Distance Education Library Services - FAQ

• Can I access library resources and services remotely?

  Yes. The library's main web page at http://libweb.hawaii.edu/index.htm is a good starting point. You may search the Hawaii Voyager Library Catalog for books, videos, etc., in UH System libraries or search Electronic Resources to locate citations to, or full-text journal articles. Full-text means that the entire article is available electronically for you to read, print, or email. You must have a registered ID to access these databases.

• How do I get an ID?

  Following class registration and payment of tuition and fees, you may obtain your UH ID card in person at the UHM Campus Center Ticket, Information & ID Office. However, an ID card is not necessary to register your ID for library services. See the ID Registration form for more information.

• How do I register my ID?

  Complete and submit the ID Registration form.

• How do I find books?

  Search for books held by Libraries of the University of Hawaii System in the Hawaii Voyager Library Catalog. If you need assistance in searching the catalog, you may consult Voyager's online help, telephone (808) 956-7214 during phone reference hours (Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Hawaii Standard Time), email Central Information Services or use the electronic Ask Questions form. You may request books you find in Voyager to be sent to you via Intrasystem Loan. Be sure to include your mailing address.

  You may search for books not in the UHM Libraries in other library catalogs. There is a good list available from a link on the library's main web page under Other Libraries. If a book that you need is available at a non-UH library, you may request that it be sent to you via Interlibrary Loan.

• How do I find articles?

  Search Electronic Resources to locate citations to, or full-text journal articles. Full-text means that the entire article is available electronically for you to read, print, or email. You must have a registered ID card to access these databases.

  If the article you need is not available from the UH Manoa Libraries, you may request the article be sent to you via IntraSystem Loan or Interlibrary Loan, depending upon where the library must obtain the article. Be sure to include your mailing address.

• How long does it take to fill a request?

  Delivery time depends on the availability of the material and the delivery method used by the providing library. Air mail delivery for books and electronic transmission is always specified, but the providing library does not always honor this specification. Libraries within the UH System deliver books via air mail or campus mail, so IntraSystem Loan book or article requests arrive in 7 to 10 days. For those mainland libraries that use air mail to ship books, the delivery time is usually 1-3 weeks, but books mailed Library Rate from the mainland may take 4 to 6 weeks. Electronic transmission of articles can arrive as soon as 1 to 2 days. Mailed photocopies usually take 1 to 2 weeks.

• Can I have materials sent to me?

  Yes. If you find a book in the Hawaii Voyager Library Catalog that you need, you may request that it be sent to you via Intrasystem Loan. Be sure to include your mailing address. If a book that you need is available at a non-UH library, you may request that it be sent to you via Interlibrary Loan. Be sure to include your mailing address. You may request an article that is not available full-text from the UHM Libraries' Electronic Resources be sent to you via IntraSystem Loan or Interlibrary Loan, depending upon where the library must obtain the article.

• What does the service cost?

  All books loans and filled article requests are free, however you are responsible for any fines for books checked out to you via IntraSystem Loan.

• What if I have a research question?

  There are many ways to contact the library depending on your question. For general inquiries, you may telephone (808) 956-7214 during phone reference hours (Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Hawaii Standard Time), email Central Information Services or use the electronic Ask Questions form. For questions relating to:

  • Science & Technology, email Ask A Science Librarian.
  • Special Collections ( Hawaiian Collection, Pacific Collection, Rare Books & Manuscripts, University Archives, and Hawaii War Records Depository), email Special Collections.
  • Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, South Asia, Southeast Asia), use the electronic Ask Questions form.
  • Government Documents, email GovDocs.