This site uses javascript to implement some of its functionality. Please enable javascript in your web browser to ensure full functionality is available.
Photo of Someone Reading a Magazine

Blake Library

Library FAQs

Books

Periodicals (Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers)

On-line Resources/Databases

Services

Other

Blake Library Trivia

Books

How are the books organized?
The Blake Library uses the Library of Congress classification system. Each book is given a call number when it is catalogued. The call number represents the main subject of the book; therefore when all of the books are shelved in order, books on the same topic are shelved together. Call numbers beginning with letters A-HN are shelved on the first floor; HQ-Z are shelved on the second floor (see map). If you need assistance finding the book you need, do not hesitate to ask.

How do I find a book?
All of our catalogued material can be accessed through OneSearch. You can also use URSUS, the online catalog. Material can be searched by Title, Author, Subject and Keyword. For more information on URSUS, see the Help & FAQ.

The book I want isn't here. How do I get it?
There are three ways to request books from other locations:

  • Online Requestor Function: Patrons may request materials from other University of Maine System libraries electronically through the online requestor function in URSUS. When you find a book you need from another library, click on 'Request' at the top of the screen. You will need your library card handy in order to enter your barcode number. Please note that your record must be free of fines and holds in order to request materials. Should you receive the response on screen that 'Items from this location cannot be requested', please ask a librarian for assistance. You may still be able to receive the item.
  • MaineCat Function: If the book you are looking for is not in the URSUS online catalog, you can then use the MaineCat link located at the top right of the URSUS screen. MaineCat will do the same search as you did in URSUS. If your item is located, you may then request the item as you would if you were using the Requestor function. The only difference is you will be prompted to select which library you belong to. Here you would select the University of Maine Fort Kent.
  • Interlibrary Loan: Requests for articles or requests for books from libraries outside of the University of Maine System may be submitted to the Interlibrary Loan staff. Patrons may stop by the Library to fill out an Interlibrary Loan Request or may fill out the Interlibrary Loan Request Form found on the ILL forms page online.

The Library staff is committed to helping patrons access information from off-campus as easily as possible. The process does require some time, however, so it is important to plan ahead. Also, all interlibrary loan activity is subject to limitations as defined in federal copyright laws and accompanying guidelines. Patrons should be aware that books borrowed from other libraries may also be subject to fees if kept beyond the due date, and the fees levied depend upon the lending library's circulation policies. Please be aware of the due dates of your materials.

What borrowing privileges do I have?
Borrowing privileges depend upon your patron status: student, faculty/staff or community patron. Please see the Circulation Policies in order to learn about your borrowing privileges.

Why does library staff ask me to look for a book I know I returned? ?
Many times in the past a patron will truly believe they have returned a book, yet when they go back to look again, they find the book under a bed, under a car seat, behind the couch, etc. Be assured we also look for the book on our end a number of times. We always appreciate your patience and cooperation when these situations arise.

Top

Periodicals: Journals , Magazines, and Newspapers 
How do I find articles
OneSearch is how we access articles as well as all other material the library has available. One issue of Time Magazine has many articles, each on a different topic. OneSearch organizes information about these articles so that you can search for articles by keyword, author, title, subject, etc. Depending on the subject area of your search you may want to use a subject specific database. For example, if you are a nursing student, you can search the CINAHL database which is specific to nursing. Go to How do I access the databases when I am off-campus to find out more about accessing resources from away.

If you are a resident of Maine you can also access the State of Maine's online Databases. This set of databases are useful for Blake Library's community patrons who don't have access to the university databases from home. They are also useful for students who don't have their barcode with them and need to search for articles.

If you find an article you can't get online and is not available in the library, then you can fill out an interlibrary loan request found on our ILL forms page or fill a paper form out in the library (be sure to attach the citation to the form).

How are the journals, magazines, and newspapers organized?
The current hardcopy titles are located in the periodicals section on the first floor of the library (see map). They are organized by subject. If you cannot find an issue you are looking for, it may be stored with the back issues. Please ask a staff member for assistance in retrieving back issues.

How do I get an article from a periodical that UMFK doesn't own?
If you find an article you would like, and it is not available in full text online or in print in our library, you can contact library staff. You will need the citation in order for us to find the article for you at another library. The citation includes: title and author of the article, the title of the periodical (journal or magazine), the date of publication, the volume and issue number, and the page numbers.You can either fill out an interlibrary loan request found on our ILL forms page or fill a paper form out in the library (be sure to attach the citation to the form). You can also send one of the library staff the information, and we will be sure to get the information to the right person to start an ILL request.

The Library staff is committed to helping patrons access information from off-campus as easily as possible. The process does require some time, however, so it is important to plan ahead. Also, all interlibrary loan activity is subject to limitations as defined in federal copyright laws and accompanying guidelines.

What does peer reviewed mean?
Peer reviewed may also be referred to as scholarly, academic, or refereed. Articles that are peer reviewed come from journals that have a submission process. When an author wants to submit an article, his/her article is first reviewed to determine such things as appropriate content, bias, facts, research, statistics, etc. In other words the article is checked out extensively before ever being put into the journal. Time, Newsweek, and Rolling Stone are not peer reviewed.

Top

Online Resources/Databases

What can I access from home?
Anywhere you have internet access you can get to the online catalog, called URSUS to look for books or periodical titles, the databases where you find articles and other similar resources, and any other resources available on the library site. If you want to request materials in URSUS, you will need your ID/library card. Go to the "How do I access the databases when I am off-campus" FAQs for more information regarding databases.

What is Mariner?
Mariner creates a common gateway to the digital resources and collections of the University of Maine system libraries. Though we primarily use links from the Blake Library site to these collections, Mariner is one way to get to the common resources if our site is down. In addition Mariner has other useful links such as tutorials, which help patrons learn how to use our resources as well as learning the steps in the research process.

These are some of the shared resources in Mariner:

  • URSUS: If our OneSearch discovery service is down, you can look up books by Title, Author, Keyword or Subject in URSUS, our on-line catalog. Each record in the catalog displays the location, status and call number for a book.
  • Mariner Indexes and Databases: The databases allow you to search for articles in journals, magazines, newspapers, and other resources. The difference between the Blake Library Indexes & Databases interface and Mariner is the list of databases is already limited to just what Fort Kent is able to use. 

How can I find good web resources?
The Internet is a vast resource of information. The librarians at UMFK have carefully chosen web sites that are found in the different subject guides to help you with your research. You can also review the Evaluating Web Sites link to learn more about finding good web resources. Otherwise you are welcome to set up a one on one instruction session with a librarian. See the Reference and Instruction page to find out more.

To make sure you have peer reviewed or scholarly articles in the databases you are searching to find articles, there is usually a check off box labeled peer reviewed within the limiters section. Once you have checked this box, then your searches will only include peer reviewed articles. See "What does peer reviewed mean?" to learn more.

How do I access the databases when I am off-campus
To access the databases off campus, students, faculty, and staff will be prompted to sign in with either their Portal login information or their last name and BengalBadge ID number (barcode). Though the BengalBadge is not necessary to access online resources, it is still necessary to have to request books online, renew materials, and access your user account. It is also helpful to have as a backup if you are not able to access resources with your portal login information (e.g. password expired).

If you are taking classes on campus and need to get a BengalBadge, you will need to visit Student Services in Cyr Hall. Once they process your BengalBadge, you can pick it up in the library.

If you are a student taking classes at a distance, you can use our ID card/library card application.

If you are unable to access the online resources, and have already tried, please contact Sofia Birden, (sbirden@maine.edu) 207-834-7527, for additional help. Important: If you get an error page that gives you an IP address, please have the IP address available when calling or emailing.

What are periodicals, and can we access them online?
Periodicals are Journals, Magazines, Newspapers, and other similar resources. Some of the print periodicals we subscribe to are available online. You can search the online catalog, URSUS, to find specific periodicals we have available in print and full text online. You can also browse a list of periodicals that Blake Library has in print on our Serials page or the full text journals on the Blake Library Serials Solutions page.

Top

Services

Why does the library only serve coffee on weeknights and weekends?

The bookstore and Bengal's Lair provides coffee during the day. We provide coffee when they cannot.

Does it cost to scan documents at the library? 
No. You can scan as many documents as you need on the computer and scanner next to the reference desk or in the library computer lab. Staff is available to help you if you are not sure what to do.

Is color copying available at the library? 
No. However, you can scan your color documents, save them to your H drive or thumb drive, then print them in color. Staff is available to help you if you are not sure what to do.

Someone is talking too loud in the quiet zone of the library, what do I do? 
You can come get library staff, and we will be discreet about asking the person or persons to lower their voices. You can also use the chat service found on the library site to send us a quick chat letting us know of the noise. Letting us know right away allows us to solve the problem right then and remind students they need to keep their voices down. If we don't know until later that there was an issue, we are unable to address the problem.

Where do I get a library card? 
If you are a student, your library card is the same as your Bengal Badge. If you do not have a Bengal Badge yet, you need to go to student services to get your picture taken. When the badge is created it is then sent to the library where you pick it up.

Top

What services are available for distance learners?

Distance learners are those students who are registered and take UMFK classes but who do not come to campus for their classes. The Library staff endeavors to make the same services available to both on-campus and distance learners. For detailed explanation on services for distance learners try UMFK's Distance Learning Site.

What services are available for patrons with disabilities?
The Library staff endeavors to make all of our services available to all of our users. The first floor of the Library is wheelchair accessible through the main entrance of the building facing the quad. The staff is happy to help those with special needs access our materials.

Top

Blake Library Trivia

What is the history of the Blake Library?
The University of Maine at Fort began as a regional teachers' college in 1878. A library was created soon afterward in 1885 to support the students. The library was housed in a classroom for many years until a growth spurt in the late 1950's. The gymnasium, built in 1929, was converted to the library in 1965-66. The library was dedicated as the Waneta T. Blake Library, and its collection numbered 15,000 volumes at the time. The building has been expanded since then and now holds nearly 60,000 volumes.

Who was Waneta T. Blake?
Waneta T. Blake was an instructor and part-time librarian at UMFK from 1933 until 1963. She oversaw a large increase in the collection during her time at the library. After her retirement, the library was moved to the former gymnasium and was dedicated with her name. She died in 1971 and is buried in the cemetery adjacent to the campus.

Top