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 MU Libraries University of Missouri-Columbia MU Libraries

Resources for Journalism Graduate Students

Notice: You must present your active student MU ID to check out library materials. Your ID becomes active when you pay your fees at Jesse Hall and the information is entered into the library system. This can take a few days or a week depending on when you paid the fees.

Find Us!

The Frank Lee Martin Journalism Library is located on the main floor in the Reynolds Journalism Institute building (102 RJI).

  • Entering from 9th street – turn left from the center of the lobby. (This door is locked after 8:00 PM Monday through Thursday, Saturdays and Sundays)
  • Entering from the quad (USE THIS ENTRANCE AFTER 8:00 PM)– enter through the double glass doors between the old and new RJI building. Turn right at the first hallway. (This door is open (during semesters, excluding holidays) Sunday at 1:00 PM until Midnight; Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM until Midnight; Saturday 1:00-5:00 PM) For ID card entrance after regular hours, contact Cindy Roe roec@rjionline.org

Ask Us!

  • Call us for assistance:
    • J-Library: 573 882-7502
    • Dorothy Carner: 573 882-6591
    • Sue Schuermann: 573 882-0660
    • Michael Hopkins: 573-882-7502
    • Karen Marshall: 573-882-7502
  • Email us for research assistance, to make an appointment, or to reserve RJI 102a for a meeting.
  • Reserve a Journalism Library Group Study Room The Journalism Library has 2 group study rooms that can be reserved online. They are both located in the j-library's lower level.
  • Books
    • Graduate students may check books out for 4 months.
    • Books may be recalled after you have had them checked out for 2 weeks.
    • The fine for not returning recalled books is $2.00 a day.
    • Books are arranged by Library of Congress call number in the compact shelving.
    • Different libraries have different check out loan periods and fines. Please pay attention to the due date on the book band when you check materials out from other libraries.
    • Oversized Books are located on the orange shelving adjacent to the stairs in the Journalism Library’s lower level.
  • Merlin and MOBIUS Online Library Catalogs
    • Merlin is the online catalog of the four University of Missouri campus libraries plus St. Louis University.
    • The MOBIUS catalog provides access to about 50 Missouri library collections.
    • Materials in the Journalism Library have the location prefix MU-Jour.
    • MU Libraries uses the Library of Congress classification system.
    • Books can be obtained from another MU campus using the “Request” function. Or you can request books through MOBIUS.
    • To request books not in Merlin or MOBIUS, choose the ILL@MU link on the Journalism Library page.
  • eRes - Electronic Reserves (Your instructor may put articles and/or chapters on Eres. They are available from anywhere at anytime.)
    • Go to http://eres.missouri.edu. Click on either Dept. “Journalism” or “Instructor” (professor’s last name, first initial)
    • Some class pages may require a password (your professor should announce this password in class or put it in the syllabus)
    • Acrobat Reader must be installed to view most articles. You can download the newest edition of Acrobat Reader here
  • Reserves (Instructors may also put folders & books “on reserve.”)
    • Reserved books are arranged by call number behind the Check-out/Check-in desk
    • You may find the call number of a reserved item by logging on to Merlin and following these steps:Reserved books are located behind the “Check In/Check Out” desk.
      • Choose the Course Reserves tab
      • Type in the instructor’s name or course number to retrieve the call number.
    • The staff at the Check-out/Check-in desk will help you if you can provide either the instructor’s name or the course number.
    • Fines for overdue reserve items are $2.00 an hour per item.
  • Fines for Overdue Reserves Items
    • Reserves - $2.00 an hour per item
    • Books paged from other campuses have their own fines
    • Fines are $175 for overdue books from the MU system (for replacement, processing and acquisition costs). This replacement cost is removed if the book is returned. Although it takes some time to be credited to your bill at Jesse Hall.
  • Interlibrary Loans (ILL)
    • Please check Merlin (MU’s online catalog) or MOBIUS (MO State-wide catalog) to see if a material is available for request from another library
    • Books can be obtained from another MU campus using the “Request” function. Or you can request books through MOBIUS
    • To request books not in Merlin or MOBIUS, choose the ILL@MU link on the Journalism Library page.
  • Current Periodicals (non-circulating)
    • Current print magazines and journals are located on the shelves along the south wall of the journalism library’s main floor. (Many journals are available online only)
      • Use the Journal Finder to locate journals with full text available online.
  • Bound Periodicals
    • Bound periodicals are shelved in the compact shelving on the lower level or are stored at the University of Missouri Library Depository (UMLD).
    • Bound periodicals may be checked out for 24 hours.
    • Some bound periodicals are located at the University of Missouri Library Depository (UMLD) and may be requested through Merlin. These items arrive within 24 hours and may be checked out for one week.
  • Reference Books
    • The Journalism Library has a small collection of reference items located in the back right corner (office side) on the main floor.
    • The Gale Virtual Reference Library is a growing digital reference collection covering several subjects.
  • Newspapers
    • Issues of current/non-circulating newspapers are located on the shelves in front of the “Check-In/Check-Out Desk” on the main level of the Journalism Library.
      • Domestic papers are arranged alphabetically by city and international papers are arranged alphabetically by country.
    • A list of the newspapers to which the Journalism Library subscribes may be found on the Journalism Library’s web page under Find News.
    • Newspapers are weeded once a week.
    • Bound issues of the last two years of the Missourian and Tribune are located at the Columbia Missourian Newspaper Library at 315 Lee Hills Hall.
    • Search the archives of the Columbia Tribune at http://www.showmenews.com/
    • The Journalism Library has microfilm for the Columbia Missourian from 1908-2007
    • Ellis Library’s Special Collections Department, located on the 4th floor, has several newspapers on microfilm. Here is a list of titles in the collection.
    • The State Historical Society of Missouri has an extensive collection of Missouri newspapers, both current and on microfilm. Check out their collection of titles.
  • Theses & Dissertations
  • Journalism Master's Projects
    • Check out period for graduate students is 4 months.
    • Master’s projects are located on the main floor of the Journalism Library to the right of the current periodical shelves.
    • Master’s Projects are arranged by year, then alphabetically by author's last name.
    • Search projects in Merlin.
      • Keyword search: mu journalism library master's project
  • Proxy Cards may be issued to a research assistant, student assistant or other person designated by MU faculty and staff to check out library materials for them. Go here for more information about proxy card.
  • Electronic Resources
    • Databases:
      • This page lists all databases available to MU students, faculty and staff .
  • eBooks
  • Off- Campus Access (Remote Access)
    • To use electronic resources off campus, use your PawPrint, when prompted.

Technology in the Journalism Library

  • Computers
    • The Journalism Library has
      • 12 iMac computers for general use
      • 3 iMac "Quick Print" stations for quick printing and checking email - 10 minute limit
      • 20 MacBooks available for 3-hour checkout (power supply cords and various adapters may also be checked out)
      • Microsoft Office Suite, iLife Suite and Creative Suite 4 is available on journalism computer
  • Scanners
    • 2 Flatbed Color Scanners
  • Printers
    • B/W printer: $.05/page
    • Color printer
      • 8 1/2" X 11"= $.50/page
      • 11" X 17" = $1.00/page
    • Printing will be deducted from your student print quota through the PrintSmart program.
    • If you are working for a department, printing related to your job responsibilities may be charged to your department through the PrintSmart program with the use of a MOCODE. The MOCODE authorization must be obtained from your department's fiscal officer. Information on how to set up the MOCODE can be found at the PrintSmart homepage.
      • Once a MOCODE has been assigned, follow these steps to utilize it.
      • Select Print in the active program.
      • Choose the printer in the dialog box.
      • Login with PawPrint/MoCode (example: DoeJ/C1111)
      • Enter password.
      • Click OK to accept charges
    • Digiprint service in Ellis Library
  • Copier/Copying
    • A Coin/Bill operated copy machine is located close to the elevator in the lower level of the Journalism Library.
    • Copies: $07/copy when you use your ID card; $.10/copy when you use coins.
  • Flat Screen Televisions
    • There are 4 flat screen televisions mounted on the walls throughout the library. closed captioning is on, but you can check out infra-red headphones to listen to the news.
  • Microform Reader/Scanner is located on the lower level of the library. . You may view and scan microfilm, saving the digital copy to a flash drive or email the results to your email account. You can also print scanned images on Journalism Library printers.
  • Equipment and Accessories available for checkout in the Journalism Library:
    • Headphones (wireless infrared for the TVs and headphones for the computers
    • Power supply cords for MacBooks
    • Mice for Laptops
    • Video adaptors for various MacBooks and MacBook Pros
    • Remote presentation devices for laptops
    • iTouch iPods
    • Kindle eReader
    • Video camera equipment for J2100 classes (Video cameras, tripods, microphones)
    • Video and digital still cameras for student checkout
    • Digital audio recorder
    • 14 in 1 media card reader
    • mini surge protectors with usb media chargers
    • approved J-cafe cups (clean)
  • MU Libraries' Graduate Student Tips and Resources