6 Library Tips to Start Your Semester Off Right!

Welcome back, Falcons! We hope you had a great summer and are ready for a new academic year. We want to help you be prepared, so here are six things we'd like you to know as you start the semester. We highly recommend that you don't wait to:

1. Get Connected to the Printers

Don’t forget to connect your laptop to the Falcon Printing network! Check your laptop now to see if it is configured to print to Falcon Print and Falcon Color Print so that you won’t run into printing issues when you’re in a rush. Installation instructions are available on the Falcon Printing website.

2. Learn How to Book a Study Room

There are 21 group study rooms in the library to be used for collaborative coursework and studying. There are two ways to book a room in advance:

• Download the Direct Spaces app (available on both iOS and Android) to book a group study room from your mobile device.
• Make room reservations online via the University’s EMS website.

Rooms can also be booked on-the-fly using the touch panels outside each study room. View important policies and procedures on the Group Study Rooms page. 

3. Know Your Zone: Navigating the Quiet Areas of the Library

There are three types of study zones in the library – Silent, Quiet, and Collaborative. When choosing a place to study, relax, or work on a project, check your zone and be considerate of your fellow students. View zone locations and details on the library’s Study Spaces page.

4. Download Popular News Subscription Apps (For Free!)

The library offers special online subscriptions to The Economist, Bloomberg.com, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Financial Times for current students. Visit our Current News page for information about creating/using personal accounts on each platform.

5. Check Course Reserves for Textbooks & Other Assigned Materials

Course Reserves are select books, book chapters, articles, DVDs, and other resources that your professors have put aside either on physical reserve in the library or electronic reserve in your course Brightspace site. (Please note that although the library does not automatically have course textbooks, it is possible that your professor has placed a textbook on reserve for your class.)

Here’s how to find course reserves:

• Library Search: Use Course Reserves Search to search by course name, course code, or instructor's name to see what hardcopy items (e.g. books) your professor has put on reserve at the library for your class.
• Online, electronic course reserves (e.g. PDF articles, ebooks) can be found in the “Resources” module of the Brightspace site for your class.

It’s worth checking the library first before you purchase anything. Even if something hasn’t been put on reserve specifically for your class, we may have a copy in the stacks that you can borrow or have access to an electronic version via one of our many online databases. Use Library Search on our homepage to get started or ask a librarian for assistance. 

6. Get to Know Your Research Librarians

Librarians are here to assist you with your assignments, papers, and projects. We can help you find materials inside and outside of the library, choose the best databases and search tools for your topic, develop research strategies, evaluate sources, and cite your sources. We offer drop-in help at the reference desk and via chat, email, phone, and text. Consultations (in-person and Zoom) are also available by appointment. Visit the Research Help page to view our contact information and reference desk hours.

There's so much more to know about the library's services, resources, and events! Have questions? Ask any library staff member - we are here to help. Stay informed by keeping and an eye on your inbox for our regular In the Know email and follow @BentleyLibrary on Instagram and Facebook. 

We look forward to seeing you in the library soon!