CIIS Library: Distance Students

Let the Laurance S. Rockefeller Library be your first stop for research services and resources. We encourage you to take advantage of the research opportunities available to you here, and also to explore complementary opportunities at your local library.

Who is a Distance Student?

All currently enrolled CIIS students who live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area are distance students. The San Francisco Bay Area includes the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara (new definition, July 2005).

Services

CIIS reference librarians are happy to help you with any stage of your research. We can either schedule a phone appointment or work with you asynchronously. Email (askref@ciis.edu), see our web site (Ask a Librarian) or phone us (415-575-6186).

The Library will mail CIIS books, dissertations, audio and video recordings, and journal articles to distance students in the United States and Canada. All materials must be returned to the Library within a six-week period with the exception of journal articles, which are yours to keep. There are no renewals and overdue fines are twenty cents per day per item.

Interlibrary Loan (for non-CIIS materials)

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a courier service through which the CIIS Library obtains materials from other libraries for use by CIIS students, staff and faculty.

As of July 1, 2005 distance students are eligible for interlibrary loan service for journal articles and book chapters. ILL service is not available for books and print dissertations. However we will mail books and dissertations that we own.

Go to InterLibrary Loan.

Resources

Most of the online resources on the CIIS Library Web site are accessible to students off-campus. You may be prompted for your last name and CIIS ID number.

Your CIIS ID number is the same identifying number you use to register for classes online, and to check out books; if you have a CIIS photo ID card it is the barcode number on that card. If you don't know your CIIS ID number, call us at 415-575-6180 or email askref@ciis.edu.

See the Research section of the Library's web site for a complete listing of research resources. Resources of particular interest to distance students are:

See the Library Catalog for a complete listing of CIIS books, both print and online. See the Journal List for a complete listing of CIIS journals, both in print and online.

To identify books and other materials that are not part of CIIS' library collection, check your local library catalog or WorldCat. WorldCat is a single database that contains holdings from thousands of libraries across the United States. Search WorldCat, select "Libraries worldwide" from your results list, then select "Display all libraries" to see whether a library in your area has the item you seek.

Consult your local library to inquire about interlibrary loan and/or book delivery services. CIIS can only deliver non-CIIS articles and book chapters to distance students. Interlibrary loan books must be acquired through your local library.