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Accessing the Kaplan Higher Education Online Library
- Go to the Kaplan College website (http://www.kaplancollege.edu) and log in.
- Click on the"Online Library" tab, near the top of the screen.
- On the Online Library page, you will see a box containing your Kaplan ID number. Make a note of this number. You will need it to use the library.
- Click on "Enter the UAH Salmon Library." This will take you to the Kaplan Higher Education Online Library main page (http://libsys.uah.edu/kaplan).
- You can bookmark the Online Library main page (save to Favorites).
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How to log in
You must log in to access certain library resources.
When prompted, enter your last name and Kaplan ID number. (see above).
Click on the "Login" button to complete the log in process.
If you have questions about your ID, send an email to kaplan@email.uah.edu, Subject: Kaplan ID problem. Include your full name and any ID you have been issued by Kaplan. Include your mailing address, an email address, and phone number(s).
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Library Resources
Electronic Books
The Kaplan Higher Education Online Library has over 21,000 e-books in the electronic collection via NetLibrary. To access NetLibrary:
1. Go to the Kaplan Higher Education Online Library (http://libsys.uah.edu/kaplan) and
click "Electronic Books."
2. When prompted, enter your last name and Kaplan ID number, then click the “Login” button.
3. The first time you use NetLibrary, you must create a user account. To create a user account (if you are already in NetLibrary):
• On the right of the screen, click on the link labeled "create an account" within the log in box.
• Fill in the information and submit the form.
• Make a note of your user name and password and keep it in a safe place. We won't be able to access your user name/password for you, should you forget it!
• You will be asked to read the Terms of Use Agreement. Once you've read that, click on "accept" to continue.
• You are now ready to search for E-Books. You can browse/read books online. You may also choose to create a virtual library shelf to place your favorite books. Note that we CANNOT send you E-Books via email or in a paper format. You MUST access them online yourself.
• Click on the Help tab in NetLibrary for more online help.
• Type your Kaplan ID in the box and click the "Login" button. (See above for information about your Kaplan ID in "Accessing the Kaplan Higher Education Online Library.")
• This will log you into the library catalog. Here you can search for books in the UAH collection and request books via our online form. You can search for books in the UAH collection by title, author, subject, etc.
• Online help is available by clicking on the "Help" button at the top of the page.
• In addition to traditional books, the catalog also includes e-book listings. If the book indicates that the location is "internet," it is an e-book and available to you instantly online in NetLibrary. See the "Electronic Books" section above for more information above.
• Traditional, hardbound books that UAH owns and are located physically in the collection CANNOT be sent via email or made available to you electronically for download. However, you may request that we ship them to you.
• Click on Request Material
• Click on Book Request
• Fill in the appropriate information (author, title, etc.).
• It is very important that we have your full mailing address on every request. Incomplete information will delay the filling of your request.
• We usually ship via UPS, which requires a signature. You may choose to have your book(s) delivered to your home or your place of business, whichever is easier for obtaining a signature on delivery. UPS will not leave a package without a signature.
• You may have up to 12 books checked out at any given time.
For books in the UAH collection, we try to ship them via UPS Ground the same day we receive your written request, presuming the book is not checked out to another person. We CANNOT take book or article requests over the phone. All requests must be submitted in writing via the request form or via email to kaplan@email.uah.edu.
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b. Interlibrary Loan Books
If you fail to locate a particular book in the UAH collection, you may still request it from us. We will borrow a copy from another library (through Interlibrary Loan) and send it to you. Follow the same request format as above; be sure to fill in the information boxes as completely as possible.
Because we order the books from other libraries, we cannot predict how quickly they will send the books to us or how soon it will be delivered to you. It can take from 7 to 21 days for the book to arrive at UAH, sometimes more, sometimes less. We try to order from libraries that will send items quickly. When we order the book, we will send an email to you notifying you that the book has been ordered and reminding you of the possible time frame for its arrival. Once the books arrive at the UAH library, we will forward them to you via UPS Ground.
NOTE: Books borrowed from another library through Interlibrary Loan CANNOT be shipped outside the United States. Students living outside the United States may borrow books from the UAH collection but cannot borrow Interlibrary Loan books. If you need only a particular chapter or selected pages (no more than 25 percent of a book may be copied under federal Copyright Law), we may be able to scan those and send them to you via email.
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c. Book Loan Periods
Books that belong to UAH can be checked out for 90 days, with a possible 90-day renewal.
Interlibrary Loan books have a much shorter due date, usually 21 days maximum. We cannot control the due date for items which belong to other libraries and must abide by their assigned due dates. Returning Interlibrary Loan books on time helps us to maintain the valuable relationships with the lenders in our lending system.
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d. Overdue Fines
Overdue fines accrue at the rate of 25 cents per item per day for UAH books and $1.00 a day per day for Interlibrary Loan books. After 28 days, the book is declared "lost" and a fine of $65.00 is imposed. Once a "lost" book is returned, the $65 fine is dropped but you are still responsible for the overdue fine. Failure to pay overdue fines will result in a loss of your library privileges.
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Electronic Articles
Go to the Kaplan Higher Education Online Library (http://libsys.uah.edu/kaplan)
and click on "Electronic Articles."
Click on the database of your choice to begin searching for articles.
When prompted, enter your last name and Kaplan ID number, then click the “Login” button.
You may find it helpful to begin your search in Academic Search Elite. It is an excellent general information databases.
Example of an Article Search
To search for articles about online education:
1. Choose the database Academic Search Elite by clicking on the link.
2. In the Keyword Search box, type: online education
3. Click on Search
You will find several "hits". The results will fall into two categories:
• full text (the entire article is available onscreen, as indicated by the icons with "PDF Full Text" or "HTML Full Text"), or
• abstract (a short description of the article).
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a. Full Text Article
You have searched a database and found some material that interests you. What do you next?
For a full-text article, you can:
• Read it onscreen
• Print it
• Download it to your hard drive
• Email it to your email account
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b. Article Abstract
If you find only the abstract of an article, you can read, print, or download it as explained above.
If you only find an abstract, don't give up! You can search the other databases to discover if any of them contain the full-text version of the article. While the databases contain many of the same articles, each database has its own focus and might contain the full-text version of articles not held by the other databases. Example: You searched Computer Source with ASE and found only an abstract that sounds interesting. You want to read the entire article. The next section (Time-Saving Tips) describes a shortcut for searching the other databases.
Before you request an article from us, be sure to search all the appropriate full-text databases. If you find it in full-text format in another database, you can access it instantly—you don't have to wait for us to send it to you, and your search is finished. See the Time-Saving Tips steps below to discover if a journal is full text in another database.
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c. Time-Saving Tips—
Finding full-text material in the databases
If you know the journal title, follow these steps to discover if the journal is held in one of the full-text databases:
First, log in to the Online Library. If you are not already logged in, you will be prompted to do so when you attempt to access the online databases.
• Click on "Electronic Articles"
• Scroll down and click on FINS Direct
• Once on the FINS page, type the journal title (NOT the article title) in the text box and click "Search."
• If results are returned, you will see the beginning/ending dates and the database name where you can find the journal in full text. The journal might be available in more than one database.
If you are unable to find the full text of an article that you would like to read, you may request a copy of the article from the Kaplan Higher Education Online Library. However, before you request an article, be sure to search all the appropriate full-text databases. If you find it in full-text format in another database, you can access it instantly—you don't have to wait for us to send it to you, and your search is finished.
Note: We will return your email requests if it becomes apparent that you did not search the databases available to you before requesting articles from the library. See the Time Saving Tips shortcut above.
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d. When full-text is not available online
Once you have searched all the appropriate databases and had no success, only then should you request the article via email. To send an email request, simply copy and paste the abstract into an email. You may submit multiple requests per email. The email address is: kaplan@email.uah.edu. Your email MUST include:
1. Your full name on all requests
2. As complete a citation as possible including author, title, journal title, volume, issue, date, pages, ISSN, etc.
3. Do NOT send attachments
Most articles are sent as email attachments in PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader (downloadable for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html) on your computer to open and read the attachments. These files are large and many free email accounts (Hotmail, Excite, etc.) will reject them because they exceed their imposed size limitations. If you have an alternate email address, please supply it when making your request. Otherwise your request may be delayed, or it may be impossible to send via email. If you have problems opening a PDF file, try the following:
1. Make sure you have the latest version of the Reader
2. Uninstall and reinstall Reader
3. Contact us if the problem persists
How long does it take for articles to be shipped to me?
If the articles are in the UAH collection, plan on 2-5 business days.
If we order the articles from other libraries through the Interlibrary Loan system, we can't predict how quickly they will send the materials to us. We try to order from libraries that will send items quickly. It can take from 7 to 21 days for the article to arrive here, sometimes more, sometimes less. When we order the article, we will send an email to you notifying you that the article has been ordered and reminding you of the possible time frame for its arrival. Once the article arrives at the UAH library, we forward them to you via email attachment. See the paragraph above for information on your email service and PDF files.
We CANNOT take book or article requests over the phone. All requests must be submitted in writing via the request form or via email to kaplan@email.uah.edu.
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Course Reserves
Some courses have additional reading material on reserve in the Kaplan Higher Education Online Library.
If an item is on reserve it will be housed under "Course Reserves."
To access reserve items:
• Go to the Kaplan Higher Education Online Library (http://libsys.uah.edu/kaplan)
• Click on "Course Reserves."
• Click on Electronic Reserves and Course Materials. This link will take you to the "Main Course Index" page.
• On the "Main Course Index" page, locate the "Select a Department" drop-down menu. Under “Select a Department”, choose the appropriate department for your course (Financial Planning, etc.). Click “Go.” You will get a list of courses in the department that you selected.
• Choose the appropriate course.
• Enter the course password (this password is posted in your classroom).
• Choose the appropriate item from the reserve list. NOTE: Some items are not yet available due to copyright clearance. There is a message at the top of each course listing notifying you that some items may not be available. If you receive a message saying “This item is password protected,” the item is not yet available.
• After accessing the item, save it to your computer and/or print it. Be aware that these documents are very large. Give your computer time to complete the download. Open only one document at a time.
Dissertations
Most dissertations have a copy stored at UMI, the North American repository for scholarly writing. You can purchase a copy of a UMI dissertation for a fee ($25 and up).
Usually, another copy can be found in the library of the university where the author did their degree work. If that university library will lend dissertations (some will not, because they are too difficult to replace), you can borrow a copy of a library-held dissertation, via Interlibrary Loan. You pay only the shipping cost to return the borrowed dissertation to the UAH library, roughly $6.00 –to $9.00 per dissertation.
Many times, these two locations have the only existing copies available to the public.
How do I access the Dissertation Abstracts database to find listings of dissertations?
Use the free Online Search of Dissertation Abstracts database at http://www.umi.com. Note that this only covers the previous two years. You will find abstracts (short descriptions) of dissertations. Many also include a 24-page preview of the dissertation. You will NOT find complete dissertations.
To search online:
Go to http://www.umi.com
• Click on Dissertation Services (on the right of the screen)
• Click on ProQuest Digital Dissertations
• Follow on-screen instructions. (Beginning here allows you to exhaust the free resources available online. This will also help you hone your searching skills, and acquaint you with current dissertations.)
After searching for free online dissertations, if you need to search for dissertations earlier than the previous two years, email the search terms (as narrowed-down as possible) to kaplan@email.uah.edu, and we will do the search for you. We will send the search results (abstracts) to you via email.
How do I obtain a copy of a dissertation?
To borrow a copy of a dissertation, send us the information (author, title, year, etc.) via email (kaplan@email.uah.edu) and we will try to obtain a copy via interlibrary loan. You pay only the shipping cost to return the borrowed dissertation to the UAH library, roughly $6.00 to $9.00 per dissertation.
To purchase a copy of a dissertation:
• Go to http://www.umi.com
• Click on Dissertation Services (on the right of the screen).
• Click on Dissertation Express.
• Follow the instructions.
• The library CANNOT purchase dissertations for you. You must purchase them yourself online ($25.00 and up).
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Additional Resources–
Do not overlook a valuable resource: your local library! If you have access to one or more libraries in your area, take advantage of their services. You may find that using a local library is more efficient, simply because of the proximity to your home. This is especially true if you are ordering books, which are shipped via UPS.
It is important that you establish a relationship with your local library as you prepare research projects for your degree requirements. Some important questions to ask your local public library or college/university library include:
1. What is the cost for obtaining library access and/or a library card?
2. What services will I have access to?
3. Can I check out books?
4. What is the length of the checkout period for books?
5. Will I have electronic access to the library from off-campus, via my computer? If so, does this include electronic databases and the library catalog?
6. If the local library does not own the material I need, can it obtain books/articles from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan, and if so, what is the cost for Interlibrary Loan?
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Costs
Kaplan learners are responsible for the shipping costs to return borrowed books to the UAH Library in Huntsville, Alabama. This and any overdue fines or lost-book fines you might incur, is the only cost involved when using the UAH Library. Articles sent to you are yours to keep for free.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What services does the library provide?
A: Kaplan students can search for and request books; search for and download or request articles, read e-books online, and have online access to items on reserve.
Q: If the item I need is not in the UAH collection, can I still obtain it?
A: Yes. We can borrow items from another library through Interlibrary Loan. Be aware that it usually takes longer to ship books requested through Interlibrary Loan.
Q: How are library materials sent to me?
A: Books are shipped via UPS, with a signature required. Articles are sent as email attachments in PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader (downloadable for free) on your computer to open and read the attachments. These files are large, and many free email accounts (Hotmail, Excite, etc.) will reject them because they exceed their imposed size limitations. If this happens, we will request that you provide us with an alternate email address, or open a free account with a service allowing larger files. We have several we can recommend.
Q: How long does it take for books to be shipped to me?
A: For UAH books—We try to ship them via UPS Ground the same day that we receive your written request, presuming the book is not checked out to another person.
For Interlibrary Loan books—We cannot guarantee how long this takes. We order the books from other libraries, and can't predict how quickly they will send the books to us. It can take from 7 to 21 days for the book to arrive here, sometimes more, sometimes less. We try to order from libraries that will send items quickly. Once the books arrive at the UAH library, we forward them to you via UPS Ground.
Q: Why do I get an error message when I try to open a PDF file sent from the library?
A: Most likely, you don't have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. To download the latest version of Adobe, go to: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html and follow the instructions.
Q: What is the loan period?
A: UAH books can be loaned for 90 days, with a possible 90-day renewal. Interlibrary Loan books usually can be loaned for only 21 days, with no renewal. (The due date is controlled by the lending library.)
Q: What are the charges for overdue books?
A: The overdue charge for UAH books is 25 cents per item, per day. The charge for Interlibrary Loan books is $1 per item, per day overdue.
Q: What is the cost for using the UAH library?
A: Students must pay the shipping cost to return borrowed books to the library, and are responsible for paying any overdue fines. All other services are free, and articles are yours to keep.
Q: What are the library hours?
A: Staff are present 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday. However, students have nearly uninterrupted access to the library databases via the website. NOTE: From 2:00 am to 3:30 am Central Time, the catalog (Traditional Books) is closed for daily maintenance.
Q: I use the services of my local library. Is that allowed?
A: Absolutely! If you have local service, make the most of it. Use the best of what you have locally, and the best of what we can provide to you.
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Requesting Materials From Library Services
I. Request Articles
Once you have searched all the appropriate databases and had no success, ONLY THEN should you request the article from us via email. To send an email request, simply copy/paste the abstract into an email. You may submit multiple requests per email. The email address is: kaplan@email.uah.edu. Your email MUST include:
- your full name on all requests
- as complete a citation as possible including author/title/journal title/volume/issue/date/pages/ISSN/etc.
Most articles are sent as email attachments in PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader (downloadable for free: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html) on your computer to open/read the attachments. These files are large and many free email accounts (Hotmail, Excite, etc.) will reject them because they exceed their imposed size limitations. If you have an alternate email address, please supply it when making your request. Otherwise your request may be delayed, or impossible to send via email. If you have problems opening a PDF file:
- make sure you have the latest version of the Reader,
- uninstall and reinstall Reader,
- contact us if the problem persists.
II. Request Books
To request a book be sent to you:
- Click on Traditional Books
- Click on the Request button
- Click on Request Books
- Fill in the appropriate information (author/title/etc.).
- It is very important that we have your full mailing address on every request. Incomplete information will delay filling your request.
- We usually ship via UPS with a signature required. You may choose to have your book(s) delivered to your home or your place of business... whichever is easier for obtaining a signature on delivery…UPS will not leave a package without a signature.
- You may have up to 12 books checked out at any given time
- How long does it take for UAH books to be shipped?
For books in the UAH collection, we try to ship them via UPS Ground the same day we receive your written request…presuming the book is not checked out to another patron.
- We can not take book, article, or reserve requests over the phone. All requests must be submitted in writing via the online request button located under Traditional Books, after logging in or via email to: kaplan@email.uah.edu
Contact Information
Lee Ann Segars, Library Services
Email: kaplan@uah.edu
Phone: 800-685-1302 (in the United States) and
256-824-6994 (outside the United States or locally)
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time
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Updated: 8-22-2003
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