Some databases and electronic resources of a general nature are normally used by undergraduates and for research in disciplines other than religion.  Also, there are specialized resources -- such as ArtSTOR, MEDLINE/PubMed or Lexis/Nexis -- that focus on disciplines outside our normal subject areas.  The William Smith Morton Library subscribes to some of these, but we try not to duplicate resources that are available at VCU.  You may wish to visit their library in order to use these resources.

Please see the following information provided by VCU :

1. Guests may ask for up to one hour of computer time per day. Be sure to bring your Union Seminary or BTSR student ID with you, plus a valid photo ID.

2. Ask for any help you need at the Research Assistance Desk FIRST -- before requesting guest access at our Circulation Desk. Otherwise your one hour of computer access may get eaten up by time spent at the reference desk being shown how to do your searching. Both desk locations are shown on this floor map of Cabell Library at http://www.library.vcu.edu/jbc/maps/jbcfl1.html

3. You will have access to only 2 workstations near our Research Assistance desk. When these two are in use, you will have to wait for the next available hour at one of these stations. To request a password to use one of these stations, you should bring an ID card to the Circulation Desk, where a pass will be issued in your name that is good for one hour.

4. Get to your assigned computer and log on promptly with the password provided by the Circulation staff. You have 10 minutes to do so before the password expires. Only one guest access password will be provided per day.

5. Note the countdown meter on the computer desktop. When your 60 minutes of computer access have expired, you won’t be able to obtain another session until the next day. Be sure to complete tasks and print needed items before the time expires.

6. Save documents you are working on to an external storage device such as a flash or thumb drive, or email them to yourself. You will not be able to save documents to the computer for access at a later date.

7. Adhere to VCU Computer and Network Resources Use Policy: http://www.ts.vcu.edu/policies/computeruse.html

8. If you want to use the Library's printers while here, you should buy a $2 Rambucks card at the Circulation desk when you get they get your guest access password. This buys you a reusable debit card containing one dollar of credit to use at our printers or copiers immediately or at any future date. We have no coin operated printers or copiers at VCU libraries.

9. Use the “lock” option to secure your workstation if you leave to print, ask the reference librarian for assistance, use the restroom, etc. When you use the “lock” option, you can be assured that you will be able to log back in within your 60 minute access period. The time continues to expire, however, while the computer is locked.

10. Many of the databases and e-journals at VCU are also available to all Virginians with public library cards through Find It Virginia at http://www.finditva.com/. Richmond Public Libraries and the Library of Virginia (state library) also offer some database access.

11. Members of other educational institutions may be eligible for Scholar’s Registration. Those with ID from another college or university who have need of access to online resources for extended research may complete a Scholar’s Registration form at the Reference Desk. See

http://www.library.vcu.edu/admin/regulations/documents/vculscholars.pdf

If approved, this access begins within two business days with issue of a guest password to VCU computers. This guest password expires automatically in 14 days and cannot be reissued until the following semester. Those granted guest passwords must comply with VCU Libraries computer resources regulations and VCU Computer and Network Resources Use Policy.