Fondren Library Center

Periodicals and Microforms

The Periodicals Service Desk is located on 1st floor of the Science/Engineering wing. (See library floorplans.) The Office is staffed whenever the library is open. You may reach the main service desk by telephone at 214-768-2332. Please ask us if you need any assistance.

Fondren Library Center houses SMU's periodicals in humanities, business, social sciences, sciences, and engineering disciplines. Periodicals include journals, magazines, and newspapers.

General

How do I make a suggestion or recommend a new subscription?

Please contact the Periodicals Librarian, Erika Ripley, at eripley@mail.smu.edu.

Periodicals

Do you own a particular journal? Where is it?

All periodicals and microforms are listed in PONI, the library's catalog. PONI will tell you if the library owns a journal and where is it located. In Fondren Library Center, periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title; they do not have call numbers. If we do not own a particular journal you are interested in, please check with Reference Services and ask about your other options.

Where are the Periodicals?

Periodicals are shelved in the following areas:

Newspaper and Periodicals Reading Area: Recent issues are shelved by title in this area, located on the mezzanine and 2nd floor of the Science/Engineering wing.
Fondren Library: These bound journals are shelved by title in the basement level of the Fondren wing.
Science Library: These bound journals are shelved by title on the 2nd floor of the Science wing.
Fondren Library Center Microforms Area: This area is located on the 1st floor of the Science/Engineering wing.
Science Storage: This is a restricted area. Contact Circulation Services to request materials from this area.

I need journal articles for my paper. Where do I find those?

If you need to identify journal articles, ask for help from Reference Services or try searching in one of our online indexes, accessible through the SMU Online Resources web pages. PONI, the library catalog, will tell you what journals we own, and where they are located. It will not tell you what articles are in those journals.

Where are newspapers?

The current issues of most newspapers are displayed on the mezzanine in the Newspaper and Periodicals Reading Area. If you need a previous issue, please ask in the Periodicals Office.

Can I check out a journal?

SMU faculty and graduate students can check out bound journals for 3 days with no renewals. Current issues cannot be checked out. However, there are photocopiers throughout the library.

I cannot find the issue I need? What do I do now?

Please contact the Periodicals Office for assistance. We will be happy to help you.

Microforms

The Microform Area is located on the 1st floor of the Science/Engineering wing. This area is staffed all hours that the library is open, and Periodicals staff are available to help you locate materials and use equipment.

What is a microform?

Microform is a generic name used for many types of materials, such as microfilm or microfiche. Microfilm is a long strip of film on a reel. Microfiche is a single sheet of film. The library's collection of microforms includes journal and newspaper back volumes, government documents, and other special collections.

How do I use microforms?

Staff are always available to help you find the materials you need and use the equipment. The library owns microform readers that allow you to view and print from microforms. One of the readers will even allow you to scan microform material and email it to yourself!

Can I print from microform?

Yes. The equipment in the microforms area allows you to print. It is $0.10 per page, and you can pay with dimes or with a copy card.

Where can I get dimes for printing?

The Periodicals Office can make change for dimes to be used in microform equipment. We cannot make change for other purposes.