Library > About the library > Frequently Asked Questions
How do I access the library's research databases?
My barcode won't work.
How do I look for a book?
How long can I check out a book?
Why can't I check out a laptop for the entire semester?
What do I do if the library doesn't have the book/article that I need?
How do I find peer-reviewed journal articles?
What's the difference between a library database and the internet?
Why isn't the article that I want on the computer?
How do I get a WestLawPro Password?
Who painted the Library Blessing in the Library?
Most of the Library's databases can be accessed using your library barcode on the back of your UGF student ID. The Library uses a program called EZProxy to provide access to resources off campus.
For Distance Students who do not receive UGF IDs, click here to request that the library assign you a barcode. We will register you in the library's automated system and on the EZProxy server.
Click here for a link to the ExProxy Troubleshooting Page.
The University Library's book collections, video, DVD, CD and other collections are listed in the Catalog. which also contains the library catalogs for several other Montana academic libraries including the MSU Libraries, Carroll College and Rocky Mountain College.
You can search the catalog. by author, title, or subject. You can also check to see what materials you have checked out and renew them online.
Students can check books out for 4 weeks, videos/DVD for 3 days and laptops for 4 days. For more information on the library's borrowing policy, click here.
The Library has 2 laptops for checkout and they are in great demand. The checkout period is four days, which is very generous. Most libraries don't even allow their laptops to go out of the building.
If the UGF Library does not own the book or article that you need, we can usually borrow if from another library via the Interlibrary Loan service.
You can find peer reviewed journal articles in the specialised databases listed on the Databases page. Click here for a list of databases by subject. Which database you use depends on your topic, i.e. don't use a business database for information on chemical dependency counseling.
Print magazines & journals require an editorial process to weed out inaccurate or bad information. Most Internet sites do not have an editorial process to determine quality information. While there are many good websites, there are thousands of websites with false, misleading, inaccurate or just plain wrong information. Do you really want your doctor using a surgical technique that he found on the website of a 16 year old?
Internet search engines such as Google, which search the public internet, pull up the good, the bad, the ugly and the crazy stuff that's out there. The information in the library's databases can only be searched via a link and a password from the Library. Google can't get to this research material.
The Library's databases contain over 21,000 separate titles of magazines, journals and other materials. There are millions of articles that are not available online. As a general rule, the older the article, the less likely it is to be in one of the databases. If the article that you want isn't available, ask the UGF Library to get a copy for you, from another library via Interlibrary Loan. ILL takes approximately 3-5 depending on the lending library. Some libraries mail materials and some email materials. The Library is a member of LVIS (Library Very Interested in Sharing), so most of the time we can usually get the article for free.
Due to licensing restrictions, WestLawPro passwords can only be distributed to Paralegal Majors/Minors. Passwords are e-mailed to students during the first week of the semester. Contact the library if you have not received your password. If you need to do legal research and aren't in the Paralegal program, you can use the WestLaw Campus Research database.
Long time Art Professor Sister May Trinitas Morin painted the Library Blessing. The Library has several examples of her work including the World of Books calligraphy and the Christ the King painting. Her work is showcased at the Gallerie Trinitas and in the Trinitas Chapel.