by Mike Byrnes, CCS Reference Librarian - byrnes@adm.njit.edu - (973) 596-8499
The Robert Van Houten Library holds approximately 165,000 books, conference proceedings, theses and technical reports. In addition, the library receives 1,000 hard-copy technical journals and 8,000 journals available electronically. The Library has 40 unique web-based databases that offer both fulltext and abstract formats of journal articles. These electronic databases are accessible from any computer on NJIT's campus and any member of the NJIT community (faculty, student, or staff) has access to these databases from a remote location via the VPN, or Virtual Private Network. To view the instructions on how to install the VPN, please go to: http://telecom.njit.edu/vpn/ After setting up the VPN, you will be able to access the library's databases from its web site: http://www.library.njit.edu/. Simply click on the "Databases" button on the left side of the page and a screen with two tables appears. The top table is to search electronic databases for a specific topic/subject. The bottom table (which allows you to type a title in a box) is to search in a specific electronic journal title&emdash;It is very important that you remember that: the top table is to do a subject search and the bottom table is to search for a specific journal title. If the phrase, "0 titles matching your search criteria were found" appears after doing a title search, it simply means that the NJIT Library does not have electronic access for that specific title. It is also possible to check the Library's catalog from the homepage (you do not need the VPN to access the catalog). You will see the top button on the left side of the page is titled, "Catalog." Click on this button and it will give you the opportunity to search NJIT's library collection. Also available is a link to check the holdings of the Rutgers Libraries.
The Library has reciprocal borrowing privileges with the following New Jersey schools&emdash;this means that as an NJIT student, you will be able to walk into any of the following libraries and check out materials from them and vice versa:
All NJIT students are eligible for Newark Public Library cards as well.
The Library also uses several document delivery services to provide photocopies of articles not held at NJIT. These include:
{Note: To order articles from Uncover, a student must set up an Uncover account through the Library. Uncover will be able to fax documents to the Library within 48 hours of being requested by a student. There is no cost for this service}.
Reference works available at NJIT that cover CIS topics are:
The library maintains subscriptions to DIALOG and STN, which provide access to online databases that may be searched by library staff. The cost of the search, which is based on connect time and the number of references retrieved can be billed to a grant account.
Databases accessible through these vendors include:
There are five Technical Reference Librarians with different areas of expertise (one Librarian is at a separately housed library for the School of Architecture) who are able to provide basic reference service to students, faculty and staff of all departments of NJIT. One of the Technical Reference Librarians, Mike Byrnes, is currently the library's liaison to the Computer and Information Science Department. Mike has a Master's in Library Science degree as well as a General Studies degree in Mathematics with a minor in Engineering. He works closely with CIS faculty to build a strong collection of books and journal titles to be ordered by the library. Mike also gives bibliographic instruction to CIS students and faculty to demonstrate productive search strategies to extract information in the library from both electronic and hard copy sources.
last updated: 1/8/2002
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