Update from the FMHI Research Library

For those FMHI/CBCS students who cannot easily visit the FMHI Research Librarywith their questions, we offer a number of services to support youracademic coursework.

Students are welcome to email us directly through the “Contact Us” link under the Menu of services on the FMHI Research Library webpage We can answer their questions on finding resources, direct students to specific resources, assist them with crafting a literature review, or walk them through how to use a database.

Another option is “AskaLibrarian,” a state-wide real-time email chat service. Look for the “AskaLibrarian” logo on the FMHI and Tampa libraries’ homepages or use the link:

Under the RESEARCH TOOLS link on the Libraries’ web pages, there are additional services:

For discipline-specific help, students may contactlibrarians who are subject-specialists [direct link:

Research Rescue [ is a series of library-skills lessons offered as interactive conferencing tutorials and face-to-face instruction. Both Research 101 and “Beyond the Basics” tutorials are available online. Students are required to register for these lessons, which include units on how to use RefWorks and EndNote.

In addition, both the FMHI Research Library and the Tampa Library offer video tutorials. Students will find a wide range of videos from basic to advance instruction in the videos.

  • Look under the Menu for Instructional Videos on the FMHI Research Library site:

Note that the FMHI tutorials are targeted at students in CBCS.

  • There are subject and course GUIDES on the FMHI Research Library website:
  • For subjects outside FMHI, look to the subject and tutorialGUIDES linksavailable on the Tampa Library website:
  • There is also a repository of teaching videos that covers all manner of software, writing skills and citation questions at

For help with written work, consider SMARTHINKING. SMARTHINKING is a service of the Writing Center (located within the Tampa Library) for off-campus or late-night writers. Students may submit a paper online with a specific request for help. That could include writing stronger first sentences in a paragraph, writing an abstract, or requesting a review of noun-verb agreement. Comments are usually returned within 24 hours. For in-person help with written work, students must make an appointment with a Writing Consultant in the Writing Center:

To obtain research material, distance learners may access digital articles and e-books, visit any of the state university libraries, or request resources through interlibrary loan (ILL). ILL will deliver articles and books (free of charge) to the student’s home; the student is responsible for the return postage to the USF Library, in sufficient time to avoid late penalties. Have a look here to see the guide and video for distance learners:

On-campus students may check resources out of the Tampa Library, the FMHI Research Library, and request materials through Inter-Library Loan. Any borrowed material may be returned to the FMHI Research Library, regardless of the original borrowing site.

As the teaching librarian in FMHI Research Library, I look forward to working with all USF students, including those who may not be able to come to the library. If you have questions about how the library can support your coursework, whether you are on campus or off, please let us know.

FMHI Research Library, MHC 1700

Claudia J. Dold, Assistant Librarian

813-974-7040

Tomaro Taylor, Associate Librarian

813-974-5750