The UAA/APU Consortium Library surveys our users every three years. Results from our November 2025 Survey will be available soon.
This guide was created to directly address some of the feedback that we received from our patrons – students, faculty, and staff. We hope this answers some of your more pressing questions about the library, and what we are doing to respond to your ideas and make improvements to the facility, resources, and services that will help us better meet your needs.
The Consortium Library began using a new user survey in 2022, based on the University of Washington triennial survey.
The Consortium Library administered the LibQUAL+ Library Service Quality Survey every three years from 2008 to 2017.
Survey Topics
Hours
What are the library hours and where is this information posted?
The library hours are posted on the library website Hours page. This page displays not only the hours the library building is open, but also hours for various service points and departments within the library, such as the Reference Desk. Upcoming closures and schedule changes will also appear on the Hours page.
Current hours are also posted at the entrance to the library and in the Social Sciences Building (SSB) entryway. Departments with special hours, such as the Reference Desk or Archives and Special Collections, post them prominently at their service points.
Will the library ever be open 24 hours per day?
In the fall of 2012 we extended library hours to 1:00 am during the week. In Fall 2016, extended late night After Hours Study was suspended due to budget reductions. In response to survey comments, the Library is now open to students, faculty, and staff for After Hours Study until midnight Sunday through Thursday nights during the academic year.
Parking
Do I have to pay for parking at the library?
Because parking is limited, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to pay for parking on UAA’s main campus during peak hours.
During peak hours, which are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am – 7:30 pm, parking can be paid for in the following ways:
- UAA PERMITS: UAA Students, faculty and staff can purchase a semester (fall, spring, summer) or a year-long parking permit from The Permit Store.
- APU PERMITS: Vehicles with a valid APU parking permit can park in the lots directly next to the library on the east and north side of the building. [The north parking lot is not available until late 2026 due to Alaska Leaders Archive construction.] Note that APU parking permits are not valid for other parking lots on the UAA campus.
- FULL DAY PASSES: Library patrons can purchase a full day pass at the Pay and Park machines located in the open parking lots (and in the library’s East lot) or they can purchase an unlimited number of full day passes in advance at the Consortium Library main Circulation Desk. Full day passes cost $10 and are good in any of the lots and garages on campus.
- HOURLY PASSES: Library patrons can purchase parking by the hour at any of the Pay and Park machines located in the University’s open lots (and in the library’s East lot). Rates for parking are $3/hour, $12/day, or $40/week. Priority parking rates are $5/hour or $20/day.
- PASSPORT APP: Download the Passport App for iPhone or Android, and pay on-the-go using your smartphone. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can still pay-by-phone by calling (907) 341-4170. You can pay by the hour or by the day, and you must have a valid credit or debit card. Each transaction includes a $0.20 convenience fee.
Parking is free on the main campus anytime Friday through Sunday; Monday through Thursday evenings after 7:30pm; during the interim period between semesters; and on holidays when there are no UAA classes. For more information on parking options visit the UAA Parking Services website.
Study Space
Where can I find quiet study space in the library?
Due to a wide variety of student needs, we have both quiet and interactive study spaces. Silent study areas are on the second floor in the new section of the building, along the wave shaped windows. If you need help finding a quiet area to study please ask for assistance at any of the public service desks, or look at our Library Floor Maps.
How long can I use a group study room?
The library has 19 group study rooms. During the pandemic we stopped using the reservation system and made the rooms available on a first come, first serve basis. We are monitoring room use, but at this time we have not re-established the 3-hour limits on group study rooms.
What are the small one-person study rooms on the second floor?
People often wonder about the purpose of these rooms. They are small research offices reserved for the semester by graduate students (Graduate Study Carrels). We have repurposed twelve of these rooms as individual study rooms, which can be used by any student on a first come, first serve basis.
Sometimes I come to the library to study and have a difficult time finding a place to work. It seems like the library is busier all the time.
In 2009 the library added an additional 100 seats. We’ve noticed during peak times (mid-terms and finals) that it can still be difficult to find a place to work in the library. We added more seating over the 2012 summer and fall semesters. If you still have trouble finding a spot to work please ask our Reference or Circulation staff about areas in the library where you may be able to find seating.
Sometimes the library computers are full when I need to use them, what can I do?
If the computers near the Reference Desk on the first floor are full, there are additional computers on the second floor of the library, and a computer lab in Room 105. In addition, you can check out laptops at the Circulation Desk for in-library or home use. If you can’t find a computer, please be sure to ask for help at one of the library’s public service desks.
Resources
The library doesn’t have all of the resources I need to support my research in a particular subject area. What are my options?
We would like to know what resources you need.
- For a consultation to discuss your needs contact the librarian for your subject area. The subject areas are listed on the Subject Librarians page.
- To request a purchase visit our Purchase Request Form.
- The library can obtain copies of article or borrow books from other libraries at no cost to you. To submit a request go to the Interlibrary Loan page.
I can find almost everything I need by searching Google, why should I use the library?
Google is useful, but it doesn’t provide the same full-text access to millions of scholarly journals, magazines, ebooks and other resources that the library does. The library subscribes to individual journals and databases that have content that is not available on the free web. Because the library’s databases and journal collections are targeted to UAA and APU disciplines you will find the materials you need for your research more quickly and easily.
What library resources/services are available to students?
The library houses over a million books and subscribes to thousands of journals and newspapers. It provides access to hundreds of online databases containing full-text articles, which you can access from campus or home.
There are scanners and copiers, desks and tables at which to study, and study rooms for group use. The library has wireless access, over 40 research computers for walk-up use, and even laptops, calculators, and ethernet cables that can be borrowed. These are just a few of the resources and services available to UAA/APU-affiliated users.
Library staff provide in-person and online instruction in the use of library resources and services. There is also a Reference Desk located in the great room on the first floor of the library that is staffed with librarians who can help patrons find the materials they need for their research, study or pleasure reading. A good way to learn more about the library is to take the library Virtual Tour. Please visit the Library Website to find out more about these resources and services.
Why am I sometimes asked to pay for articles?
The library does not ask patrons to pay for the articles we offer through our databases or through Interlibrary Loan. Should you ever be asked for payment of an article: STOP
- Check the library’s Journal Title Finder to see if the library has access to the article you are looking for.
- If the library does not own it please contact Interlibrary Loan. They will order the article for you and deliver it to you electronically.
- If you would like someone to walk you through the process, or if you have questions please Ask Us.
Sometimes I can’t access the most recent journal articles in the library’s databases. Why?
Publishers sometimes block online access via databases to the most recent journal issues. Please place a request through our Interlibrary Loan service and we will find and deliver full-text articles to you electronically. UAA and APU students, faculty, and staff are offered this service at no cost to them.
I was unable to access a journal that the library says it has. What should I do?
You may report problems or request immediate assistance using our Ask Us service. It will put you in contact with a librarian at the Reference Desk, who is trained and eager to help you with questions such as this! They can help you work through the problem and get the item you need.
Why does the library have so many older books?
The library must meet the needs of many different patrons. Faculty and researchers require in depth coverage of a topic, including what has been written in the past. Many titles may be classic resources that don’t change with time. However, it may look like we have a lot of older books when you browse the library book collection because we are making a concerted effort to buy electronic books that can be found through the Library’s QuickSearch and (of course) will not show up on the library shelves. If you prefer to only search the electronic book collection, that is easy to do on our eBooks page.
As always we look for ways to update and focus our collections within the constraints of our limited budget. Ongoing inflationary increases to our budget the past few years and one-time money allocated to address library survey response concerns have recently allowed us to allocate additional funds toward current book and media purchases. Plans are also being developed to analyze and strategically weed the book collection in the near future.
I’m looking for a particular book title and the library doesn’t own it. What can I do to obtain the book?
If the Consortium Library doesn’t have an item you need, whether it be a book chapter, entire book, journal article, etc., we will get it for you from another library through Interlibrary Loan. All UAA and APU students, staff, and faculty have free access to this service. You can also recommend a purchase via our Purchase Request Form.
Can I get textbooks from the library?
The Consortium Library does not purchase textbooks. We could not afford to purchase every text required for courses at UAA and APU. We would also have a problem making them available to students in a fair and equitable manner. However, instructors will occasionally place resources on reserve for student use, which may include a copy of the course textbook.
You can find instructions for locating these types of items on our Course Reserves page. Further information about textbooks along with resources for locating the best prices can be found in our Textbooks Guide.
Services
Who can I ask for help in the library?
Any library employee can help you at any time. Please feel free to ask! If the person you approach can’t help you, they can refer you to someone who can. If you need help with research, we recommend starting with the reference desk or go to Ask Us on our website. If you are not sure whom to ask, there is always someone at the Circulation Desk who would be willing to help you.
The library doesn’t have all of the resources I need to support my research in a particular subject area. What are my options?
We would like to know what resources you need.
- For a consultation to discuss your needs you can make an appointment with a librarian or archivist.
- To request a purchase visit our Purchase Request Form.
- The library can obtain copies of article or borrow books from other libraries at no cost to you. To submit a request go to the Interlibrary Loan page.
What should I do if I have problems with the library website or accessing/printing library resources?
Whenever you run into a problem with the Consortium Library website or any of its resources (such as databases), be sure to let us know! You can also Ask Us via phone, chat, email, or in person which will often result in an immediate solution. If they are unable to help, they will report the issue to the appropriate department.
What can I do if I am not satisfied with a library interaction?
No matter whom you approach, we do our best to connect you to the best person to address your particular need, which may take a few minutes and some phone calls to accomplish. Please be patient if the person you approach can’t help you, he or she will try to make sure you get to the person who can help you!
If you do run into a service problem please ask to speak with a supervisor or use our Ask Us page to write to an individual from the Staff Directory. We can best address problems if we hear from you during or right after they occur.
Instruction
As a student, how can I learn more about using library resources?
Our newest resource for users and an excellent place to begin is our Library Services page. Choose your user group (student, faculty, community user) to find our most-requested library services. Our Research Guides detail the best places to find information on your topic or in your discipline. The library Virtual Tour provides a brief introductory tour of the library, its collections, and services. And, if this doesn’t completely answer your question, we welcome you to Ask Us.
As a faculty member, what can I do to help my students become more proficient researchers?
We encourage UAA and APU faculty to arrange a library instruction session for classes that involve a research assignment. You can consult with one of our librarians who will deliver course or assignment specific instruction sessions. Requesting a session can be done online via our Instruction Request Form.
Though formal library sessions tend to be the most effective means of ensuring students have the necessary skills, you may also refer students to our Services for Students page.
Are all library instructions sessions the same? I teach a 400 level Business class and most of my students said that they have already attended a library instruction session in freshman English.
Not all library instruction sessions are the same. After requesting a library session, the library instructor assigned to teach it should always contact you for specific information about what you want covered and what specific research assignments your students are assigned. In any case it is always appropriate for you to Request a Library Instruction Session to discuss your views about the content, scope, and organization of the library session. We typically provide a general overview to library resources in lower division classes but target higher-level information literacy skills in upper division classes.