How Do I?

How do I find out if the PSC Library owns a particular item?
Library catalog is online. You can do an author, title or keyword search.

How do I locate an item in the PSC Library?
Journals are arranged alphabetically by titles and books by call numbers. There are also areas for census materials, UN materials and reprints. You can view the floor map indicating where things are shelved.

What journals does the PSC Library subscribe to?
The library subscribes to about 70 social science journals.

What newspapers does the PSC Library subscribe to?
The library has the New York Times, the Detroit Free Press and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

What print reference materials are available at PSC?
The reference collection has handbooks and encyclopedia in demography, sociology, psychology, economics and public health. Atlases, dictionaries and style manuals are also available. Apart from print reference books, the library provides links to electronic reference resources available to UM community.

How do I check out items from the PSC Library?
PSC affiliates can check out books by filling out a card in the back of the book and leave the card in the box at the front desk. Reference materials and journals can not be checked out. There is a copier in the library if you need articles or chapters copied.

What kinds of services does PSC library provide?
Library staff can help with citation verifications, reference questions and literature searches. The library also provides assistance with the use of services and resources of the university library system. ISR community members can request individual tutorials on library research and bibliographic database searching.

PSC affiliates and the Primary Research Staff at all ISR centers can request for table-of-contents delivery service. A sign up sheet is available at the PSC Library front desk.

Document delivery is available to PSC research staff.

How does the University Library system work?
The University Library consists of over 20 libraries (including Graduate Library, Undergraduate Library, Medical Library, Public Health Library, Social Work Library, and Music) and shares one online catalog called MIRLYN. Your M-Card is your library card that works in all the libraries. Law and Business Libraries have their own catalogs. University Library pulls together electronic resources for campus-wide access.

What can MIRLYN (the university online catalog) do?
You can find out if a particular book or journal title is available on campus and which library has it. If an item is available electronically, MIRLYN will provide you with a web link. MIRLYN also tells you if an item is checked out and when it is due back. You can request a book (located at Taubman Medical Library for example) to be delivered to the library nearest to you (Graduate Library) to be picked up. MIRLYN allows you to recall and interlibrary loan materials. You can also see what you have checked out and when they will be due. In order to utilize all the features mentioned, you would want to login as a validated user.

What if the book I need is checked out?
You can place a recall via MIRLYN and the borrower will get a notice to return the book within 10 days. You will get a notice (via email if you want to be notified that way) when the book is returned.

What if the book or journal I am looking for is not available on campus?
Interlibrary loan service is free of charge to all members of the University community. Submit a request via MIRLYN. It takes about 2 weeks to get a book and a few days to get an article. Articles are often delivered to you by email.

How does document delivery service work at the University Library?
7-FAST is a document delivery service for faculty members, primary researchers, graduate students and students and staff with disabilities for library materials available at the University of Michigan Library.

How do I find out if a particular journal is available online?
You can either search the title in MIRLYN or go to the Electronic Journals and Newspapers list. The page allows you to search by title and browse alphabetically or by subject. Look carefully for the years covered with each link.

Is there a way to find out what new books have been purchased in the university library in my subject area?
Yes. From the New Books page, you may select from a list of subjects or you may select from a list of libraries or you may do both.

Where should I start if I am looking for published journal articles in social sciences?
Social Science Citation Index via ISI Web of Science includes citations and abstracts from 1,700 leading scholarly social sciences journals covering many disciplines. Best place to go for peer-reviewed journals and multi-disciplinary interest.

Where do I go to search for articles in a particular subject area?
Look for subject specific indexes under PSC Library's online database list or University Library Search Tools. Below are some examples of topics and bibliographic indexes. These indexes often cover working papers and conference proceedings as well as journal articles.

Aging - Ageline
Economics - EconLit
Demography - Popline
Sociology - Sociological Abstracts
Psychology - PsycInfo

Can I access online journals and university resources when I am away from campus?
Yes, the University Library has a proxy server which allows for remote access to journals and networked electronic resources. See information for remote access to restricted resources.

How do I find basic statistical information of US?
Books: (available at the PSC Library and University Library)
Statistical Abstract of the United States. (paper copy and online)
Historical Statistics of the United States from Colonial time to 1970. (paper and online)
Historical Statistics of the United States: Millennial Edition (online)
State and Metropolitan Data Book (paper and online)
County and City Data Book (paper and online)


Websites:
FedStats
Census Bureau Website
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Health Statistics
University of Michigan Documents Center Statistics Section

Searching database:
Statistical Universe (via LexisNexis)

How do I find international statistics?
Books: (available at the PSC Library and University Library)
Demographic Yearbook (United Nations) (Online)
Statistical Yearbook (United Nations)
World Fact Book (paper and online)
International Historical Statistics: Africa, Asia & Oceania, 1750-1993
International Historical Statistics: Europe, 1750-1993.
International Historical Statistics: The Americas, 1750-1993

CD-ROMs:
Demographic Yearbook: Historical Supplement 1948-1997

Websites:
UN Statistics Database
International Population Data Base
WHO Statistical Information System
UNICEF Statistical Data
UNESCO Institute of Statistics
World Bank World Development Indicator 1960-

Searching database:
Statistical Universe (via LexisNexis)

How do I download citations to EndNote or Refworks from library resources?
The University Library has created a helpful link offering detailed instructions. Web of Science and Proquest offer direct export. Stop by the PSC Library and we can walk you through the process in a few minutes.

How do I get answers to library questions not listed here?
Stop by the PSC Library or email us at psc-library@umich.edu. You can also email the University Library at ask-us@umich.edu.

updated: 09/07


PSC blog

Recent resources, events, news

New Publications

Bingenheimer & Geronimus, "Behavior & HIV"

Wildeman, "Imprisonment & Infant Mortality," PSC Research Report

Next Brown Bag

Mon, Nov 9
John Bound
Stratification in US Higher Education
For live stream
LINK HERE

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