Hours

Mon-Friday: 8:30am-5pm

Prairie Research Institute Library Services

Research Assistance

Assistance is available for all aspects of library research, including selecting search tools, performing searches, or locating hard to find items. Contact us by phone (217-333-6892) or visit us for in-person assistance whenever the library is open, or by email anytime. Institute staff may also contact your librarian directly for any research assistance.

Current Awareness

Table of Contents and Topical Search Alerts

Most journals, literature databases, and news sources offer automated email or RSS alerts, either for table of contents or topic searches.
For help setting up alerts, contact your librarian, or see one of these helpful resources:

Table of Contents LibGuide provides instructions for setting up ToC alerts in many of the major abstracting and indexing sources.
Setting up Search Alerts - A quick guide to creating topical search alerts in Engineering Village, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, and Scopus.
Using RSS Feeds to Stay Current - Quick tips on using RSS feeds to keep up to date.
Also see the TOC alert category on our blog.

Also see the TOC alert category on our blog.

News from the Library

The News from the Library blog is a current awareness service from the Institute librarians which covers topics of interest to Institute researchers.
Subscribe to the blog via Email to be notified of new posts, or
subscribe to RSS feeds for specific categories on our blog (examples below).

Library Orientation and Training

The Institute Library is part of one of the largest academic libraries in the nation. Learn to use it effectively!
New Institute Staff are urged to arrange an orientation session. To request a session for yourself or your lab group, contact your librarian.
Also see, the University Library training calendar for a schedule of workshops.

IDEALS Institutional Repository

IDEALS offers long-term digital preservation for your work, including manuscripts and data sets maybe deposited.
Need archiving assistance or advice? Contact your librarian.

Computing and related services at the Prairie Research Institute Library

Wireless Internet Access

The following wireless networks are available in the Prairie Research Institute Library.

IllinoisNet, secured for University of Illinois users, instructions for connecting
UI Public, open to the public, instructions for connecting

Public Workstations and Scanner

We have two public workstations with internet access and access to campus-licensed library resources.
One workstation is equipped with a Canon CanoScan8800F flatbed scanner with Adobe Acrobat Pro and Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Software includes Microsoft Office applications and accessibility applications.
See "Standard Software Configuration for Public PCs" on the University Library's Public PCs: Hardware/Software page for a complete list of available software.
All are welcome to use the public workstations and scanner. No login is required.

Printing

Black and white printing is available on site for those with a campus NetID.
The cost to print is 0.10 per page, and login with NetID and AD password is required to print.
Color print jobs must be printed out at Funk-ACES, Main, Undergraduate, or Engineering-Grainger Libraries.
Those without NetIDs may send print jobs to the Undergraduate Library where they will accept cash payment (cash only).

New Materials and Topical Displays

New Materials

New books are put on display at the Prairie Research Institute Library weekly, and are available for check out or requesting immediately.
Items added to the Prairie Research Institute Library Collection within the past 60 days.
For a broader awareness of new materials available, see New Titles @ The University Library
New journal issues received in print are put out daily, and kept on display for one week.

Topical Displays

Topical Displays of materials are also offered.
These may be accompanied by an online bibliography or research guide.
To coordinate a topical display in the Institute Library with your project or event, contact your librarian. Open shelving as well as glassed in cases for displaying specimens or other materials that may require protection are available.

Institute Publications

Select materials available for sale in the Institute Publications office are on display near the library entrance.

Reserves

University Library materials can be put on reserve in the Institute Library for classes, discussion groups or other activities.
Contact your librarian to arrange to place items on reserve.

Educator Resource Trunks

The Prairie Research Institute Library is a loan location for the Department of Natural Resources "Resources Trunks" for educators, and also for the "Naturally Illinois Science Box." Any educator, including teachers, Scout leaders, 4H leaders or project helpers may borrow a trunk. Institute Staff are welcome to borrow them for outreach activities. Each trunk is a collection of educational resources, including specimens, books, kits, and activities appropriate for a wide age-range of learners. You do not need to be affiliated with the Prairie Research Institute or the University to borrow a trunk, and there is no charge for their use.

Trunks available for loan from the Prairie Research Institute Library

University Library Services

Delivery of Materials

You may request campus mail delivery of materials requested from University Library or other I-Share libraries to any University Library or I-Share desk for pickup.
OFF-CAMPUS INSTITUTE STAFF: You may request delivery of University Library or I-Share materials to the I-Share Library nearest to you.
Delivery is quick--usually within a week, and you can check materials out with your i-Card.
I-Share locations near ISAS Field Stations
I-Share location near ISWS Peoria Office
If there is no convenient I-Share pickup location, the Institute Library can mail University Library owned materials to you, contact the Institute Library desk for assistance.

Off-campus access to Library resources

For access to licensed online library resources (e.g., journals, e-books, abstracting and indexing databases) from home or other off-campus locations, you must log in with your NetID and Active Directory password via the University Library's Proxy Server.
Library links to online resources will allow you to authenticate via the proxy server.
Institute staff are encouraged to report problems with online access, whether on or off campus, to the University Library's Electronic Resource Management Team ertech@library.illinois.edu

Library Links

Quick Links

Services

Subject Resources

Library Help