

Have you reviewed collections pages on the library's website?

Have you taken a look at Ex Libris's knowledge center (for ALMA troubleshooting)

Have you checked e-resource troubleshooting on the wiki?

Darren Sargent
  • Automated Retrieval System troubleshooting
  • Missing or damaged books
  • Books and shelves labels
  • Receiving periodicals

Have you checked the ARS system page on the wiki?

Have you checked missing, lost, damaged, and claims returned page on the wiki?

Have you checked mends and cataloging problems on the wiki?

Subject Librarians

Subject Librarians can help students, faculty, and staff with advanced research queries. Subject librarians work as liaisons between the library and SSU faculty to develop collections, teach research skills, and publish and perform research. Refer to subject librarians when encountering:

  • Advanced research questions (using specific subject databases, crafting complex search strategies)
  • Suggestions for additions to the library collections
  • Requests for library instruction
  • Guidance for publishing, open access, copyright, or fair use 

Before you refer It's always a good idea to refer folks to subject librarians, but for folks that need immediate help, be sure to suggest that they browse the library's research guides. If folks need additional help, encourage they schedule an appointment to meet with their subject librarian either in the library or over Zoom.  

Who are they? Contact with questions about...

Laura Krier

Collection Development Librarian

Arts & Humanities Subject Librarian

  • Advanced research in, faculty requests from, or suggestions for purchase in....

American Multicultural Studies, Art & Art History, Chicano & Latino Studies, Communication & Media Studies, English, Film Studies, Liberal Studies, Spanish, French, German, Music, Native American Studies, Philosophy, Theater Arts, Dance.

  • General questions or suggestions for purchase in the library collections
  • Streaming films and media

Rita Premo

Scholarly Communications Librarian

Science & Technology Subject Librarian

  • Advanced research in, faculty requests from, or suggestions for purchase in....

Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Science, Geology, Kinesiology, Mathematics & Statistics, Nursing, Physics & Astronomy.

Hilary Smith

Special Collections Librarian

Social Sciences Subject Librarian

  • Advanced research in, faculty requests from, or suggestions for purchase in....

Anthropology, Counseling, Criminology & Criminal Justice Studies, Geography, Environment, & Planning, Global Studies, History, Human Development, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Women's & Gender Studies.

Kaitlin Springmier

Instruction & Learning Assessment Librarian

Business, Economics, and Education Subject Librarian

  • Advanced research in, faculty requests from, or suggestions for purchase in....

Business, Economics, Curriculum Studies, Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, Special Education, Literacy Studies, Organizational Development, Wine Business

Special Collections / University Archives

Special Collections & University Archives is home to Sonoma State University Library's rare books, archives, and manuscript collections. Special Collections & University Archives handles questions related to...

  • Use, instruction with, and access to the library's special collections and archives
  • Collecting and preserving materials about the North Bay
  • Digitizing and providing access to library collections

Request an appointment Special Collections require that folks request and schedule an appointment to use materials. Please refer folks to Special Collections' Contact Us page to request an appointment: https://library.sonoma.edu/specialcollections/contact

Who are they? Contact for questions about... Before you contact!

Julie Dinkins

  • Digital special collections
  • Scholarworks

Have you reviewed digital collections on the library's website?

Have you reviewed Scholarworks FAQ on the library's website?

Rita Premo
  • Scholarworks
  • Master's Theses
  • Copyright, fair use, and scholarly publishing

Have you reviewed Scholarworks FAQ on the library's website?

Have you reviewed copyright and open access research guides?

Have you checked the Scholarly Communications page on the wiki?

Hilary Smith
  • Teaching with special collections or university archives
  • Gifting materials to special collections or university archives
  • Questions about materials held in special collections or university archives

Have you reviewed Special Collections pages on the library website?

Have you checked the Special Collections page on the wiki?

 

Library Technology

The library technology department handles questions related to:

  • Library computers and laptops
  • Printing in the library
  • Library Makerspace
  • Wireless access
Who are they? Contact for questions about... Before you contact!

Varame Coalala

  • First contact for library IT support to students, faculty, and staff

Have you reviewed Computers and Equipment on the library's website?

Christine Hayes
  • Library website and web development
Have you reviewed Website support on IT's website?
Rita Premo
  • Makerspace support
Have you reviewed the Makerspace page on the library's website?

Library Administration

Library administration are responsible for supervising library operations. Members of the library administrative team should be contacted in emergencies, such as natural disasters, power outages, medical events, and criminal or suspicious behavior.

Emergency Call List: Phone numbers, as well as directives of who to call when is listed on the library's Emergency Wallet Card

Who are they? Who do they lead?

Julie DInkins

  • Administrator, Technical Services and Special Collections
Laura Alamillo
  • Interim Dean of the Library
Jonathan Smith
  • Administrator, Access Services and Library Technology
Kaitlin Springmier
  • Department Chair, Library Faculty