The staff at McCain Library recognizes that not all Erskine Theological Seminary students are able to be on campus on a regular basis to utilize our library resources and services in person. In an effort to assist students who live a considerable distance from campus or may be taking classes at one of the Seminary’s extension sites or through the EDEN program, we have created this guide to distance education resources and services. This guide is designed to help you access both electronic and print resources as well as the staff assistance you may need to support your academic coursework.
McCain Library Online Catalog
Use the Library Catalog to search for books, videos, CDs, etc. in the McCain Library collections. The Library Catalog allows you to view your patron record to renew items online and more.
Electronic Databases
The Databases section of the McCain Library website contains links to over 100 general and specialized databases that provide electronic access to indexes, abstracts, full-text journals, and other online content. A few of these databases are available only in the library or on the Erskine campus, but the majority are accessible off-campus, including your home and work. You may browse the available databases by subject or alphabetical listing.
Off-campus access to McCain Library’s electronic databases requires a login. For help with this process, see the instructions for off-campus access.
If you need assistance connecting with a database, email the library or call the Reference Desk at (864) 379-4348.
IMPORTANT: You will need a Erskine student ID number in order to access the library’s electronic resources from off-campus. If you are a current student at Erskine and do not have an Erskine student ID number, contact Jennifer Cooley (864-379-8701) in Student Services for instructions on how to recieve your student ID number and card.
Electronic Journals
McCain Library provides access to the full text of many online journals, magazines, and newspapers through periodical subscriptions and full-text databases. Use the Electronic Journal Finder to search (default) or browse (choose the “Titles” tab) for available titles. If you need assistance connecting with the full-text content, email the library or call the Reference Desk at (864) 379-4348.
Electronic Books
Over 36,000 electronic books (or e-books) are available to Erskine students from NetLibrary. The e-book collection is searchable from the NetLibray website or the McCain Library Catalog. Before using the collection, authorized Erskine users need to create a free personal NetLibrary account.
First-time NetLibrary e-book users: Creating a NetLibrary Account and Accessing eBooks
Registered NetLibrary e-book users: Search the e-book collection using NetLibrary or the McCain Library Catalog
Requesting Books and Journal Articles Owned by McCain Library
BOOKS in McCain Library:
If available for use, McCain Library will send a requested book from the library’s collection to registered Erskine Seminary students through theLibrary Materials by Mail program. (Use the McCain Library Catalog first to determine if McCain Library owns a particular book.) At your request, the book is checked out in your name and sent to you via postal mail. You are responsible for returning the book to McCain Library in time for it to be received on or before the due date. You also are responsible for the cost of return postage. Overdue fines apply at a rate of $0.10 per day per item. Up to two renewals are permitted. You may log in your library patron account to renew your books online. (What is this?) Alternatively, you may send an email or call the Circulation Desk at (864) 379-8714.
JOURNAL ARTICLES in McCain Library:
Articles from journals are photocopied or scanned and sent as email attachments, by fax, or by postal mail. Photocopies do not need to be returned to the library.
Request a journal article from the McCain Library collection
Borrowing Materials Owned by Other Libraries
PASCAL Delivers:
Erskine’s McCain Library participates in the statewide Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries (PASCAL). One of PASCAL’s programs, PASCAL Delivers, provides a way for any student currently enrolled in one of South Carolina’s colleges or universities to borrow books from any S.C. college or university library.
After checking the McCain Library Catalog to make sure McCain Library does not own a particular book, an Erskine student may use the PASCAL link built into the McCain Library Catalog to see if any other S.C. college or university library owns a copy of the book. If another library does own a copy that is available for use, the student may request online the use of the book from inside the PASCAL Catalog. The book will be sent to McCain Library in Due West. The library, in turn, will need to send it to the student in the postal mail. The student is then responsible for returning the book to McCain Library (including the cost of return postage) on or before the due date. The checkout period for books borrowed through PASCAL Delivers is 6 weeks (with no renewals).
Click here for a PASCAL Delivers tutorial.
For more information about PASCAL Delivers, contact the library.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL):
If an Erskine student needs a journal/magazine/newspaper article not owned by McCain Library or a book that is not available through PASCAL Delivers, that student may request the item through a service called Interlibrary Loan. Requested materials are sent to McCain Library, and the library then distributes the materials to you.
You may request the use of this service or learn more about it by email, phone [(864) 379-8747], fax [(864) 379-2900], online ILL request form, or postal mail.
Online Library Research Guides
McCain Library provides general and subject-related online guides designed to assist you with your research needs and to instruct you in the use of various library services. The library is continually updating the guides, so continue to check this area of the library website.
Reference Assistance
Librarians are available to help you identify and locate information sources. Contact the Reference Desk by email or phone [(864) 379-8784 or toll free (877) 876-4348].
Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements with Other Libraries
McCain Library participates in several reciprocal borrowing programs. As a registered Erskine student, you may be able to borrow items in person from libraries in your local area. For libraries that make their collections available to Erskine students, you will need to present your Erskine student ID in order to check out items. If you are a current student at Erskine and do not have an Erskine student ID, contact Jennifer Cooley (864-379-8701) in Student Services for instructions on how to recieve your student ID number and card.
For more information about the use of other libraries, contact McCain Library.
South Carolina Statewide Library Borrowing Agreement (PASCAL):
Reciprocal library borrowing privileges are offered to students enrolled in the colleges and universities with libraries participating in PASCAL.
Atlanta Theological Association Borrowing Agreement:
Through the Atlanta Theological Association, McCain Library has a formal agreement with the libraries of the Candler School of Theology (Emory University), Columbia Theological Seminary, the Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta University Center), and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.
Other Borrowing Agreements:
McCain Library also has formal agreements with Columbia International University, Davidson College, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Montreat College, Paine College, Reformed Theological Seminary-Charlotte, Charleston County Library, Greenville County Library, Greenwood County Library, Greenwood Genetics Center, and Self Regional Healthcare Medical Library.
Other Services to Distance Learners
Beyond the library, here are some other Erskine services available to distance learners:
Request an Erskine Student ID Card and Number
If you are a current student at Erskine and do not have an Erskine student ID, contact Jennifer Cooley (864-379-8701) in Student Services for instructions on how to recieve your student ID number and card.
Erskine Campus Bookstore
Course textbooks, supplies, and Erskine merchandise are available for purchase from the Campus Bookstore.
EDEN Website
Access EDEN course content, online classrooms, syllabi, and policies. For general inquiries, contact the EDEN office at 866.596.EDEN (3336) or eden@erskine.edu.
EDEN Technical Support
Send email to EDEN Technical Support to request technical/computer assistance related to accessing online EDEN course content or the EDEN program in general.
Moodle Online Classroom Environment
Access the Erskine Seminary online class content. (Requires login by registered students)
