CD-ROM Resources
Oxford English Dictionary
Encyclopedia Africana
American Reference Online

Databases or Online databases
Discrete bodies of information stored electronically: the Library's catalog, aka "OWL," InfoTrac, and the Boston Globe online. The Library subscribes to a number of databases: FirstSearch, Dialog@Carl, and InfoTrac are the largest. These databases contain searchable almanacs, journals, serials, directories, newspapers, and more. Each database has its own search engine. You cannot access these databases through a common search engine like Google or AltaVista.

Film Library
Class of 1999 Film Library. The Class of 1999 Senior Gift to the Academy was seed money to begin a feature film collection for the entire Academy community. The intention was to make films available--free of rental charge--to PA students. As always, we welcome recommendations for acquisitions. Contact Mrs. Dascoli, the film librarian. There is a form for your suggestions available at the Circulation Desk. For more information, see Services and Programs.

Gateway Sites
Websites which lead to selected resources, as opposed to search engines. The Library's Selected Internet Resources page is an example. These pages are complied into subject categories and serve as pointers to specific sites on that topic.

InterLibrary Loan
A service to obtain books not in our collection from other libraries in the United States. The wait may be a week or more. See a reference librarian for help.

Loan Periods and Renewals For Books
Loan period is three weeks with renewal if another patron has not placed a hold on it. You may renew online from the User Services link in the library's catalog, OWL. Bound periodical volumes and current issues of any periodical may leave the Library. Loose back issues may be checked out overnight after 8:00 PM.

Overdues
Fines on books are $.10 per day per item. Overnight periodicals not returned by 9:00 AM accrue fines of $.25 per hour.

OWL
The Library's automated catalog, provides access to approximately 102,000 volumes owned by the OWH Library, over 250 periodical titles, and to the four other libraries on campus--The Addison Gallery of American Art, the Graves Music Library, the Brace Center for Gender Study and the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archeology.

Reference Collection
The Garver and Dole Rooms and Reference Stacks contain the main reference collection-- a wide variety of specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias, as well as, biographical, statistical and indexing resources, both current and historical.

Reference Desk
The Reference Desk is located to the right from the main floor entrance, in front of the Garver Room, and is staffed by a professional librarian at all times.

Reserves
Course reserve materials are kept at the Circulation Desk. An ID card is required. Reserves are designated either closed or overnight. Closed reserves are checked out for either 1 hour or 2 hours, may not leave the Library and will accrue overdue fines at a rate of $1.00 per hour if not returned punctually. Overnight reserves may be checked out after 8:00 PM and must be returned by 9:00 AM the next day. Fines for overnight reserves not returned by 9:00 AM are $1.00 per hour, each..

Return Policy
Each cardholder is solely responsible for returning, on time, any materials checked out on his/her card. Books may be returned either at the Circulation Desk or in the book drop slot located on the east side of the library patio.

Search Engines
A generic term for the software that "searches" the web for pages relating to a specific query . AltaVista and Excite are two examples of common search engines which index and search the whole web. There is a great deal of competition between search engines. Good web sites like Phillips Academy Andover or the American Memory site of the Llibrary of Congress index their websites and have their own search engines.

Video Collection
See Film Library

Web-based e-mail
E-Mail accessible via the Internet, it is not terminal specific. Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail are two popular sites. PANet is web-based.

Parts of this page were originally written as part of a series of articles on the WWW, in the Andover Gazette by Mary Timmons, former reference librarian.