Libraries Online

The following links provide information on how to access the university library system.

University of Minnesota Libraries

• Overview of Library Resources
• Access to Library Resources and Services
• Information on Periodical Databases available online
• Individual libraries' World Wide Web Sites
• Subject Collections, Locations, and Hours

Overview of Library Resources

• MNCAT, the library catalog, provides access to the collections of all campus libraries. Course reserves are listed in MNCAT.

• Other Library Catalogs, such as WorldCat, tell you what items are held at the libraries of other university and public libraries in the metro area and around the world. Most library materials can be requested via Interlibrary Loan.

• Indexes to articles found in journals and periodicals.

• Information Databases, such as the Encyclopedia Britannica Online and Online News Sources and many other Reference Resources.

• Many full-text resources such as Electronic Journals and Electronic Texts.

• Information on Library Services including on-line forms for renewing and recalling materials.

Access to Library Resources and Services

LUMINA is the University of Minnesota Libraries' gateway access to MNCAT (the online catalog), many other local and national catalogs, and more than forty online indexes to journals, magazines and newspapers. Search MNCAT to locate books, government documents, and titles of periodicals owned by the University Libraries.

To access LUMINA remotely, you must have Telnet client software installed on your computer. LUMINA is best accessed using TN3270 , a modified version of the standard Telnet program designed to work well with the libraries computer system. TN3270 comes with the Internet Kits or can be downloaded from Academic and Distributed Computing Services software updates page.

Telnet (TN3270) to LUMINA, then follow the log-on instructions listed below:

• Type pa to connect to the Public Access system and press Enter

• Type 1 for University Libraries/ LUMINA and press Enter.

• Type the code of your menu selection , e.g. mncat, from the column at the left and press Enter

VT100 Telnet emulation to LUMINA, then follow the log-on instructions listed below:

• At the Terminal ID prompt , type vt100 and press Enter.

• Type pa to connect to the Public Access system and press Enter

• Type 1 for University Libraries/ LUMINA and press Enter.

• Type the code of your menu selection, e.g., mncat, from the column at the left and press Enter

  How to search MNCAT

Periodical Databases Available Online

Current University of Minnesota students, faculty, and staff with valid e-mail accounts may access more than forty periodical databases on LUMINA listed under Indexes. These databases provide citations and/or abstracts to articles in academic journals, popular magazines and newspapers.

Three of the databases, Academic Index (ACAD), Magazine Index (MAGS) and Business Index (BIZZ) also have full-text articles available on-line

Access to INDEXES and Database Descriptions

Individual Libraries World Wide Web & Gopher Sites

These sites provide information tailored to specific disciplines, such as reference service, research guides, and links to subject-specific information resources available on the Internet. If you don't see your topic listed here, try the Subject Resources page.

You may prefer to link directly to the complete list of Library Locations and Web Sites which includes maps and hours.

On-line reference assistance is available through some of these library web sites

• American History
• Bio-Medical Library
• Business Reference Service
• History
• James Ford Bell Library
• John R. Borchert Map Library
• Law Library
• St. Paul Central Library
• Science & Engineering Library
• Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine
• Western European Studies
• Wilson Library Reference Services

 

Subject Collections, Locations, and Hours

General information, geographical and alphabetical lists of libraries, and maps are located on the About the Libraries page or access the Library Locations and Web Sites page for a brief description of the collections, locations and telephone numbers. If you have a specific topic and need to identify which library collection to use, the Subject Resources page will help.

Call the reference desks during open hours for research assistance.

Please Note: Many library resources are not available in electronic format. Call or visit the libraries and ask the reference librarian for help in locating materials.