USF Libraries provide special assistance to distance learners and educators.Distance learners have a critical need for consistent access to online materials, interlibrary loan to get print and materials outside the USF Libraries,and assistance from librarians to answer questions about access to online resources and getting connected.USF Libraries subscribes to over 600 online databases, 8,000+ e-journals, 215,000+ e-books and provides access to millions of articles, books, documents, and image collections.
Getting Help for Distance Learners
Important telephone numbers and links:
Tampa Library Reference Desk - 974-2729
Tampa Library Circulation Desk - 974-1611
Tampa Library Interlibrary Loan Office -974-1606
USF Tampa Information Technology - 974-1222
Ask a Librarian Need Help: Get your questions answered wherever you are! Friendly, professional librarians are available to assist you with your questions.
Your USF ID :
* is your library card
* authenticates you for access to the Library's online items
* enables you to renew books online
* lets you recall books
Community Members:
Any member of the public can use USF print and electronic resources on-site at the USF libraries. Each USF Library has its own policies for "special borrowers." See the Alumni & Visitors page for more information about the policies for special borrowers at the USF Library nearest you. Licensing restrictions mean that you will not be able to access electronic resources from outside the library and you are not eligible for Interlibrary Loan. Check each USF Libraries' circulation policy for more information about borrowing agreements.
Florida Public University Students:
If you are a student at another public university in Florida, you can use your own university ID as a library card to borrow materials from the main USF libraries in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota (excludes specialized libraries at the Health Sciences Center or the Florida Mental Health Institute). If you live closer to a USF library than your home university, the USF library will initiate InterLibrary Loan for books not owned by that USF library. You should register with the ILLiad system, specifying that you are a distance learner at a State of Florida university and stating which USF campus you will use to collect your books.
***Your home university library is responsible for providing you with off-campus access to databases and helping you get copies of journal articles if they are not available online***.
Florida Community College Students:
If you are a student at a state of Florida community college and have a college ID with a 14 digit number, you can use this as a library card at USF Libraries to check out books. (If you have only your 9 digit SSN, you should contact the circulation department of the library you wish to use for more information.) You will have off-campus access to databases provided through your home college library. If you need to obtain materials that are not available at a state university or community college library within reasonable distance of your home, you may be able to order them by interlibrary loan from your nearest public library or you can contact your home college librarian for advice.
Your USFCard identifies you to other public university and community college libraries. You may present an active card to obtain borrowing privileges. Circulation policies such as number of books and length of borrowing vary from library to library. For example, most libraries do not circulate reference works or journals. Some of the professional schools' libraries such as the University of Florida Law Library, do not loan material. We suggest you call the library and ask about their circulation policies for the material(s) you need. Use the State Library's Florida Library Directory to find information about a public university or community college library near you.
USF provides a fee-based, dial-up service called iConnect that may prove cost-effective for you. Another option: BrightHouse (formerly Time Warner) provides a somewhat reduced rate for their cable modem service, Roadrunner, for USF users in the Tampa Bay area. The USF Academic Computing Department has information about these services at http://www.acomp.usf.edu/access.html. You may also choose to use any other Internet Service Provider (ISP), like AOL, Att.net, etc...
Once you are at a computer with an internet connection, use the USF Libraries' sign in via EZProxy or your NetID. Using EZProxy or your MyUSF NetID will allow you to have access to all of the USF Libraries' resources from any internet-connected computer.
You may choose to obtain a USFCard without coming to campus using the Distance Learning USFCard information. Your USFCard number will be mailed to you so you can begin accessing USF Libraries resources, including E-reserves and interlibrary loan (ILLiad), without delay. Your card will be sent by postal mail.
You may obtain reference assistance online by using the Ask-a-Librarian service or by calling toll free to or by calling the most convenient USF Library to make an in-person appointment with a reference librarian.
Nursing, Health Science, and Public Health students should call the Shimberg Health Science Library Interlibrary Loan Office at 813-974-2123 for more information.
All other distance learners: If any of the USF Libraries own the book, you can have it sent to you. (Exceptions are materials with limited circulation, such as reference books or materials from Special Collections, etc...) Go to ILLiad , the USF Libraries interlibrary loan service, to request a book. The first time you create your profile for the ILLiad, choose "distance learner" where you are asked "Your Status." The book will be mailed to the address you give free of charge. You must pay the return postage, or, at no charge, you can return the book(s) to any USF Library before the due date. If you need the book for a longer period of time, you can use Online Renewal.
If you need a copy of a book not owned by the USF, make your request through your nearest public library, USF campus library, or other state university in Florida. Non-USF books MUST be picked up at the library where the request was made.
For journals, you must use ILLiad, the USF Libraries interlibrary loan service. As with books, the first time you create your profile for the ILLiad, choose "distance learner". Request a photocopy to receive journal articles electronically or via mail. Articles are generally free of charge. The articles will be sent directly to you. You will not have to return the article.
Fee-based services are another option for receiving journal articles. Many FirstSearch databases provide you with an option to order journal articles online for direct delivery by fax or mail, using your credit card. Ingenta also provides online ordering using your credit card, but only has fax delivery.
Keep in mind that you have borrowing privileges at over 70 other public university and community college libraries within the state of Florida. To locate the libraries nearest you, consult the Florida Library Directory provided by the State Library of Florida. You can put in county or zipcode and find a list of all the libraries in that area.
A wide variety of research sources are available to distance learners through the USF Libraries web site. In addition, USF distance learners are provided reference and instructional services to assist their research needs, including, but not limited to:
Ask-a-Librarian which allows patrons to email a reference question, chat with a USF librarian about a particular research problem, or peruse previous questions that may provide sufficient answers for their research problem.
Online Renewal provides patrons with a means to electronically renew books, preventing overdue fines and the need to come to a physical circulation desk.
Electronic Reserves equips professors with electronic versions of course resources and provides students with an extra convenience for retrieving reading material for their classes.
Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad) aids distance learner patrons with electronic requests for journal articles and books owned by the University of South Florida Libraries.
Web versions of annotated bibliographies, subject guides, tip sheets, as well as course web pages, link students to the best resources for their research assignments.
USF requires an official USFCard to access BlackBoard and WebCT courses, to obtain USF email, and to obtain and activate your own MyUSF NetID. Also, the USFCard will help you identify yourself to other public universities and community college libraries within the state of Florida, where you have borrowing privileges. You can use the card for entry to USF athletic events and campus recreation facilities, as an official second photo ID, and for student discounts to many movie theaters and local fast food eating establishments. Always ask businesses if they offer 'students discounts'. For those who come to any USF campus, you can also use your USFCard as a vendcard to be used in photocopy machines, printing from the computers in the USF Libraries or the open use labs, etc...).
Your USFCard numbers are reactivated each term. This is usually done automatically, but sometimes the numbers are deleted. If you have the USFCard from a previous semester and the number is not working, email libcard@lib.usf.edu with the following information:
Your name
Your 14 digit USFCard number
Your 16 digit USFCard number
Your University "U" number
Your mailing address
Your email address
If it is more convenient, you can call the USF Library circulation department nearest you, for assistance in reactivating your USFCard:
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