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Built Environments Library

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UWBuilt Environments Library
334 Gould Hall          phone:(206) 543-4067          e-mail: arch@lib.washington.edu

About Us | Locating Materials | Shelving Locations | Checking out Materials | Book Drops | Other Services
Printing and Copying | Computers and Equipment | Getting Help | Disability Assistance

 

Architecture Research Databases Electronic Journals Websites UW Architecture Department Construction Management Research Databases Electronic Journals Websites UW Constuction Management Department

Landscape Architecture Research Databases Electronic Journals Websites UW Landscape Architecture Department Urban Design & Planning Research Databases Electronic Journals Websites UW Urban Design & Planning Department

General Resources

Research Databases All Subjects Electronic Books Electronic Newspapers

Microforms in BE Library Current BE Print Journals A - Z All BE Print Journals A - Z

About the BE Library

About Us

The collections and services of the UW Built Environments Library focus on the reference, research and study in architecture, construction management, landscape architecture and urban design and planning.

Circulation staff is available to assist you with general questions on how to find and use library resources. The professional librarian can provide more in-depth assistance in the use of the materials, databases and the collection as a whole. The librarian can also provide instruction, orientation, and training to individuals and classes.

Locating Library Materials

Personal computers, located near the entrance to the library, provide World Wide Web access to resources as well as to specialized databases purchased for use by University of Washington Libraries users. The UW Libraries Catalog clearly shows an items location and it's availability status. You can also look for items beyond the UW through the WorldCat Catalog. In addition to the UW it contains more then a billion records from some 10,000 libraries throughout the world. If the UW does not own the item you want then you can work with the UW Libraries Intralibrary Loan (ILL) to see if the items can be borrowed for you.

Some older periodical indexes, available in print format only, remain in the library but most tools are now available via the computer. Indexes to the contents of a broad array of periodicals are listed in the Research Databases link on the UW Libraries Webpage. Periodicals having online content are also listed there under the Electronic Journals link, but titles with an electronic format also have direct links in their regular catalog records. The Websites link, above on this BE Libraries Webpage, lists selected databases most relevant to Architecture, Construction Management, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design and Planning.

If you are having trouble locating the resources you need, the library staff is available to assist you. You may also make an appointment with the Librarian to discuss your research needs in more detail.

Shelving Locations

Most materials in the Built Environments Library (BE) are in: General Stacks, Oversize, Periodicals, Periodicals Oversize, Reserve and Reference, but formats, sizes and specialized storage requirements may put materials in other internal locations that include: Closed Stacks, Closed Stacks Oversize, Storage, Rare Book Case, Media are shelved at the BE Circulation Desk. Some materials on related topics may even be housed at other locations around the UW Libraries.

Checking Out Materials

All materials in the BE Library are available for on-site, free use by all our visitors. Most materials are in open stacks and are accessible to browsing but selected items are kept in closed areas and require the assistance by the library staff.

Materials located in the BE Rare Books Case, Reference, Closed Stacks, Microforms, recently received periodicals and periodicals prior to 1960 are generally unavailable for use outside the library.

Bound BE Periodicals, after 1960, items on Reserve, in the Media collection and materials shelved at the BE Circulation Desk have shortened loan periods ranging from a few hours to a few days.

All other items, excluding a few special exceptions, circulate according to a patrons regular loan privileges, usually between four and twelve weeks.

Current University of Washington identification is required to borrow materials. If you are not affiliated with the University, you can find information about your options under Borrowing Services on the under UW Libraries Webpage or the Library Cashier in Suzzallo can provide in depth assistace with borrowing policies, fines payments and issue library cards to persons not affiliated with the University.

The BE Library's public service desk provides circulation services to users and can also assist with placing holds and recalls on books, help with missing materials and answer questions on circulation policy.

Book Drops

Most materials can be returned to any UW Libraries bookdrop. A number of outside bookdrops are available across campus for your convenience. A bookdrop a few feet to the right of the BE library entrance provides after hours return while the inside book drop is located at the end of the Circulation desk nearest the library’s entrance. Delicate, small or time sensitive materials should be returned to a library circulation desk to avoid loss or damage.

Other Services

Copy/Print

Printing services are provided in the library through Dawg-Prints.com. Paying for copies is done through your UW Husky ID Card or through pre-paid Dawg-Prints cards. If you have a UW Husky ID card you can open and account through UW Housing and Food Services or you can purchase a pre-paid Dawg-Prints card for $5.00 from the vending machine near our copier. Copying/Printing is not available on a cash basis

Our copy machine offers black/white copies in both 8 1/2" x 11" and 11" x 17" sizes.

A self-service print station is available for public printing from the computer workstations or through the wireless Dawg-Prints.com network. Prints can be one or two sided, standard 8 1/2 x 11" paper only but can be either black/white or color (which will dispense through our copy machine). You can also send your print request for printing and pickup to other Library print stations and centers across campus. If you require specialty services you can check with Creative + Comminications or one of their campus copy centers for assistance.

Wireless Access

The BE Library has wireless access throughout. In addition, a majority of study desks have electrical outlets for use with your personal computer. Complete information on requirements, setups and other help in going wireless at the UW is available through the UW Wireless Initiative. Printing is also possible through Dawg-Prints.

Access+ Computer Terminals

Ten workstations are available and allow access to email as well as the UW Libraries web tools and includes Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and some additional communication and productivity software options. The machines also have CD/DVD drives to read CDs and DVDs and are compatible with most USB devices. These workstations are for the use of UW affiliated users and require a UW NetID. UW users with UW NetID questions or problems should contact either the OUGL Computing Commons or Mary Gates Hall Computing Resources Center.

Scanners

Scanners are available in one of the back rooms for use within the Library. This allows a no-cost alternative to image materials that do not leave the library.

STF Equipment

Students in the Departments of the College of Built Environments who have signed up for the STF loaner program can check out laptop computers (Mac and Windows), portable data/video projectors, digital cameras, digital video camcorders, and audio recording equipment from the Built Environments Library. UW Classroom Support Services offers a similar loaner program with much more equipment (especially projectors) if students are uneligible for this program or the necessary equipment is not available at the BE Library.

Librarian Consultations

The BE Librarian offers instruction and consulting services which are designed to introduce UW students, faculty and staff to essential library, research, and information technology skills.For teaching faculty interested in integrating library instruction into classes set an appointment with the BE Librarian to:

• Conduct sessions on how to find, select and evaluate information resources specially tailored to a subject or class assignment.
• Provide demonstrations of electronic resources including the Internet.
• Create web pages and bibliographies of pertinent research sites and tools.

Live Chat Assistance

Need help but can’t come in or the librarian is not available? Try our Live Chat feature and get the help you need when you need it. Just click on the "Chat" link of the Ask Us feature in the top right of all the Libraries pages to be connected in real time to a librarian.

Assistance for Disabled Users

Upon request, library staff will assist with the retrieval of books and with the use of electronic and other bibliographic resources. Time needed for retrieval will vary depending on staff availability. An array of adaptive technologies are available in the greater UW Libraries system and through Disabled Student Services. The Built Environments Library will work with these units to make our collections available. Gould Hall is wheelchair accessable from the west, University Way, entrance. The elevator in the corner to the right of the wheelchair entrance. The BE Library is also accessible to wheelchairs but there is no automatic door opener. Staff is available to assist patrons as needed.

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