Library FAQ

In order to use your borrowing privileges, you need to present a valid form of identification at check-out such as the University OneCard for faculty, staff, or students, a borrower's card for non-UNCW users, or a state-issued picture identification card (e.g., a driver's license).

Click here for more information on borrowing policies, including how to get a borrower's card.

For students, faculty, and staff at UNCW, there is no limit to the number of books you can check out from the General Collection.  Recreational Reading materials, DVDs, VHS tapes and CDs have a limit of 7 items checked out at one time, in any combination (for example, 4 DVDs and 3 CDs).

Non-university borrowers may check out a total of 4 items from any part of the library's collection.  The only exception to this is Government Documents; all users may check out an unlimited number of materials from Government Documents.

• Undergraduate students = 28 days for books from the general, recreational reading, and juvenile collections and government documents
• Graduate students = until the end of the semester for general collection books and government documents. Books from the recreational reading and juvenile collection circulate for 28 days for graduate students.
• UNCW Faculty, Staff, & Trustees =  until the end of the semester for general collection books and government documents. Books from the recreational reading and juvenile collection circulate for 28 days for graduate students.
• All others = 28 days for books from the general, recreational reading, and juvenile collections and government documents
• DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, and Audiobooks check out for 7 days for all users.

Unaffilitated borrowers may check out materials by purchasing a NC Adult Resident Borrower's Card or North Carolina Community College student card.  More information can be found on our General Checkout Policy page.  You may also call us at 962.3270.

Retired faculty, staff, and trustees of UNCW may borrow materials from the collections upon presentation of a valid UNCW identification card.

1. Visit the UNCW One Card Office in the Warwick Center to get a new card made.
2. Upon receipt of the UNCW One Card, please visit the library to get a new patron record entered into the library system.
3. A library staff member will help set up your library record so you can access library services and databases.

As a student in the UNC system, you are eligible for a free Cooperative Borrower's card as long as you are in good standing with your home university's library.  Please see our policy page for further details and requirements.

Place a hold on that item.  Search the library catalog for the item you want, click on the title of the item, then click the "Hold Item" button at the top of the display: 

Complete the login form, click "Submit," and the message displays that your request was successful.  Please see our holds FAQ for pick-up information.

• When you get an email from the library stating that your material is ready for pick up, visit the Customer Services/Circulation Desk and tell staff you are picking up your hold. 
• If you are a faculty or staff member, you may request that your held items be mailed to your campus address by contacting the circulation staff at 962-3272.

• Items ordered through our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service are held at the Customer Services/Circulation desk for pick-up. 
• If you are a UNCW faculty/staff member or graduate student, your ILL items can be mailed or delivered to your academic department by selecting the delivery method "Mail to Address" in your ILLiad account. 
• If you are a distance learning student taking online classes at UNCW, your ILL items can be mailed to your out-of-town address.
• Please view our Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Services page for more information.

UNCW students, faculty, and staff can check out video cameras, MP3 players, DVD players, headphones, USB drives and a presentation workstation from the Circulation desk.  Laptops and software are available for checkout at the Technology Assistance Center (TAC), located on the first floor of the library.

Reference materials should be used in the library; however, faculty and staff may borrow some items for a negotiated period (please check with the reference librarian on duty).

Graduate students, faculty and staff may check out current and bound periodicals for 2 days. All other users must use the periodicals in the library (photocopiers are available).

• Most items checked out from Randall Library, including Interlibrary Loan items, may be returned to the Customer Services/Circulation desk when the library is open or deposited in one of our two item return stations when the library is closed. 
• We have one item return box by Parking Lot D (directly beside the library) and an item return slot in the wall to the left of the library's main entrance. 
• Items with very limited check-out periods, such as course reserve materials, and fragile or temperature-sensitive items should be returned directly to the Customer Services/Circulation desk whenever possible. 
• You do not need to present ID when returning items.

• Books, DVDs and other physical course reserve items are kept behind the Customer Services/Circulation Desk.
• Bring the item call number and your ID to the desk to check the material out.
• Find the item call number through our ERes system by: Department | Instructor

There are three ways to renew library items:

1. Log on to your library record, check the items to renew, click renew; or
2. Call the Circulation desk @ 910.962.3272; or
3. Contact us via chat or email.

You may renew items online that you have checked out as long as no one else has placed a hold on the item, and you have not reached your maximum renewals for that kind of item.  To renew online, visit Your Library Record and you will be prompted to:

• Enter your last or first name
• Enter your University ID Number (the number on your UNCW OneCard)
• Enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN).**

**If you do not have a Personal Identification Number (PIN), the system will prompt you to enter one. Enter the password you would like to use, up to 30 alpha-numeric characters but NO punctuation marks. You will then be prompted to enter the PIN two more times for verification. If you forget or receive an "Invalid Pin" message, click on the "Forgot Your PIN?" link under the Submit button.

Once logged into your library record, you will be able to renew your items using either the "renew all" or "renew selected" buttons.  If you have difficulty logging into your library record, please contact Customer Services/Circulation.

• Undergraduate students may renew books from the General, Juvenile, and Recreational Reading Collections until the book is requested by another user, reaches the highest level overdue, or the student's library privileges expire. 
• Graduate students may renew books from the General Collection up to twice (allowing a continuous checkout period of three semesters) unless the book is requested by another user, reaches the highest level overdue, or the student's library privileges expire.  Books from the Juvenile and Recreational Reading Collections may be renewed as per the rules for undergraduate students.
• Faculty and staff members may renew books from the General, Juvenile, and Recreational Reading Collections until the book is requested by another user or the faculty/staff member's library privileges expire. 
• North Carolina Resident Borrowers may renew books from the General, Juvenile, and Recreational Reading Collections until the book is requested by another user or their library privileges expire.  Resident Borrowers may not renew overdue material.

DVDs, VHS tapes, audiobooks, and CDs may only be renewed up to twice by all users.  Periodicals, reference books, and course reserve items are not eligible for renewal. 

• You may request a renewal unless the white band on the item states "No Renewals."
• To request a renewal, logon your ILLiad account, click on the transaction number of the item you want to renew, and click the renew button. 
• You will get an email with a new due date if the request is granted or a message requesting the return of the item if the renewal is denied.

• If items are overdue for two weeks or more (five days for course reserves), the item's replacement cost and a $15 non-refundable billing fee per item will be assessed.
• If an item is damaged or lost, repair or replacement costs will be assessed in addition to the $15 non-refundable billing fee.  Please note that water damage cannot be repaired, and must be replaced.
• If an item has been billed, and then returned to the library, the replacement cost will be removed but you will still be responsible for the $15 non-refundable billing fee.

• Yes, the library charges overdue fines for course reserves, headphones, equipment (e.g., videocameras, flash drives).
• Typically, the fine amount is $1/hour per item, with a maximum of $10/day per item.
• The fine amount for course reserves that check out for 24 hours or more is $5 per item, per day.

• You may request a renewal unless the white band on the item states "No Renewals."
• To request a renewal, logon your ILLiad account, click on the transaction number of the item you want to renew, and click the renew button. 
• You will get an email with a new due date if the request is granted or a message requesting the return of the item if the renewal is denied.

• UNCW students, staff and faculty can use our free Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service to request items not owned by Randall Library.
• Log on to ILLiad to create a request.
• If you have not used ILLiad before, click on First Time Users and follow the instructions.

• UNCW faculty, staff and and students are eligible to request materials not owned by Randall Library through ILLiad (Randall Library's Interlibrary Loan system).
• First time users will enter their name, address, and other personal information into the system only once, at the time of their first request.  Thereafter, you log in with your Username and Password and need only enter the bibliographic information for your requests.
• Whenever possible, documents are delivered electronically to your ILLiad account (you will receive email notification).
• Users can check the status of your request(s) through ILLiad.
• If you forget your password, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Office at (910) 962-7005 or via email. They can then reset the password allowing access into the UNCW ILLiad system.
• Many (but not all) of our databases will plug in the citation information into the ILLiad form after the you click on the ILLiad link from within the database, and then entered in their username and password.
• More questions? Please read our "Tips for Best Service" and our Interlibrary Loan policy.

To access databases from off-campus, renew materials online that you have checked out, access electronic reserve readings, and place holds on materials that are currently checked out by another patron:

1. Access the PIN Login screen
2. Enter your first or last name
3. Enter your University ID
4. Enter a library PIN up to 30 letters, numbers, or both. Do not use symbols.
5. If this is the first time you have set a PIN the next screen will ask you to enter the PIN twice.
6. Your PIN is now set.
7. If you have any difficulty, please contact the reference desk at 962-3760.

Try it now!
 
 

See UNCW's ITSD "Connect to UNCW's Wireless Networks" webpage.

Yes. Just select “seahawkguest” from your wireless connections on your laptop.

UNCW Students, Faculty and Staff need a laptop computer running Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7 with an Ethernet interface, either "wireless" Ethernet or "wired" Ethernet.

"Wired" Ethernet requires a cable that connects your laptop to a wall jack. Currently three types of Ethernet connections are available for the laptop:

1. A built-in Ethernet interface (offered in many models such as the Dell). If you are in the market for a laptop this is probably your best option.
2. A PCMCIA card (credit card size) that is installed into a slot on your laptop.
3. A USB Ethernet interface.

"Wireless" Ethernet does not require a cable.

How to connect to the wireless network
 

• Five guest computer stations are located on the first floor of the library. 
• Guests must register for a free account at the Circulation Desk. 
• The time limit on these computers is one hour.
• These computers have internet access and MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access software. There is no other software available on these computers.
• Guests can reserve a computer station using the reservation computer located in the guest computer area.
  

Guest computer users can save materials either by emailing to your personal email account (ex. Yahoo, Gmail...) or by saving to a CD ROM or a flash drive (you will need to bring your own).  Guests computers are not equipped with floppy or zip drives and do not allow downloading software.
 

Internet Explorer - Click on: Tools/Internet Options. Click “Delete Cookies.” Click “Delete Files,” include off-line files. Click OK. Close the options box.
 
FireFox - Click on: Tools/Options/Privacy. Click “Clear Cookies.” Click “Clear Cache.” Close the options box.

• E-mail will be set up for new students 5 business days after registration.
• Your student e-mail address is your initials followed by four randomly generated numbers.
• To find your e-mail address, go to UNCW SeaPort at http://seaport.uncw.edu and follow the steps listed under the log in boxes.
• This and more IT info for students at http://uncw.edu/itsd/services/communication/email.html

Headphones can be checked out at the Customer Services/Circulation Desk.

Visit the TAC (Technology Assistance Center) located on the first floor of Randall Library. See TAC's webpage for laptop check out hours.

• Photocopiers are located on the first and second floor of the library.
• There is one coin operated copier near the Circulation Desk.
• All other copiers require a UNCW One Card or guest card.
• Copying charges are .15 per page at the coin copier and .10 when the UNCW One Card or guest card is used.
• You may deposit money to your card in the library at the Value Transfer Station.  UNCW patrons can add money to their UNCW One Card online: https://uncwonecard.blackboard.com
• Microform copiers are located near the AV Viewing room.

Students may use the Value Transfer Station near Circulation/Customer Services to add money to their cards or do so online uncwonecard.blackboard.com, which requires a minimum deposit of $5.00. During business hours, Auxiliary Services will also be able to accept money and add it to students’ cards.

Copying charges are $.15 per page at the coin copier and $.10 when the guest card is used.  UNCW students can use their iPrint money to make copies for $.08 per page.
 

See UNCW's How do I use iPrint page.

See UNCW's How do I Use iPrint webpage: http://www.uncw.edu/ba/iprint/how.htm#pc

• Guests must purchase a copy/print card for $1.00 at the value transfer station near the Customer Services/Circulation Desk.  
• Guests must also add money to the card before using the Guest iPrint station. 
• The print station is located next to the guest computer area.
• Instructions on printing are available at each guest workstation.

• Color printing is available at all iPrint stations. Customers may choose to print in color from any of the library’s computers, including those for guests. 
• User must select the COLOR print driver, the default is the B&W driver
• The release station will show the color print queue once the user logs on and swipes their card; at that point the job may be released or cancelled
• Student color copies are deducted at .40 cents; B & W at .08 cents per print.
• Guest printing costs are .15 cents for B & W; color cost .50.

Students may use the Value Transfer Station near Circulation/Customer Services to add money to their cards or do so online uncwonecard.blackboard.com, which requires a minimum deposit of $5.00. During business hours, Auxiliary Services will also be able to accept money and add it to students’ cards.

Printing for students:

Black and White = $.08 per page

Color = $.40 per page

Printing for guests:

Black and White = $.15 per page

Color = $.50 per page

• All reserve materials are listed in ERes, the library's course reserve system.
• Find your reserve item by: Department | Instructor
• More reserves information...

• Go to ERes (or click on Reserves on the library homepage).
• Find your reserve item by: Department | Instructor.
• When the copyright message displays, click "Accept" to view the course page.
• The course page displays and lists all materials on reserve.
• Web link format -- This item is available in one of the full text databases to which the library subscribes. When you click on the link, you will see the article in the database or the scanned image of the article.  Follow the instructions in the database to print or email the article.   
• Read the article online, save or print it. If you wish to magnify the image online, in Adobe Acrobat click on the icon with the magnifying glass and + sign, then click inside the article window.
• If you are having problems with this link, please delete cache and cookies, close/open the browser, and try again.

• Books, DVDs and other physical course reserve items are kept behind the Customer Services/Circulation Desk.
• Bring the item call number and your ID to the desk to check the material out.
• Find the item call number through our ERes system by: Department | Instructor

• Articles are found by searching in article databases/eResources.
• Your first step is to choose a database to search. To do this, visit our Articles & eResource page or choose an eResource by subject.
• Or use our Quick Article Search:
  

   

  What does this search?

• Learn more about finding articles with this tutorial video

Graduate students, faculty and staff may check out current and bound periodicals for 2 days. All other users must use the periodicals in the library (photocopiers are available).

Bound Periodicals are located on the first floor, past the reference desk. See the map.

Current Periodicals are located on the first floor, next to Java City. See the map.

Use the library catalog to search for library materials.  The catalog is a searchable list of everything that the library owns, except for articles.

Using the tabs across the top of the catalog search screen, you can search by keywords, author (put the author's last name first), or title.

For help finding the item you want, go to "Where do I find books, DVDs, and other materials in Randall Library?"

First, search for books, DVDs or CDs in the catalog.  (For help with the catalog, go to how to search the catalog.  If you need an article, go to the section on finding articles.) Note the location, call number, and status of the book or other item you want.  If the item's status says it's available, you can check it out.  If the status has a date listed under it, the item is currently checked out. 

To find an item that is available, think of the location as the "neighborhood" where the item is and the call number is its "address" in that neighborhood.  For example, the book: 

Children and Television: Fifty Years of Research

is located in the General Collection (neighborhood) and it's call number is HQ784.T4 C512 2007.  The call number is like its address (shelf HQ784) in the General Collection neighborhood.

You can click on the link under the "location" of each item to see a map of that location in the library.  In this case, the General Collection map shows that it is on the 2nd floor of the library.

Books might be in the General Collection, Reference Collection, Recreational Reading or Government Documents collections.  Media materials are located in the DVD, VHS or CD collections.  For maps of the library to help locate these locations, click here. 

Some textbooks are available, but Randall Library cannot afford to purchase a copy of every textbook used at UNCW.

You can check the library catalog for your textbook.  Get help searching the catalog here.  If you don't know the title or author of your textbook, check your class syllabus, or use the bookstore's textbook list by visiting http://www.uncw.edu/ba/bookstore/ and choosing "textbooks" in the left side menu.

There are two ways to look for books that Randall Library does not have and that you can request to borrow from another library. 

Method 1: You can search Randall Library's catalog as well as the library catalogs at Fayetteville State University and UNCP by searching the Coastal Library Consortium.  Begin by searching the Randall Library catalog, then change your scope from "Wilmington" to "UNC Coastal Library Consortium," like this:

Then, enter your keywords and search the consortium.  When you find a book that you want, check the location.  If the location is "FSU Main Stacks" or "UNCP General Collection," then you may put a hold on the item. 
 

If the book status lists it as "available," the book will typically arrive at UNCW 1-2 working days after you put a hold on it. [link to how to hold an item]

Method 2: Look for books in libraries worldwide using WorldCat (search WorldCat here) and request them using Interlibrary Loan, or ILLiad (more information here).  Books requested using Interlibrary Loan may take 1-3 weeks to arrive at UNCW.

Place a hold on that item.  Search the library catalog for the item you want, click on the title of the item, then click the "Hold Item" button at the top of the display: 

Complete the login form, click "Submit," and the message displays that your request was successful.  Please see our holds FAQ for pick-up information.

Reference materials should be used in the library; however, faculty and staff may borrow some items for a negotiated period (please check with the reference librarian on duty).

• Undergraduate students = 28 days for books from the general, recreational reading, and juvenile collections and government documents
• Graduate students = until the end of the semester for general collection books and government documents. Books from the recreational reading and juvenile collection circulate for 28 days for graduate students.
• UNCW Faculty, Staff, & Trustees =  until the end of the semester for general collection books and government documents. Books from the recreational reading and juvenile collection circulate for 28 days for graduate students.
• All others = 28 days for books from the general, recreational reading, and juvenile collections and government documents
• DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, and Audiobooks check out for 7 days for all users.

• The Fledgling is available in a number of places, including the Reference collection (1951-1987), General Collection (1958-1987), and other copies available in Special Collections and Archives. 
• The UNCW Catalogue is available at various locations including: at the Circulation Desk, in the reference collection, Government Documents, and Archives. 
• You can search the library catalog using the "Title" tab and search for "University of North Carolina at Wilmington catalogue". 
• You can search the library catalog using the "Title" tab and search for "Fledgling".

There are plenty of film scripts that are part of the general collection, and to find these do a subject search in the library catalog for “Motion picture plays.” This will bring up items in the General Collection and Special Collections.

 
Departmental Honors Project titles and now abstracts are in the library and searchable. You can find them at: http://www.uncw.edu/honors/deptindex.htm
 
or
 
The Honors Papers can also be searched in the catalog with the Subject Heading “Honors Paper.” For the most part, they are shelved together in the call number starting: LD3971.7 H6 on the same wall shelving where Master’s Theses are. Some earlier papers are only available in the University Archives.
 

To look for DVDs, VHS, or streaming videos, search the library catalog and click on Advanced Keyword Search:

 After you enter your search terms, select VIDEORECORDING from the Material Type list:

For help finding the item you want, go to "Where do I find DVDs and other types of videos in Randall Library?"

To look for music CDs, search the library catalog and click on Advanced Keyword Search:

 After you enter your search terms, select CD (SOUND) from the Material Type list:

For help finding the item you want, go to "Where do I find CDs in Randall Library?"

Music CDs are located on the 1st floor of the library. You can view a map of the library to help locate them.

To find a specific CD, note the location, call number, and status:

Click on the location link to see a map of that location.

Place a hold on that item.  Search the library catalog for the item you want, click on the title of the item, then click the "Hold Item" button at the top of the display: 

Complete the login form, click "Submit," and the message displays that your request was successful.  Please see our holds FAQ for pick-up information.

• Search the library catalog by subject  for "Audiobooks" to get a list of all the audiobooks we own.
• Or, search for fiction books on tape/CD using the subject "Oral interpretation of fiction", and poetry books on tape/CD under "Oral interpretation of poetry."

 
The best way to search for them is by searching the library catalog using the subject tab…
Then search: Sound Recordings for English Speakers ______(list language here).
 

• UNCW students, staff and faculty can use our free Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service to request items not owned by Randall Library.
• Log on to ILLiad to create a request.
• If you have not used ILLiad before, click on First Time Users and follow the instructions.

Suggest a Title: Use this form to suggest a book, video, sound recording or other material that the Randall Library might purchase.

• UNCW faculty, staff and and students are eligible to request materials not owned by Randall Library through ILLiad (Randall Library's Interlibrary Loan system).
• First time users will enter their name, address, and other personal information into the system only once, at the time of their first request.  Thereafter, you log in with your Username and Password and need only enter the bibliographic information for your requests.
• Whenever possible, documents are delivered electronically to your ILLiad account (you will receive email notification).
• Users can check the status of your request(s) through ILLiad.
• If you forget your password, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Office at (910) 962-7005 or via email. They can then reset the password allowing access into the UNCW ILLiad system.
• Many (but not all) of our databases will plug in the citation information into the ILLiad form after the you click on the ILLiad link from within the database, and then entered in their username and password.
• More questions? Please read our "Tips for Best Service" and our Interlibrary Loan policy.

• Call (910-962-3273 or 962-7005) or visit the ILL office in RL1038 (Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.) to get your username and password reset. 
• Evenings and weekends, contact the Customer Services/Circulation desk at 962-3272.

• You can reset your ILLiad password by going here.
• Click the Forgot your Password? link, and enter your ILLiad username. 
• Your temporary password will be emailed to you.

• You may request a renewal unless the white band on the item states "No Renewals."
• To request a renewal, logon your ILLiad account, click on the transaction number of the item you want to renew, and click the renew button. 
• You will get an email with a new due date if the request is granted or a message requesting the return of the item if the renewal is denied.

Yes, visit this page for library maps and help locating specific areas in the library.

See the Library of Congress Classification System (LC) guide.

The General Collection is on the second floor of the library. See the map.

• All reserve materials are listed in ERes, the library's course reserve system.
• Find your reserve item by: Department | Instructor
• More reserves information...

 
Records with the Location UNCW A/V Phonodiscs are located in the Technical Services area, on shelves beside the Conference Room. Any staff member can access this collection and pull records for students to check out.
 
Cataloged Special Collections records have the location UNCW Special-Sound and a LC Call Number. Most of the records in Special Collections are not in the catalog and are in the Popular Music on Vinyl (LP, 78’s, & 45’s) database.  They will have a call number that reads Shelf No or Album ID. Students wanting one of these categories can come to Special Collections and we will get the record.  
 

Students, Staff and Faculty can check out the BD-119. It’s set up for a two hour loan in reserves and is listed under the course name Faculty Staff.
 
You can also use the Star News Database of New Hanover County Employees

• Go to ERes (or click on Reserves on the library homepage).
• Find your reserve item by: Department | Instructor.
• When the copyright message displays, click "Accept" to view the course page.
• The course page displays and lists all materials on reserve.
• Web link format -- This item is available in one of the full text databases to which the library subscribes. When you click on the link, you will see the article in the database or the scanned image of the article.  Follow the instructions in the database to print or email the article.   
• Read the article online, save or print it. If you wish to magnify the image online, in Adobe Acrobat click on the icon with the magnifying glass and + sign, then click inside the article window.
• If you are having problems with this link, please delete cache and cookies, close/open the browser, and try again.

To access databases from off-campus, renew materials online that you have checked out, access electronic reserve readings, and place holds on materials that are currently checked out by another patron:

1. Access the PIN Login screen
2. Enter your first or last name
3. Enter your University ID
4. Enter a library PIN up to 30 letters, numbers, or both. Do not use symbols.
5. If this is the first time you have set a PIN the next screen will ask you to enter the PIN twice.
6. Your PIN is now set.
7. If you have any difficulty, please contact the reference desk at 962-3760.

Try it now!