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SCOM 4800: Communication and Diversity: Getting Started with the Library, Getting Help

General Library Information: Coronavirus

Both the Library South and Library North (new!!) entrances are open.

**You need your PantherCard to enter the Library buildings.**

Non-GSU visitors are now welcome in the Library but must provide a government-issued photo ID to access the Library.

GIL Express and Interlibrary Loan for books are available.

We are now offering print and audiovisual reserves.

Access to books, A/V resources, and GIL Express/ILL materials are still available through Express Pickup (i.e., curbside pickup).
Click here for information on Express Pickup. This service is available to all GSU faculty/staff/students.

Special Collections & Archives is open to researchers by appointment only;
please contact them at archives@gsu.edu for assistance.

Saxby's Coffee is currently open. 

All of our electronic resources remain open!

  • For a list of our online databases, see the Databases by Name list on the library's homepage.

  • You can also sort our databases by subject area using the Databases by Subject dropdown on the library's home page.

  • You can search for electronic books in the library's catalog. The Books tab on this guide has information on how to search for ebooks, and on other electronic-book collections being made available.

  • You can place Interlibrary Loan requests for articles and for book chapters/sections (which can be requested and delivered electronically).This includes articles and chapters held in GSU's print collections.

  • You can view films through our four streaming services: Academic Video Online (AVON) [new!], Kanopy, Films on Demand, and SWANK. (The library is not able to provide access to commercial streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, etc.)

And you can still get help!

  • You're here! Check out the resources on this research guide.
  • Reference assistance is available at the Research Support Desk on Library North 1 from 12pm - 4pm Monday through Thursday.
  • Virtual reference: the blue "Ask Us" button on the right-hand side of this page (on the library's homepage, it will be a red "Chat with Us" button) will take you to our chat reference service, staffed by reference librarians from
    • 9am - 8pm Monday-Thursday
    • 9am - 2pm Fridays
  • We have an extensive list of library FAQs which is available for research assistance 24/7. FAQs related to using the library during social distancing are collected here.
  • You can contact me directly via email -- click the Email link in the box with my photo in it or email me directly at janderson73@gsu.edu. As always, email is the best way to start with me, but we can also make an appointment to meet via WebEx.     
  • My Fall 2021 in-person office hours will be in the Department of Communication, 25 Park Place Room 825, on Tuesdays from 2pm - 4pm, beginning on  August 24. ***Please let me know if you want to drop in during these hours, as I will have to let you into the Communication department.***
  • In-person consultations and instruction are possible; however, all in-person consultations will need to be scheduled in advance since I will need to reserve an office space for in-person meetings.

Start At The Library's Homepage!

Start with the Library's homepage for

Getting Help: GSU Library Research Guides

Try looking at a GSU Library Research Guide!

We have research guides available for every department on campus. You can look at any guide regardless of what department you are associated with.

Start here to find helpful guides! 

(To get to the guide you are looking at right now, use this URL: http://research.library.gsu.edu/SCOM4800 -- bookmark it!)

We also have other categories of research guides available for help (all linked from the main Research Guides page)

  • *Citing and Bibliographies
  • *Library Technology, Tutorials, and Software
  • *Publishing and Open Access
  • Data Services
  • General and Interdisciplinary Research

Getting Help: Live Assistance / Chat Reference

We offer live virtual assistance on weekdays.

To start a Live Assistance session, click the red "Chat With Us" button on the far right-hand side of the library's homepage: undefined

to get to this: 

(note: this is just a picture -- go to http://library.gsu.edu to start a chat session)

You can email yourself a transcript of your chat session (helpful if the response included links)

Clicking on "Or search for an answer" will take you to a list of frequently asked questions that may also give you the answer you need.