Directions to the Libraries

• If I am coming from outside of Bowling Green, how can I find the Libraries?
• How can I find the Kentucky Building (Museum)?

TOPCAT 2000

• Can I have access online to the books at WKU Libraries?
• Can I get journal or magazine citations off TOPCAT 2000?

FirstSearch & EBSCOhost

• How do I get into EBSCOhost?
• How do I get into FirstSearch?
• How do I get passwords to EBSCOhost and FirstSearch?
• If I plan to take classes at WKU, can I get passwords to its online databases?
• I can't get full text from databases in EBSCOhost and FirstSearch. Why not?

Remote Access

• How do I access magazine or journal articles from the library through the Internet?
• What electronic resources from your libraries are available from off campus?
• Can I get genealogy information from your library?
• Is there any way to find information about WKU alumni on the Internet such as the current Student/Faculty/Staff directory?

Material Access

• If your libraries don't have the material I need, how can I get it?
• I need to research a certain subject. Can you find materials and fax, mail, or e-mail them to me?
• I am a WKU Extended Campus student. Can you find materials and fax, mail or e-mail them to me?

Other Online Resources

• How can I get a WKU e-mail address?
• I can't get to any of the CD-ROM databases at home. Can you tell me why?

Q: If I am coming from outside of Bowling Green, how do I find the Libraries?

A:

1. Directions from the south from I-65:

   Take I-65 north to Bowling Green exit 20, William H. Natcher Parkway (formerly Green River Parkway). From the Parkway, take Exit 4 to U.S. 31-W (Nashville Road). Turn right (north) off the exit ramp toward Bowling Green. Go about two miles and continue straight on US 31-W past U.S. 231 (Campbell Lane). Continue another two miles and turn left onto University Blvd (U.S. 231 Business). Continue to the next light and turn right onto Normal Street. Pass Regents Avenue and Virginia Garrett Avenue on your left and you'll see the nine-storey Cravens Building where the Main Library is located. Turn left at the light at the top of the hill (14th Street). Stay in the left lane. Go straight at the stop sign. Turn left into the campus at the first drive. Continue around drive and park at the meter. (You can also park in faculty/staff spaces after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sunday.) Continue walking along street until you see the Helm Library building on the right. Walk down the steps toward the Helm building. Continue walking past the Helm building to the door of the Cravens building.

2. Directions from the north from the Natcher Parkway:

Take I-65 north to Bowling Green exit 20, William H. Natcher Parkway (formerly Green River Parkway). From the Parkway, take Exit 5 to US 68/80 (Russellville Road). Turn right off the exit ramp toward Bowling Green. Go about four miles and turn right onto University Blvd. Continue to the next light and turn left onto Normal Street. Pass Regents Avenue and Virginia Garrett Avenue on your left and you'll see the nine-storey Cravens Building where the Main Library is located. Turn left at the light at the top of the hill (14th street). Stay in the left lane. Go straight at the stop sign. Turn left into the campus at the first drive. Continue around drive and park at the meter. (You can also park in faculty/staff spaces after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sunday.) Continue walking along street until you see the Helm Library building on the right. Walk down the steps toward the Helm building. Continue walking past the Helm building to the door of the Cravens building.

3. Directions from the north from I-65:

Follow I-65 south to Bowling Green. Use Exit 28 (the Corvette Plant). Then use connector road to 68-80 and 31-W to Bowling Green. Follow 68-80 and drive into University Blvd. Continue to the next light and turn left onto Normal Street. Pass Regents Avenue and Virginia Garrett Avenue on your left and you'll see the nine-storey Cravens Building where the Main Library is located. Turn left at the light at the top of the hill (14th street). Stay in the left lane. Go straight at the stop sign. Turn left into the campus at the first drive. Continue around drive and park at the meter. (You can also park in faculty/staff spaces after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sunday.) Continue walking along street until you see the Helm Library building on the right. Walk down the steps toward the Helm building. Continue walking past the Helm building to the door of the Cravens building.

4. If the spaces with parking meters on the main part of the campus are filled:

Continue past the Helm Library building through campus (on one-way street) to stop sign. Turn right onto Normal Street. Continue down Normal Street until you reach Virginia Garrett Avenue -- turn right. Go to the stop sign, turn left onto Avenue Champions, staying in the left lane. Visitor parking is located on the left-hand side of Avenue Champions just past the Downing University Center. If spaces are full, continue down Avenue Champions. Get into the right lane. Turn right at the traffic light onto University Blvd. Pass L.T. Smith Stadium and Diddle Arena on right, then turn right into the lot between the Stadium and the parking structure. The Campus Police office is located on the outside of the parking structure facing the Stadium. You can ask for a one-day parking permit, which will allow you to park in faculty/staff and student spaces.

For a map and more information, please visit this Directions to the University link.

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Q: If I am coming from outside of Bowling Green, how do I find the Kentucky Museum?

A:

Part of the Kentucky Building, the Kentucky Museum is conveniently located in Bowling Green, Kentucky on the campus of Western Kentucky University. To find it on the map, look here.

1. Directions from the south on I-65:

   Traveling Southbound: From I-65 South, take Exit 28 to Bowling
   Green. Follow 31-W South and Highway 68-80 (Adams St.) to
   Western Kentucky University. Just pass 14th Street, look for the
   directional sign to the Kentucky Museum and turn left at the traffic
   island and proceed down Kentucky Street. There are visitor parking
   lots on the left and right. The Kentucky Building is 5.5 miles from Exit
   28.

2. Directions from the north on I-65:

Traveling Northbound: From I-65 North, take Exit 20 to the William H.
Natcher Parkway (formerly the Green River Parkway). Take Exit 4 and
turn right onto 31-W (There is a sign for Western Kentucky University).
Take 31-W to University Boulevard and turn left. Follow this street to
the Kentucky Building. There is visitor parking on the left and right. The
Kentucky Building is four miles from Exit 4.

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Q: Can I have online access to the books at WKU Libraries?

A: You can use TOPCAT 2000, the WKU Libraries Online Catalog, to find out what books Western has and whether those books are checked out of the library. You cannot access the information in the books. To do that, you will have to come to the library. To use TOPCAT 2000 from off campus:

1. Point your browser to the following address: http://topcat2000.wku.edu (You may follow this link if you choose to do so);
2. Choose Local Catalog from the options available;
3. To exit TOPCAT 2000, click on Exit;

For details, see the online handout on how to access TOPCAT 2000 and a visual tutorial for using TOPCAT 2000

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Q: How do I get into EBSCOhost?

A: To access EBSCOhost from your home computer:

1. Use the Web (graphic-based) version by pointing your browser to: http://search.epnet.com;
2. In User ID box, type authorization number; Press Tab; and at Password box, type the password;
3. Click the Click Here to Login button.
   
   OR
   

1. Access EBSCOhost databases from the Libraries' Home Page at http://www.wku.edu/Library;
2. Click on EBSCOhost link under Electronic Resources on upper right screen.
3. Proceed with login steps #2-#3 above.

Q: How do I get into FirstSearch?

A: To access FirstSearch:

1. Use the Web (graphic-based) version by pointing to: http://www.ref.oclc.org:2000;
2. Click on Use FirstSearch at the Connect to OCLC Reference Services screen;
3. Type your FirstSearch Authorization number, press Tab; type your FirstSearch Password; click on Start; click on Continue;
4. Follow on-screen instructions to search the desired database and display any records;
5. To quit FirstSearch Web, click Exit and Yes on FirstSearch menu bar.
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Q: How do I get passwords to EBSCOhost and FirstSearch?

A: You have to be a WKU employee or registered student to get the passwords. However, if you come to the library we will be more than happy to help you start your research. Among the things we can show you in the library are several print sources and a few computer databases that are not available from off-campus.

If you are a WKU employee or registered student, we can provide you with the authorization number and password if you provide us with the last four digits of the I.D. number on your Western I.D. card. We need this information to verify that you are a current student at Western Kentucky University before we can give you the password. To contact us, call (270) 745-6115, or e-mail web.reference@wku.edu.

Q: If I plan to take classes at WKU, can I get passwords to its online databases?

A: Sorry, but you have to be registered to get the passwords.However, if you come to the library we would be more than happy to help you start your research. Among the things we can show you in the library are several print sources and a few computer databases that are not available from off campus.

Q: How do I access magazine or journal articles from the library via the Internet?

A: EBSCOhost is an Internet resource to which our library subscribes. There are full-text databases available via EBSCOhost.

• To access EBSCOhost from your home computer:

  1. Use the Web (graphic-based) version by pointing your browser to: http://search.epnet.com;
  2. In User ID box type authorization number; press Tab; and in Password box type the password;
  3. Click the Click Here to Login button.
     
     OR
  
  
  1. Access EBSCOhost databases from the Libraries' Home Page at http://www.wku.edu/Library;
  2. Click on EBSCOhost link under Electronic Resources on upper right screen.
  3. Proceed with login steps #2-#3 above.
     
     
• FirstSearch is another Internet resource to which our library subscribes. Once again, if you want access to articles not available in the full-text online, you will have to come to the library if we subscribe to the magazine or journal.

  To access FirstSearch:

  1. Use the Web (graphic-based) version by pointing to: http://www.ref.oclc.org:2000;
  2. Click on Use FirstSearch at the Connect to OCLC Reference Services screen;
  3. Type your FirstSearch Authorization number, press Tab; type your FirstSearch Password; click on Start; click on Continue;
  4. Follow on-screen instructions to search desired database and display records;
  5. Click on Help if further instructions are needed;
  6. To quit FirstSearch Web, click Exit and Yes on FirstSearch menu bar.
     
     
  We can provide you with the authorization number and password if you provide us with the last four digits of the I.D. number on your Western I.D. card. We need this information to verify that you are a current student at Western Kentucky University before we can give you the password. To contact us, call (270) 745-6115, or e-mail web.reference@wku.edu.

Q: Can I get genealogy information from your library?

A: We do have several genealogy sources at the Kentucky Library located on the Bowling Green campus. However, we don't have the staff to do personal requests over the phone or the Internet. Genealogy Books found in the Kentucky Library are listed on our TOPCAT 2000.
If you can come into the library we will be more than happy to show you the records and start you on your research. If you are planning a trip to look at these records, we would suggest you call the Kentucky Library to check the hours we are open. The phone number is (270) 745-5083. Good luck!

Q: Is there any way to find information about WKU alumni on the Internet such as the current Student/Faculty/Staff directory?

A: Sorry, WKU doesn't have an Internet directory for finding information about WKU alumni yet. Your best bet would be to call the Alumni Relations office at (270) 745-4395.

Q: How can I get a WKU e-mail address?

A: If you are a WKU employee or registered student, you can set up a Western e-mail account by using TORI, the Total Online Resource Interface, at the following web address: http://www2.wku.edu/tori/. Just follow the instructions to set up an account. TORI will also give you instructions on how to access your account.

Q: If your libraries don't have the material I need, how can I get it?

A: You can use our Interlibrary Loan services. Located at the far right corner of the Reference Room, Interlibrary Loan provides a system for borrowing materials from other libraries. You may ask for forms at the Reference Desk. This service is limited to faculty, staff, and graduate students. Undergraduates may use the service after obtaining their professor's signature on each ILL request form they submit.

The Interlibrary Loan forms are also available on the web at the following address: http://www.wku.edu/Library/dlps/ill.htm#web

Please read the information on the Interlibrary Loan page regarding copyright, Interlibrary Loan policies, and how long it takes to get materials.

Q: I need to research a certain subject. Can you find materials and fax, mail, or e-mail them to me?

A: Sorry, we can't because we are a quick reference service. If you come in to the library to do the research yourself, we will be glad to help you locate the materials you need.

Q: I am a WKU Extended Campus student. Can you find materials and fax, mail, or e-mail them to me?

A: Sorry, we can't because we are a quick reference service. You may either go to the Extended Campus or call the toll free number 1-800-922-9585 for help.

Q: I can't get to any of the CD-ROM databases at home. Can you tell me why?

A: The CD-ROMs are Local Area Networked on campus and not connected to the Internet. To get to the CD-ROMs you have to use campus-wide networked computers.

Q: What electronic resources from your libraries are available from off campus?

A: Internet databases and E-Journals.

Q: I can't get full text from databases in EBSCOhost and FirstSearch. Why not?

A: Not all of the articles indexed in EBSCOhost and FirstSearch are available in the full text online.

To access articles that are not available online, you will need to come to the library to read or copy the articles. You can use TOPCAT 2000 to verify that our library subscribes to a journal before you visit the library.

Q: Can I get journal or magazine citations off TOPCAT 2000?

A: No. TOPCAT 2000 is an online catalog that gives you the location and citation of books, journals, and other library materials. To find a citation of an ARTICLE from a journal or magazine, you need to use either the print indexes or the online indexes such as EBSCOhost and FirstSearch.