This video shows how to search Nielsen Library's catalog, and request material from other libraries if we don't have what you're looking for.
Some resources are only available to local (San Luis Valley resident) students. If you need material the Nielsen Library does not have (whether in print/physical copies, or digitally), here are some ways we can get it for you. Please note that physical materials will be delivered to Nielsen Library, and will need to be picked up by you in a timely manner!
As a distance student, Nielsen Library's Interlibrary Loan system is perfect for research articles. However, when you need a full book, it's a less desirable option. Resources, like Prospector, Marmot, and ILL-for-Books are only available to local students (San Luis Valley residents). These services can be used by Colorado residents, but you'll need to request items through your local library (public or academic), rather than Nielsen Library. Below are some great alternatives.
The first thing we recommend for all distance students is get a local public library card. This gives you access to ILL right there in your hometown/local city; it also gives you access to other consortial arrangements around the state. Ask around at both the academic and public libraries in your community!
Colorado provides some great services like Prospector, Marmot, Aspen Cat, and CLC (Colorado Libraries Collaborate) that are based out of your local library. With CLC, if you are in good standing at your local branch, you may be able to get a library card (for physical items only) from local academic institutions, even if you are not affiliated. Some institutions may allow you full access to their subscription-based content as long as you are using the campus wi-fi.
If there is no local public library, and you're willing to both a) pay for return shipping, and b) wait considerably longer for materials, we do offer you the following:
*We will request that your item be snail-mailed to us (library shipping rate is slow, but financially necessary)
*We will snail-mail it to you (at library rate)
*You will have to pay out of pocket to mail the material back to us in a timely manner (postage method of your choosing)
*And we will mail it back 'home'.
Contact Amanda Langdon (ANLangdon@adams.edu, 719-587-7173) with any questions -- ILL Manager, Library Liaison for Distance Students, and the Counselor Education Library Liaison.
When determining whether a source contains reliable information, you want a mix of depth (looking deep at the article/source itself) and breadth (looking across different sources). This is approach equally applicable when evaluating the validity of academic articles, or when looking at news, or social media posts.
The Chronicle of Higher Ed noted in 2019 that looking in-depth at the single resource (until then the 'gold standard' of analysis) may not be the best way to determine reliability. The article "Students Fall for Misinformation Online. Is Teaching Them To Read Like Fact Checkers the Solution?" talks about how looking at a breadth of sources is just as important as digging deep into the article in question. Looking for multiple studies that confirm or disprove a theory is at the heart of academic research.
