Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
1. How to obtain the account and password for logging in to the “Personal Library” on the library homepage? What will it do after logging in? What should I do if I can’t log in?
2. Some books can be found available on the library website, but they cannot be found in the library. What’s the matter? How can I find it easily and quickly?
3. There is an error when accessing the database, what happened?
4.There is a full text link on the Web of Science or EI. Why does it show that the article has access permission after clicking it, but it cannot be downloaded?
5. How can I access library resources from off-campus?
6.Will the library purchase books suggested by readers? How long does it usually take to purchase it?
7. How to compensate for lost books?
8. What should I do if the borrowed books are overdue?

10.What should I do if the borrowed book is overdue during the winter and summer vacations?
11. How to download the CD attached to the book?
12. What is Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan?
13. What is sci-tech novelty retrieval?

1. How to obtain the account and password for logging in to the “Personal Library” on the library homepage? What will it do after logging in? What should I do if I can’t log in?
1. Use USTC CAS system to log in. The user name is your GID or salary ID, student ID (letters should be capitalized). When logging in for the first time or forgetting the password, please click “Retrieve Password”.
2. You can not receive the book recall email until the email address is verified.
3. If the previous account is cancelled due to switching identity, the reader will need to use the new account to log in to “My Library” again, and verify the email address again, otherwise the reader will not be able to receive the book recall email.
After logging in, you can check your borrowing status online, especially the borrowing period of each book, so that you can return the books in time. After filling in the detailed information such as email address, you will also receive a book expiration reminder email. In addition, you can customize the arrivals of your favorite types of new books, so that you can borrow new books as soon as possible.
If you have any questions about the “Personal Library”, please consult Teacher Wang (63602332, weiw@ustc.edu.cn).

2. Some books can be found available on the library website, but they cannot be found in the library. What’s the matter? How can I find it easily and quickly?
Possible reasons:
The search method is incorrect;
Other readers randomly place or hide the books after taking the books from the bookshelves;
The book may have been returned to the library, but has not been sorted and put back to the bookshelves;
The book has just been borrowed or has been taken away by other readers.
The solution:You can try to find it in a nearby location first, or directly consult the staff in the library, and they will help you find it or give corresponding explanations.

3. There is an error when accessing the database, what happened?
If you can access the database previously, it might be the temporary access failure of the database. Please wait for a while and try it again later. If it still does not work, please contact the relevant librarian who will give you a satisfactory answer;
If it is the first time to use, please click to view the detailed introduction in the database description page or the related usage guide to see if you need to enter the user name and password;
In addition, excessive downloads of document can also cause this problem. You can try to change the overseas port of Netcom or use other fixed IP that can go abroad.
Finally, it is recommended that you try to use the 1st or 9th port of Netcom to access the resources.

4. There is a full text link on the Web of Science or EI. Why does it show that the article has access permission after clicking it, but it cannot be downloaded?
The full-text link of Web of Science points to a specific database resource, which may have limited access to the full-text due to some other reasons, such as overloads, data updates, etc. Sometimes a certain journal can only be partially accessed with the full text. In short, each database can provide different access permissions according to different types, of journals, the number of years and the flow control.
Taking Wiley database as an example, the access to the full text of journals will have different open permissions according to the journal type、publication year、volume number、issue number and other factors. Papers marked with and can be downloaded to the full text, otherwise cannot be downloaded to the full text.

5. How can I access library resources from off-campus?
The library provides methods for off-campus access to library electronic resources such as PPTP VPN/OpenVPN access, WebVPN access, Shibboleth access, database roaming, free short-term off-campus access, and school temporary proxy server access.
For details: Library Home Page-Electronic Resources -Guide to Accessing Electronic Database Resources Off-campus(链接)

6. .Will the library purchase books suggested by readers? How long does it usually take to purchase it?
Generally, books recommended by readers have a high probability of being purchased as long as the reasons are sufficient and reasonable. In addition, if the books in the book order list are recommended, there will be a high possibility of ordering.
The current best recommendation method can be found in the “Suggest a Purchase” on the library homepage. The relevant interviewers will review all the recommendation. Whether the suggested book is purchased or not the recommender will receive a reply . It takes a certain amount of time for a book to be ordered and put on the shelves, so readers who recommend the purchase should wait with patience.
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7. How to compensate for lost books?
Readers can ccompensate for the loss by purchasing a copy of the same or reprinted book, and
an additional 5 yuan processing fee will be charged. If you can’t make it, you will generally compensate at 3 to 5 times the original price. For details, please refer to the relevant regulations in the User Guide.
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8. What should I do if the borrowed books are overdue?
It charges 0.05 yuan per item per day. When accumulative fee exceeds 10 yuan, readers cannot borrow books. Books can only be borrowed after paying off.

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10. What should I do if the borrowed book is overdue during the winter and summer vacations?
If the return date falls in winter or summer vacation, it will be automatically postponed to a date after the beginning of next semester which is generally a few days later than the last day of the summer and winter vacation.

11. How to download the CD attached to the book?
At present, the information of the CD attached to the book has been integrated in OPAC System. The detailed page of a certain book will display the following mark .After clicking it, you can access the CD and have a download.

12. What are Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan?
Document delivery is to request the scanning or copying service of original documents from domestic and foreign libraries or document providers. When you cannot find the full text of the required documents in library collections and electronic resources, you can use the document delivery service;
Interlibrary loan is a direct borrowing service for printed books. For example, readers can borrow books from the National Library of China by mail.
At present, the Library of USTC has established a cooperative relationship of document delivery and interlibrary loan with National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Science (CSDL), China Academic Humanities and Social Sciences Library (CASHL), the Tsinghua University Library, the National Library of China, and the Shanghai Library. Readers can obtain various documents through these document systems.
Document delivery and interlibrary loan are for better resource sharing, and not for profit, so only the actual document delivery fee is charged. As a document service intermediary, the USTC Library does not charge any additional fees and will provide a 50% subsidy.
For details: Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan. (链接)

13. What is sci-tech novelty retrieval?
Science and Technology Novelty retrieval is established by the Ministry of Science and Technology to avoid the duplication of scientific research projects and to objectively and correctly distinguish the novelty and advancement of scientific and technological achievements. It is an effective way for all kinds of scientific and technological institutions and factories to understand relevant scientific and technological information before making scientific and technological project decisions or review. It plays an important role in making scientific and rational decisions and avoiding repeated investment and research. Therefore, it has been stipulated by the Ministry of Science and Technology as one of the necessary procedures before the evaluation of all science and technology projects.
The USTC Science and Technology Novelty Retrieval and Consultation Center relies on a powerful science and technology literature database, and provides Sci-Tech novelty retrieval and consultstion services for various projects to users across the country.
For details, please refer to: Library Homepage-Sci-Tech Novelty Retrieval.(链接)