International Students : Library Services

Finding Materials

If you feel overwhelmed finding materials on your own, be sure to use Fondren’s many resources to help you find what you need. 

OneSearch is the best place to start. Use OneSearch to browse Fondren’s materials by subject, author, title, and more. You can access online copies of materials with campus wi-fi, and you can use this link to get off-campus access to materials. When you’ve located your book/resource, use the “Get it” tab to view its call number and location on a floor map. If you need more information about using OneSearch, check out Fondren 101 to help you use OneSearch to its fullest. 

You can find your required course materials through Fondren, too! If your professor has registered course books in the library, check them out at the course reserves shelf next to the ILL desk, or look at Course Materials in OneSearch.

When the material needed is not in Fondren’s collection, use the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system to request books from other libraries. You may request physical items or online PDFs. 

If you need assistance or have questions, don’t hesitate to ask a librarian! When trying to find a book that is not where it's supposed to be, visit the service desk on the first floor for on-site help or submit a Missing Item Search Request form. You can also ask questions online using the chat function on the Fondren Library website.

Technology

Fondren has a wealth of technology services and access for students. The first and second floors of the library offer access to PCs and Macs. The first floor also features large monitors that you can connect your laptop to, as well as scanners, black-and-white printers, and color printers, all of which are available to Rice ID holders. Students may also borrow chargers, HDMI cables, DVD players, and more at the service desk. 

The library also supports students’ creative pursuits. Borrow A/V equipment, such as cameras, from the Digital Media Commons (DMC). Or, use the DMC’s computer stations, which provide access to audio, video, and graphics editing software. To record audio or video, use the DMC’s studios or reserve the A/V studio study room on the third floor. 

Fondren offers training, access, and consultations for ArcGIS software. Learn how to use ArcGIS for research projects and coursework on the equipped computers in the GIS/Data Center (GDC).  The Research Data Services Department offers workshops and consultations in R programming, Excel, data visualization, Python, and other related topics.  

Research Support

We understand that starting your research can be overwhelming, so Fondren offers a range of services to support your research needs. 

Subject librarians have specialized knowledge of a subject area and offer consultations to assist you if you get stuck with your research or even to get started. There are almost fifty subjects that Fondren’s subject librarians/ specialists can help you with. Another resource for finding materials relevant to your coursework or research is a research guide. Curated by subject librarians, research guides provide a centralized location for journals, databases, eBooks, and digitized collections related to a specific subject. 

Additionally, Fondren has centers within the library for research support and data access. The Woodson Center houses Fondren’s archives, which are available for scanning and viewing by appointment. The Kelley Center holds a vast collection of maps, microforms, microfiches, and government information, including federal regulations. They also offer political literacy classes and support in acquiring government data sets and statistics for research.

Writing and Citation

The Center of Academic and Professional Communication (CAPC) offers workshops, body doubling sessions, writing consultations, and presentation feedback sessions to support and improve students’ communication skills. Book an appointment at CAPC for feedback on writing and communication. For citation support, sign up for the Research Data Services or the DMC’s workshops on Zotero, which is a citation and research organization software. Additionally, check out the library’s calendar of events for all of Fondren’s workshops and leisure activities.