Subject Guides: Graduate Student Research Tips & Tricks: Research Services and Support

Meet Your Subject Librarian

Subject Librarians by Academic Department
Every department has a subject librarian who is available for one-on-one research assistance as well as individual class instruction. Use the link above to find your subject librarian. We look forward to working with you!
Research Guides by Subject Librarian
Find resources and research strategies that support your teaching and scholarship. These have been curated by subject librarians who work closely with faculty and staff in departments across campus.

Find Resources for Graduate Student Research

Access Articles

Recommended Databases by Subject
Use databases to find articles, conference papers, technical reports, datasets, and more in your subject area. Your subject librarian can help you address any questions about these databases.

Having trouble accessing an article? When you hit a paywall on the open web, or an error message in one of our databases, try the following:

Clear your browser's cache. This trick works well to clear up small technical issues. Find out more information about cached data here.
Article Linker is a tool that can help you find the full text of an article you've discovered in one of our databases. See a tutorial for Article Linker here: Article Linker Tutorial.
If none of the above works (or if Article Linker isn't showing up), you can directly access a journal by searching for the journal title in the URSUS Catalog. Open the catalog in a new window, then cut and paste the journal title in the search bar. Follow the links until you find the journal, and then search for the article title within the journal to access the full text.
If we don't subscribe to a particular journal, you can see if there is a legally available, open access copy of an article in the UnPaywall database. If there's not a legally available, open access copy, you can request the article for free through Interlibrary Loan.
If you still have problems accessing the material you want, Ask a Librarian! We can help you figure out next steps.

Ursus Libraries Proxy Bookmarklet
The Ursus Libraries Proxy Bookmarklet allows you to quickly and easily access restricted journal articles and other electronic resources you find when doing research outside of the University's website. For example, if you are doing your research via Google, and you find a link to a resource that is only available for a fee, the proxy bookmarklet will reload the page through the University's proxy server and provide you with full text access to the resource if we subscribe to it.
How to Set up Library Links in Google Scholar
Want to access Fogler Library resources when searching Google Scholar, and avoid the dreaded page that asks you to pay to access an article? This quick and easy guide will walk you through the process of setting up library links.

Search for Books

URSUS
University of Maine System library catalog, that also includes holdings from the Bangor Public Library, Maine State Library, Maine State Archives, and Maine State Law & Legislative Reference Library
MaineCat
Maine statewide catalog. You can place requests for items within MaineCat to have them delivered to UMaine.
WorldCat
WorldCat is a catalog of materials held in libraries worldwide. You can place Interlibrary Loan (ILL) requests for items within WorldCat to have them delivered to UMaine.

Find Theses & Dissertations

For detailed information on the Thesis & Dissertations available through Fogler Library, the Thesis & Dissertations Research> Guide is a great place to start. Below are some of the key databases outlined on the Thesis & Dissertations Guide:

University of Maine Dissertations & Theses
Access a large number of UMaine's electronic theses & dissertations, full text primarily from 1996-present but with scattered additional theses from previous years. For records you find with abstracts only, you will find the print dissertations in Special Collections.

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global
Find full text theses for graduate works published since 1997, along with selected full text for works written prior to 1997.

DART-Europe E-Theses Portal
Access nearly 600,000 European theses and dissertations.

Find Grants for Research or Creative Projects

Fogler has an online guide to finding funding for research and creative projects. You'll find proposal writing resources, open access publishing options (including Digital Commons and Maine Dataverse), and powerful grantseeking databases. Grants 101 workshops take place throughout the year - contact Jen Bonnet with any questions.

Learn about Key Services

Book Retrieval Service
University of Maine faculty, staff, and graduate assistants may use URSUS or MaineCat to request that books located at Fogler Library be sent to your Orono campus office.
Circulation (and Your Library Card!)
Using their MaineCard, graduate students are able to check out up to 500 books at a time for a semester-long loan. Exceptions to the semester-long checkout include Special Collections materials, materials from other libraries that have shorter checkout periods, and recalled items.
Government Documents
Fogler Library is a regional depository for U.S. Government publications. We are a selective depository for Canadian materials, and we have United Nations documents. For government documents assistance, you can email gregory.t.curtis@maine.edu.
Group Study Rooms
Three group study rooms are available for UMaine students. Two of these spaces are shared with the Tutor Program and Writing Center. Reserve a room at the Circulation/Reserves Desk.
Interlibrary Loan
The Fogler Library Interlibrary Loan Department works with other libraries and information providers to obtain research materials not held by Fogler Library (e.g., pdf copies of journal articles or book chapters). This service is free for students, faculty, and staff.
IT Consultant
There is an IT Consultant available to provide support, troubleshooting, and assistance for campus email, printing, software, and general computer problems.
Lockers
Fogler Library has a number of lockers available for loan each semester. The lockers are located on the first and third floors of the building and are reserved for University of Maine students and faculty.
Media Equipment Loans
Check out adapters, recorders, projectors, laptops, microphones, cameras, and other media for projects and/or teaching.
New Acquisitions
Interested in the most recent materials acquired by Fogler Library? You will find monthly lists that you can sort according to call number (or search by keyword). Many materials in Communication Studies and Journalism are located in the P and PN call numbers.
Printing & Scanning
Students are given $16.00 on their MaineCard each semester to use for printing at any of the Uniprint locations (incuding Fogler).

Scanning to email is free and is available on three separate machines in the Information Commons.
Reserves
Will you be teaching while at UMaine? You can place readings on reserve for students in your courses. Reserve materials are either hardcopy (at desk) or electronic (24/7 internet access).
Special Collections
Researching anything related to the state of Maine or to the university? Special Collections has you covered with resources and expert staff to assist you.
Tutorials
Our tutorials are designed to provide overviews of library services, tools, and research tips.