Library

Welcome to Froebel College Library. The Library has a collection of over 15,000 items - including books, journals, articles, charts, posters, videos, cassette tapes, CDs, CD-ROMs and DVD's. The majority of the collection is available for borrowing by students. The remainder can be consulted within the Library.

Froebel students are also entitled to use the library of Trinity College Dublin.

Opening Hours:

The Library opening hours during term are as follows:

Library opening hours during holiday periods are as follows:

Staff:

Please make your requests to any of the Library staff. They are:

Librarian:                  Frank Brady

Librarian Assistant:  Angela Barrado

Librarian Assistant:  Mary Brien

Librarian Assistant:  Deirdre Murphy

Library Collections

The Library is divided into two main areas: The Main Loan collection, which is classified at LIB for Library, and the Teaching Practice section, which has TP as a prefix. Items from both of these areas can be borrowed for two weeks. Other collections include:

The majority of items can be consulted for a week at a time. However some items may have a shorter loan period.

Library Layout

The main loan collection takes up the majority of the wall shelves. This collection is organised using Dewey Decimal Classification System and includes theoretical books on core subjects and literary texts. The Dewey Decimal system is a numerical system with a number corresponding to a subject. It runs from 000 to 900,

000                  General Works
100                  Philosophy, parapsychology, psychology
200                  Religion
300                  Social Science
370                  Education
370.9415         Education in Ireland
371.9               Special Education
400                  Language
500                  Natural Science and Mathematics
600                  Technology (applied sciences)
700                  The Arts fine and decorative arts
780                  Music
800                  Literature
900                  Geography, History and auxiliary disciplines

Education and the teaching of specific subjects are located between 370 and 379. English Literature is found from 820 to 828 whereas Irish Literature is found at 891.62.

The Teaching Practice books are held on the shelves located in front of the computers area. This section is heavily used during TP and TP preparation. It includes general fiction and non-fiction books for children between the ages of 4 - 12. It also includes the majority of textbooks used in schools. The books in this section are also organised using the Dewey Decimal System.

There are a certain number of books, which are heavily used and are available for short-loan. This means you can borrow them for a period of 2 days or take them home overnight within an hour of the Library closing.

The Photocopy room is located at the back of the Library near the TP collection. The Library also contains 2 cabinets for Charts and Posters. The cabinets are locked and keys can be obtained at the Library desk. Please take care in opening cabinet or ask the Librarian to demonstrate as the posters can easily fall.

The Journals rack is located at the end of the Library, beside the computer area. Journals are organised in alphabetical order by title. Older issues are kept within the rack. Some of the more important journal articles are catalogued.

CDs, CD-ROMs, DVD's, cassette and videotapes are held at the pillar before the TP shelves. All of this material can be borrowed for two day period.

There are photocopies of articles located on the shelves separating the computer area from the study desks. They can be borrowed for two days at a time, read in the Library or photocopied. Past exam papers, Reference Materials and General Fiction are also located on these shelves.

Library Equipment

Small Laminator:

Students can use the small laminator located in the Library. Laminating sheets can be purchased from the office and the laminating card can be obtained from the Librarian.

Photocopiers:

The Library currently has five photocopiers (four black and white and one colour) which may be used by all students of the college. Students can use the photocopiers with s student card, which has photocopying units added. Please obtain further credit from the Office or the re-evaluating machine in the Canteen. Disposable cards can be purchased from a machine located in the Canteen. Price is as follows:

              4.00 - 50 copies

This machine only takes €1 and €2 coins.

Should you encounter any difficulty, with your card or with the machine, please contact a member of staff.

Access-IT - Library Catalogue

All of the material held in the Library, with the exception of the journals, can be found on the computerised catalogue. This can be accessed through any of the computers in the college by clicking on the link on the Froebel Intranet page. There is also an OPAC machine located at the far end of the library which can only be used for accessing the library catalogue.

Using the Catalogue:

The catalogue can be searched

1. Click on Fast Find.

1. Simply enter author's name, title, subject or a keyword
   
   
2. Press the return key or enter
   
   
3. A list of possible items is returned
   
   
4. Use the mouse to highlight your choice and double click on the title to find out further details on the item such as its call number which will tell you the section where the item is located.
   
   
5. The opened record gives you the item's bibliographic details and will tell you the status of the item which will tell you if the item is available or checked out and when it is due back.

Query & Reservation Slips

They are located beside the OPAC. If you cannot find an item that is listed as being checked out on the computer you can fill out a query slip giving the details of the item. This can be then handed to the Library staff. All queries will be dealt with as quickly as possible by the library staff. If the item is located, it will be kept behind the desk for the student for a period of time.

If a book you need is checked out to someone else, you can reserve it by filling out a reservation slip and hand it to the Library staff. When the item is returned it will be held for a maximum of two days behind the desk with the slip attached.

Changes to Library Policy

Please check the Library Noticeboard for any changes to opening hours or lending policies. The Library is eager to respond to the academic needs of students. Please pass on information or suggestions to your student representatives and these can be passed onto the Library staff. All suggestions in this area will be considered.

We hope that your use of Froebel College Library will be both informative and beneficial to your academic studies.

Library Rules

1. Under-graduate students may borrow a maximum of six books, two posters, 1 big book and 1 audio item at any one time from the Library. Post-graduate students may borrow up to eight books, two posters, 1 big book and 1 audio item. Students studying the Masters in Special Education can borrow 8 books and Resource course students can borrow 4 books.
2. Students must use a student card to borrow items. You can only borrow by using your own card. If you take out books for someone else, remember that you will be held responsible for them. Under certain circumstances you can borrow without your card, just speak with the Librarian at the desk.
3. Books must be returned on or before the date stamped. People who have not returned books will be unable to borrow any more items and will be liable for fines charged at 0.50 cents per day for a two week loan and €2.50 per day for a short loan.
4. There is no eating or drinking allowed in the Library.
5. Mobile phones must be turned off before entering the Library.
6. Noise levels need to be at a minimum. The Library is a place of study.
7. Students are responsible for items lost or damaged when they are out on loan. Students will replace any item that is damaged or lost.
8. If you remove books from the shelves and are not sure where to return them please leave them on the trolley at the end of the Library.
9. Items cannot be removed from the Library that have not been issued on a card.