User Guide

The Nakajima Library, LDIC and the X (Cross) Lounge offer students a set of three different study environments with distinguished characteristics. The Nakajima Library offers a quiet space to concentrate for study and research. Silence in the library must be strongly adhered to. The LDIC, located on the second floor of the library building, offers an open space where quiet academic talking is allowed. The LDIC also provides speaking rooms to practice speaking and multi-purpose rooms for group projects. And on the first floor there is the X Lounge, an open space where students can get together for group-work projects, discussion, and/or homework. It is a free space for everyone. Enjoy conversation and discussion with a normal voice volume. Food and drinks are not prohibited in the X Lounge.

The Nakajima Library is established to collect, manage and provide academic resource materials necessary for education and research for students, faculty and staff of Akita International University. The library's unique collections and resources are also open to local high school students and other visitors not directly affiliated with the university. However, AIU students, faculty and staff have priority in the use of all services, resources and facilities.

(1) Students, faculty and staff members

Students, faculty and staff members of AIU can use the library 24 hours a day, all year round. The library may be closed for facility maintenance and other necessary reasons.

Counter Service Hours are indicated below.

(2) High School Student Card Holders (Akita Prefecture high school students)

(3) Visitors

Students, faculty and staff members can enter the library and borrow materials using their AIU ID cards. They may borrow materials at the counter of the library or LDIC, or by using the automatic lending machine. Materials shall be returned to the counter or a book-drop at the entrance. Renewal of period of borrowing is possible for one time if the borrowed materials have not been requested by another borrower. Materials can be renewed online through the Library Website by logging in at the “My Library” option or in person at the counter. Penalties such as suspension of borrowing privileges and/or registration and certificate services will be suspended if materials are not returned by the due date. The “My Library” also offers a function to make reservations of materials.

（１）Library Website

The following tabs on the Nakajima Library Website will help your search:

AIU Catalog：

searches books, journals, DVDs, and other materials the library and LDIC carry.

ONE-Search：

searches the AIU Library Catalog and subscribed e-books, e-journals and e-articles all at once. (Electronic databases and journals cannot be accessed through "Free Wifi." Please use the wifi that the name start with "AIU-.")

Other Univ.：

getting books and copies of articles from other university libraries, called Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Photocopying fees and shipping must be paid for by the users.

Akita Pref Lib：

getting books from Akita Prefectural Library. Books that are not available at the AIU library such as novels and other leisurely reading may be borrowed without charge. Up to 5 books per person, for 30 days.

e-Journal/e-Book:：

searches e-journals and e-books by title.

（２）Digital Resources

Digital Resources tab on the Library website takes you to the database list. You can search or browse databases such as ProQuest, JSTOR, EBSCO and so on, and includes a list of “trials” and newly licensed databases.

（３）Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service

If you need an item that cannot be supplied by the Nakajima Library, you can request it from other university library through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Login the AIU Library website, and click“ Other Univ.” tab and search the material you need. Once what you need is found at other university library, then click “ILL Copy Request” or “ILL Borrowing Request” shown on the right hand side. Books, articles and book chapter requests generally arrive within four business days. You need to pay photocopy and shipping fees. For more details, please see the “Requesting from other university libraries” page.

（４）RefWorks

RefWorks is a reference management software and can help students and researchers loading search results from databases to create and manage a personal reference database. RefWorks also help creating properly formatted bibliographies, work cited lists, footnotes, etc. RefWorks is available from ONE-Search or the following URL: (https://refworks.proquest.com/auth/login/)

When using electronic resources, such as database, e-journals, ebooks, publishers prohibit the following actions:

1. Systematic and programmatic download
2. Usage beyond the private purpose
3. Reproducing and distributing content

Students, faculty and staff can request library materials (books, DVDs and CDs) to be purchased for the Nakajima Library through the library website or by e-mail.

The library purchase materials for the purpose of supporting the university curriculum. The following will not be considered for acquisition.

• “How-To” materials; overtly biased practical manuals（how-to, self-help, etc.）
• Self-Published/Independent Fiction
• Books published by a religious or political organization for the purpose of public relations or advertisement. However, works of an overtly ideological, religious, or politically-oriented nature will not automatically be excluded, in case materials can be used for research or as class materials.
• Books that are not considered to have an academic value published by individuals or literature societies
• Materials for entertainment purposes with little demand from the majority of students should not be purchased.
• Works of questionable objectivity; this includes vanity publications, among others.

• Do not disturb the study and/or research of other library users.
• Do not tamper with or damage university resources and property.
• Do not hamper the work of library staff.
• Observe the “Quiet Study Area” designations in the library.
• Switch mobile phones to silent mode and use them only in the X Lounge and hallways outside of the library.
• The library is not to be used as a sleeping facility.
• Beverages in covered containers are permitted in the library and LDIC.
• Food is allowed ONLY in the X Lounge on the first floor or in the open space outside of the LDIC on the second floor. Food is prohibited on all other spaces of the L building.
• Smoking is prohibited.
• Alcohol is prohibited in the L building.
• Do not leave backpacks, laptops, purses or valuables unattended.

Individuals who fail to comply with this policy may face disciplinary action. Visitors may be asked to leave the library and may be barred from the campus.

All persons leaving the library or LDIC must pass through a book detection system installed at the exits of the library or LDIC. Occasionally, non-library materials may activate the detection system. If the alarm sounds, you must present all materials for inspection to a library staff member or the security guard. Intentional removal of library-owned materials that are not properly checked out will result in disciplinary action.

By logging in the Nakajima Library website, you have an access to “My Library Record.” Students, faculty and staff can login using their ATOMS username and password. You can see all of your checked out items, due dates and renewal options. In addition, your past records and reserved items can also be shown. If you click one of the links in My Library Record, you can see the records first, and “My Folder” tab will show your bookmark list, and “Alert” tab will provide the service which you can register fields or terms of your interest and receive e-mail notification when the library acquired related materials.

Library materials in the closed stacks can be available upon request at the counter.

A Group Study Room must be reserved through ATOMS before use. Reservations can be made up to 2 times per day and up to 300 minutes per day per user. A reservation is automatically cancelled after 15 minuites if no one shows up at reserved time.

Particular books, journals and other materials are sometimes reserved only for students who are taking the course. The list of reserves for the class is informed by the instructor to students. If you want a book on reserve, write down the title and bring it to the library counter with your ID card. Course reserved materials are available only in the library for the certain period of hours determined by the instructor.

Library staff are ready to effectively provide students with assistance in searching of books and journals through online services. In addition, they can assist in search of materials related to a particular topic using not only the resources available at AIU library but also at other universities. The library reference service “Help Desk” is also available. Please check the time schedule via ATOMS.

Materials in the library can be copied for the purpose of education, research and study to the extent permitted by the copyright law. When you wish to make a copy, please submit the application form with a written oath to the counter and receive permission and make a copy by using the copy machine in the library. The copying fee is 10 yen per page.

The following rules must be strictly observed.

1. The volume of pages to be copied must be limited to less than a half of the work.
2. Journal articles can be copied but must not be those in the latest volume or have to be at least three months passed after the publication.
3. Only one copy is available for one person.
4. The purpose of copy shall be for research of the user.
The copy shall not be duplicated with or without a charge and copies shall not be distributed.
5. The copy shall not be made in electronic form such as a PDF.

The Nakajima Library maintains the confidentiality of all library borrowing records and of all other information relating to an individual's use of the library's resources and services.The library may release information about an individual's library transactions only to that individual, to another individual or party with the prior written consent of the individual concerned, or under a court order. The individual must provide proof of identity such as an AIU ID card, a library card or other photo identification. Within the library and the university, access to such records will be restricted to authorized personnel for authorized reasons.

Users who do not return materials by the due date will receive overdue reminder emails from the library. All university services such as registration and certification could be suspended if students do not return borrowed materials by the prescribed due date in spite of receiving notices from the library.

If you lost or damaged library items, please contact the library as soon as possible. The library may request the same item which is specified by the library, or replacement fee.

The library collects materials with a focus on academic needs of AIU students, faculty, and staff. Because of constraints on shelving space, as well as significant costs for evaluating and processing gifts of printed materials, the library is extremely selective about accepting donations of materials. All material must be in excellent condition, with durable bindings, and no brittle, stained, marked, or discolored materials will be accepted.

If interested in donating used books, CDs and DVDs, please consider donating them to AIU trough the used books handling company "Value Books." For more details, please see the library website or the following website. https://www.charibon.jp/partner/aiu-u/