Marvin K. Peterson Library Services for Students

The mission of the Marvin K. Peterson Library is to support the academic programs of the University by providing information, materials, and a wide range of library services to our faculty, students, and staff.

This page gives University of New Haven students an overview of library services that support their courses of study and research endeavors. If you are new to the University of New Haven Library, please come in and visit us and ask for a brief tour. Did you know that many Library resources are available 24/7?

You can access many library resources from off-campus via the Peterson Library's web site 24/7.

You can renew books and check on your library account via the Library homepage. The link to Renew Books and View your Library Account can be found under Library Catalog.

Your University of New Haven student ID card is your Library Card which can be used to charge out books, laptops and course reserves.

You will receive library notices (overdues, holds filled and ILL requests) via email. If you prefer, we will call you to let you know when ILL material has arrived.

Most of the online commercial databases are available through the Library's web page. Examples of the databases available for research are Academic Search Premier, Lexi-Comp Online for Dentistry, PsycArticles, GeoRef, Hoover's Online, CCH, Conference Board, Criminal Justice Periodicals and Education Journals In addition, most of the subscription trials that the Library obtains to review a database prior to purchase are available on the alphabetical list of databases page. You will need your University of New Haven network ID and password to access these databases.

The Library's web site provides a number of guides. For example, writing style guides (APA and Chicago/Turabian), subject guides (Chemistry Resources, Criminal Justice, Education Resources, Engineering Resources, International Business, Labor Relations Resources, Management Resources, National Security Resources and Psychology Research) plus hints on finding biographical information, government documents, also Federal and State laws.

To determine if the Library has a journal use the link to "Journals." This list will locate specific journals online in full text, or in the library in print or micro format. To access full-text online journals you will be asked for your University of New Haven network ID and password.

Library Facilities and Resources

Study carrels, tables and comfortable seating are available throughout the three floors of the Library. When the library is closed, there is a book drop around the rear of the building where books can be returned. When we are open, simply return at the Circulation Desk.

As a partial U.S. Government Depository, the Peterson Library receives over a third of all U.S. government documents. Many are available directly via links in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). OPAC allows you to search the Library's collection of books, journals, videotapes and microform material that will be useful in your studies.

While some material is cataloged as Reference and cannot be removed from the library, we do have a photocopy machine (10 cents) and 2 scanners (free) located on the Main Level for general use.

You can find exactly what your professors have placed on Course Reserve by doing a search via the Library homepage. You determine if this material can be charged out of the Library or used in-house for a limited period.

If you discover that you need material from other libraries, our Interlibrary Loan Department will do all they can to retrieve either books or magazine articles for you. While we try to get the material quickly, please realize that it may take up to two to three weeks in some cases to get a book. Articles can generally be retrieved in a matter of days. These forms are available in the library, and they are also available electronically on our homepage. For additional information please see our guide on "Interlibrary Loan Services for University of New Haven Students."

Never hesitate to ask for assistance while in the Library, our staff is here to aid you in your studies and research. If you cannot get to the Library, you are welcome to call the Information Desk at 203-932-7189 during regular Library hours or e-mail your question.

Computers in the Library

The Peterson Library has 79 Dell computers, 6 iMacs, 48 Dell laptops, 6 iPads, and 2 dedicated print-only stations for use by our students and faculty. These computers have the Microsoft Office Suite with Word, Excel, Access and Power Point along with internet connectivity. SPSS is installed on all laptops. You will need your University of New Haven network ID and password to log into one of these computers. To print you will need to swipe your University of New Haven ID card at the print management workstation to release your printouts.

The entire library is a University of New Haven Wireless zone. In addition, there are network connection boxes on the walls and columns near tables and desks that allow you to plug your laptops directly into the University of New Haven network. They are located on all three floors. All you need is an Ethernet card and network cable to connect your laptop to the campus network.