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When partnering with the Williams Center, there are a variety of potential relationships to explore. The center offers the following services, which vary on a case-by-case basis depending on the needs of the project and available resources: training, consultations, equipment loans, and collaboration on resource-seeking and presentation. Partners are responsible for providing interviews that meet the center's collection development criteria. Additionally, if they are able to provide transcription or indexing of interviews, this will speed up the center’s ability to process and provide public access to those interviews.
To that end, Williams Center staff will advise on best practices and will loan digital field recorders that record audio in preservation-quality format (.wav). The center will preserve the master files and create compressed user copies for access. We are also able to partner with additional repositories to ensure that several copies of the interview collections exist via multiple access points.
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Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Meetings with the Director or the Coordinator are by appointment only, unless you are in a working partnership with the center and are dropping off/picking up materials on a pre-arranged schedule. Coming soon: there is no appointment necessary to view the self-guided listening stations during office hours.
The T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History is on the 2nd floor of the Hill Memorial Library.
From the stairs: Go up the left staircase and take a left through the double doors and proceed to walk straigh through the large room. The center is in the back right corner of this large room.
From the elevators: Take the elevator down to “2,” take a right through the double doors and proceed to walk straigh through the large room. The center is in the back right corner of this large room.
The Williams Center chooses interviewees whose recollections best fit within one of our projects. If you know someone whose life experience fits within within one of our projects, let us know about that person and why you think their stories would contribute to our oral history collection. To nominate someone for an interview, complete and return our bio data form. However, due to limited resources, a better alternative may be to interview the person yourself. We can provide guidance and training in oral history techniques so that you can interview people whose stories and memories deserve preservation. To learn more about our trainings, please visit “Create an Oral History”
The Williams Center accepts audio and video recordings into our collection if they meet the following criteria: Each sound record must be 1) a recording of an oral history interview, preferably between two people; 2) in playable condition and of a recording quality sufficiently clear for transcription; 3) in a media format compatible with current center practice, which is in digital .wav format for audio (see *below regarding video); 4) on a topic that contributes to the existing collection of the center 5) accompanied by a legal release signed by the interviewee 6) accompanied by a legal release signed by the interviewer, signing over all rights, title, and interest to Louisiana State University; 7) begun with a recorded introduction including name of interviewee, name of interviewer, date and location of interview; and 8) conducted in accordance with the Oral History Association's "Principles and Best Practices for Oral History." We also take into consideration 9) how well the interviews are documented and the level and quality of their accompanying descriptions and 10) the inclusion of a transcription or thorough index, or funds dedicated to a transcription or thorough indexing. For more information on submitting projects for evaluation and to get the conversation started, please contact us at jabrah1@lsu.edu.
A collection is an interview, and as such, it is assigned a specific collection number, such as 4700.1234. There can be several recordings (indicated by Tape #) within one collection if the person was interviewed on more than one occasion by the same interviewer.
You can search the catalog record for all collections that have been fully processed. Hint: type key word plus “oral history” into the search box.
Additionally, many interviews are available online through the Louisiana Digital Library.
You can also search the series finding aids (also called abstracts), which are detailed descriptions of interviews at both the item level (interview) and the collection level (project or series). Unprocessed collections might not yet be listed online.
A processed collection has gone through several steps to become a cataloged record, and thus available to the researching public. Those steps include a thorough vetting of copyright and restrictions, a verbatim transcription or thorough indexing of the interview including time-stamped calibration, the opportunity for the interviewee to review the transcription, the creation of a finding aid that includes important metadata about the collection, the preservation and optimization of audio files, the creation of user-copies, and cataloging. This process requires the efforts of several LSU Libraries staff members and it has been calculated that for every hour of recording, it takes 35-50 hours to fully process. For a detailed breakdown of the stages and fees associated with archiving oral histories, please see The Oral History Budget. All processed collections are found in the catalog record and many are available on the Louisiana Digital Library.
An unprocessed collection is one that has not reached the final stage of completion and is not yet ready to be cataloged. Depending on the stage of processing, more or less of the interview will be available to patrons. See below for availability of unprocessed collections. An unprocessed collection is not in the catalog record or on the Louisiana Digital Library.
All unrestricted, fully-processed, cataloged collections are available to patrons. Audio and/or transcriptions and indexes can also be duplicated. However, restricted collections may be unavailable or have limited availability depending on the restrictions.
All requests for access to unprocessed collections require the Williams Center director's authorization. Any duplications of unprocessed interviews are not allowed beyond "Fair Use" unless this restriction is cleared by the director upon staff review of the item. Please note that the review process may take at least 1-2 business days, depending on the size of the collection.
There are various types of restrictions to collections that will be listed in the catalog record. The most common restriction is the one triggered by incomplete paperwork and this restriction often limits the interview to on-site access-only and limited duplication.
Other restrictions are set forth by the interviewer or the interviewee and are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Follow the procedures outlined via LSU Libraries Special Collections Public Services. Be sure to have the collection number, tape number, and the name of the interviewee handy to fill out the form. Please note-these copy requests are not processed by Williams Center personnel but through Public Services, as indicated in the above procedures.
The interview will be sent to you as PDF or a MP3.
Visit LSU Libraries Special Collections: since all cataloged interviews are housed in Special Collections at Hill Memorial Library, you may visit the Reading Room where staff will provide access to dedicated, self-guided public computer where you can access cataloged digital files during office hours.
The Louisiana Digital Library has selected interviews available.
You may request a copy of the interview. See above for instructions.
A copy of the interview may be jointly housed in another repository, so be sure to double check that information in the catalog record.
There are several options depending on various style guides.
[Last Name, First Name], interview by [interviewer first name and last name], audio recording, [date], [4700.####]. Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[First name last name] Oral History Interview, MSS 4700.####, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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LSU Libraries provides graduate study booths to patrons engaged in research which requires the prolonged consultation of significant quantities of library material. All graduate study booths have outlets and desk lamps. Faculty graduate study booths have wall outlets, and graduate graduate study booths have outlets in the base of the desk lamp under the shelf. 32 of the graduate study booths are for faculty use only; the rest are assigned on a first-come-first served basis to faculty and graduate students. Undergraduate students are not eligible to hold a graduate study booth. If no graduate study booths reserved for the use of a faculty member are available, the faculty member will be assigned a graduate graduate study booth and can request to be put on a waiting list for the next available faculty graduate study booth. graduate study booth assignments to faculty expire at the end of the academic year, graduate study booth assignments to graduate students at the end of each semester.
- Application for a graduate study booth may be made at any time during the academic year at the LSU Libraries Access Services Desk, by e-mailing the graduate study booth manager directly or by submitting the Study graduate study booth Request Form at the bottom of this window.
- Patrons to whom graduate study booths are assigned will be notified by an e-mail sent to their myLSU account. If no graduate study booths are available, patrons are placed on a waiting list until one becomes available or they request to be removed from the list. The graduate study booth will be held for the patron for two weeks. If the key is not picked up within that time, the graduate study booth will be offered to the next person on the waiting list.
- Each graduate study booth holder will be issued a key after presenting a copy of the notification e-mail, signing that they are in receipt of a copy of the carrel regulations, and paying a $10.00 deposit at the checkout desk in Room 241. A credit will be issued to the patron's account at the Bursar's Office upon the return of the key.
- Toward the end of the graduate study booth reservation period, patrons will be sent a renewal notice via e-mail. Keys for non-renewed graduate study booths are due 2 weeks after the end of the reservation period. Failure to return the key on time or to respond to the renewal notification in a timely fashion will result in the loss of the graduate study booth and the forfeiture of the key deposit.
- Carrel holders should notify the graduate study booth manager as soon as they no longer need the space.
- No cooking or household appliances allowed in the graduate study booths.
- Carrels are intended for reading and research only. They are not to be used for conference or office space.
- A graduate study booth may be used only by the person to whom it is assigned.
- Nothing should be affixed or installed on any surface of the graduate study booth in a way that would cause permanent damage. The use of screws, nails or permanent adhesives is therefore forbidden. Any other materials not specified in this regulation will be subject to review by Library Management.
- No additional locks may be installed.
- Do not block air conditioner vents near graduate study booths.
- The Library cannot be held responsible for personal property left in any graduate study booth. Thieves occasionally break into graduate study booths and remove items.
- Do not leave any items or papers in the graduate study booth.
Carrels must be renewed within two weeks of receiving a renewal notice! Only properly registered students whose library privileges have not expired or been revoked will be permitted to keep their graduate study booth assignments!
Violation of any of these regulations will result in the revocation of the graduate study booth assignment.
- Library materials cannot be charged directly to a graduate study booth.
- Library materials charged to the graduate study booth holder may be left in the graduate study booth, with the understanding that, should they be stolen from the graduate study booth, the patron, not the library, is responsible for all fines and replacement costs for the item.
- Carrels are checked biweekly for uncharged materials. Any such items will be removed from the graduate study booth and reshelved. Library staff will notify the patron about the removal, explaining why it was done. If a graduate study booth holder continually leaves uncharged items in the graduate study booth, the assignment will be revoked.
Study booths can be reserved for a semester by graduate students. A $10.00 refundable key deposit is required. However, study booths are always in high demand and current applicants may be placed on a wait-list.
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Reserve Item Loan Periods
- 2 hours - Building Use Only
- 2 hours - Overnight
- 1-Day Reserve
- 3-Day Reserve
- 7-day Reserve
Policies
- LSU Libraries reserve units will place materials on course reserve that comply with copyright law and its own internal policies.
- Books that are currently checked out need to be recalled by the Reserve Desk, not the faculty member.
- Any books that the library does not own can be ordered by the Reserve Desk.
- All items will be removed from Reserve at the end of each semester
Undergraduate students
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Patrons
- Students at LSU-BR, LSU Online, and LSU-SVM.
- Faculty and faculty emeriti at LSU-BR and LSU-SVM.
Note: If you are not eligible, contact the interlibrary loan office at a library with which you are affiliated (a public library or another university). Patrons at LSU Law School should use the LSU Law Library's Interlibrary Loan.
Material Types
- Articles
- Books
- Book Chapters
- Audio-visual Materials
- Music Scores
- Thesis/Dissertations
- Microfilm
- Reports
- Conference Proceedings
- And more!
Limitations
- Requested material must be used to support academic research.
- For questions about submitting a large or complex request, email Interlibrary Loan at libilb@lsu.edu.
- Textbooks can be ordered through interlibrary loan, but it is not recommended because few libraries carry them, and they are typically due before the end of the semester. When ordering a textbook you will need all semester, plan to place a request for a second copy a few weeks before the due date of your first copy.
- E-books may be requested through Interlibrary Loan but are often unavailable due to publisher restrictions. If unavailable, we will contact you and offer to borrow it in print.
- Recently published books may not be immediately available from other libraries. If so, we will offer to hold your request until the item becomes available.
Library materials are used by thousands of people every year. Everyone deserves to have materials in good condition. Please do your part!
- Articles and Book Chapters are delivered in PDF format and are available for download on your interlibrary loan account for 30 days.
One article or book chapter allowed per request. - Place requests automatically through a Discovery search on the library homepage. When the library does not hold the material, a “Request though Interlibrary Loan” option appears beneath the Discovery search result. If the item is not found in Discovery, request it on your interlibrary loan account using the “Article” or “Book Chapter” form.
- To access previously received articles from your interlibrary loan account, choose "View/Download Electronically Received Articles." Material will be available for 30 days.
- US Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) applies to materials requested through Interlibrary Loan. One of the conditions of the law is that the copy cannot be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research."
- You will be notified by email when your request arrives. Pick it up at the Checkout Desk, 2nd Floor, Main Library. A picture ID is required.
- Authorize others to pick up your materials by adding them as Authorized Users on your interlibrary loan account. Login to your account. Under “Tools,” click “Change User Information” and under “Authorized User” type the names of those you authorize to check out your materials. Authorized Users must present a picture ID when picking up materials.
- Due dates and due date extensions (renewals) are set by the lending library and will vary.
- Abide by the conditions printed on the book band, found on the cover of the loaned material.
- Keep loans marked “Library Use Only” in the library during use. This restriction is imposed by the lending library. Rare, manuscript, fragile, reference, genealogical, and audio-visual material requests are often designated “Library Use Only.”
- To cancel a request for a physical item, email our office at libill@lsu.edu.
Request materials from LSU Libraries through your interlibrary loan account. Borrowing books from other libraries requires transit time. A minimum of 2 to 3 weeks is usually required, and you are responsible for the cost of shipping the material back to LSU Library. For this reason, we recommend using your local library’s ILL service for physical items and using LSU Libraries’ Interlibrary Loan service for journal articles and book chapters, which are delivered digitally.
Books (and other physical materials)
- Books usually arrive in 3–10 business days. There are exceptions, so place your request well in advance of your deadline. We recommend at least 2 weeks ahead of your deadline.
Journal Articles and Book Chapters
- Journal articles usually arrive in about 24 hours. There are exceptions, so place your request well in advance. We recommend at least 1 week ahead of your deadline.
Request a renewal to extend your due date. Renewal requests can be made beginning 10 days before the due date and cannot be requested after the due date has passed. One renewal request per loan. Approval and length of extension is determined by the lending library.
To request a renewal:
- Logon to your ILL account.
- Under "View Your Requests" click “Checked Out /Renew.”
- Click the transaction number (TN) of the item you want to renew.
- If the item is eligible for renewal (10 days or fewer before due date) click the “Renew Request” link in red.
- The new due date is initially a three-day extension of the original due date. If the lender grants a renewal, you will receive an email with the new due date. If you do not, contact Interlibrary Loan to check on the progress of the renewal, or return the loan on the three-day extended due date.
Also known as document delivery.
Books
- Use your ILL account to request LSU Library’s local materials. We retrieve them and notify you when they are ready for pickup at the Checkout Desk. Faculty and Staff have the option to have local and interlibrary loan books delivered to their departmental mailbox.
Journal Articles and Book Chapters
- Use your ILL account to request chapters and journal articles LSU Library holds in print. When you request an article or book chapter LSU Library holds in print, we will scan it and provide the PDF on your interlibrary loan account.
- Our Book Delivery service delivers Main Library and Interlibrary Loan items to departmental mailboxes. Faculty and Staff at LSU-Baton Rouge’s main campus are eligible for book delivery.
- To place a Book Delivery request, logon to your interlibrary loan account and choose “Book” from the left menu. Complete the request form and under “Delivery Method” choose “Deliver to Departmental Mailbox.” We will notify you when the item is out for delivery and it will automatically be checked out to your ILL account. Book deliveries must be returned to LSU Library. We do not offer a pickup service.
Cost
LSU Libraries provides Interlibrary Loan services free of charge to eligible LSU patrons, with the following exception:
- LSU Libraries subsidizes orders for up to $65.00. If the order exceeds $65.00, the patron will be notified and given the option to pay the excess amount to proceed with the request. Payment can be made via the patron's LSU departmental account, or by credit card.
Overdue, Damaged, and Lost Items
- Charges for overdue, damaged, and lost items are determined by the lending library.
- When the lender charges for overdue, damaged, or lost interlibrary loan items, LSU Libraries charges an additional $30.00 processing fee, in addition to the lender’s fee.
- Notify the ILL Department Head immediately about lost, stolen, or damaged items, 225-578-6722, libilb@lsu.edu, to prevent your library privileges from being blocked.
Overdue Notices
Patrons receive the following notifications for checked out physical items:
- Due Soon Notice sent during the week before the item is due.
- First Overdue Notice sent during the first week that the item is past due.
- Second Overdue Notice sent during second week that the item is past due, and ILL privileges blocked.
- Third Overdue Notice sent during the third week that the item is past due, additional LSU Library privileges blocked.
Types of Requests
- Requests received via OCLC are preferred. We loan to most non-profit libraries and museums. We reserve the right to deny any request.
- Requests by email and ALA form are accepted (if there is no OCLC access). These requests must include a complete citation, as well as the email and shipping address of the designated library.
- We do not accept personal requests from non-patrons; interlibrary loan requests must come via another library’s interlibrary loan office or related agency.
Loan Policies
- Loan Period
- Material is due back 120 days from the date the request was shipped.
- Renewals
- No renewals are allowed.
- Overdue Notices
- One overdue notice will be sent each month for the first three months that the material is past due.
- At four months past due (or earlier if requested by borrower), the first invoice will be sent, and the borrowing library will be blocked.
Standard Charge: $30.00 Processing Fee + $70.00 Replacement Fee* = $100 Total Charge
*Replacement fee may be greater depending upon cost and ease of replacement. - Once material has been received back from the borrower and/or invoice has been paid, ILL privileges will be restored. Fees may be reduced depending upon circumstances of return.
- Types of Materials Not Loaned
- Rare Items
- Reserve Materials
- Material that has been in the collection less than four months
- U.S. Census Materials
- Micro-Opaque, Micro-Cards, Micro-Guides
- LPs (vinyl records)
- Most printed material is housed in Special Collections in Hill Library.
- Material held by the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Library (VETMED). It is a separate library. Their borrowing code is LBD.
- Material held by the LSU Law Library. It is a separate library. Their borrowing code is LUL.
ILL Charges
- Loans
- $20.00 (plus shipping for international libraries)
- Articles
- $15.00
- Lost Items
- The lost item charge is the cost of the item plus a $30.00 processing fee. If a replacement cost cannot be determined, the charge will be $70.00 plus the $30.00 processing fee, for a total of $100.00.
- Mailing
- Loans are shipped by US mail at USPS Library Rate unless another shipping method is required by a library or consortium.
- Payment Methods
- IFM (preferred)
- Credit card
- IFLA Voucher
- Network Affiliations
- Reciprocating network affiliates are exempt from charges.
- RapidILL, ASERL, SEC, and SOLINE (exempt from fee for "returnables" only)
International Libraries
International requests should be submitted through OCLC. If your library does not have access to OCLC, email the request to: libill@lsu.edu
The total cost is our lending fee, plus shipping. Borrowing libraries will be notified beforehand of the total cost and asked to agree. OCLC IFM payment is preferred. For non-OCLC requests, payment by IFLA voucher or credit card is accepted.
Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States
https://www.ala.org/rusa/interlibrary-loan-code-united-states-explanatory-text
Undergraduate students
Faculty
Staff
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