GIL is the Macon State College Library's online catalog. It can be accessed by clicking on the “Find a book (Classic GIL)” link on the Library's home page. Books may be searched by keyword or by using exact search such as title or author. GIL may also be used to locate videos, electronic books and periodicals. In addition, students may search for items on reserve under “Course Reserves”.

• Click here for several tutorials on how to use Classic GIL

GIL-Find is an open-source software project that was designed to improve searching of library catalogs and other Web-based resources. It can help improve the user experience in searching the catalog and in some ways takes more advantage of the subject headings of the traditional catalog. The Find a book (GIL-Find) link can be found on the Library's home page and on the drop down menu under Library

• Click here for a tutorial on how to use GIL-Find

Circulating books are checked out for a period of four weeks. If you need items beyond that time the checkout can be renewed. To renew a book you can bring the book to the circulation desk along with your Student ID, call (478)-471-2709 to renew over the phone, or go online to your GIL account and renew there. If you have a GIL Express book from another Library, it must be renewed online through your GIL account prior to the due date or your account will be blocked.

• Click here for a tutorial on renewing your books

Course reserves are additional materials put on reserve by the faculty. Reserve items may be physical (print/film) or electronic. The check-out period for physical, or print/film reserves varies at the request of the instructor. Course textbooks may be on reserve at the discretion of the instructor. The Library no longer purchases textbooks to put on reserve. Students not returning items within the allotted time will incur a $1.00 per day fine.

Electronic reserves are available 24/7 and you will never be charged a late fee. In order to access these reserves you will need two things - Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat Reader (http://get.adobe.com/reader). We have found that problems occur when trying to view electronic reserves with other browsers such as Mozilla Firefox.

• Click here for tutorial on how to find physical and e-reserves

GIL Express is a service offered at all libraries within the University System of Georgia (USG). The service is an innovative resource sharing initiative that allows students, faculty and staff access to all eligible circulating material at all USG libraries. GIL Express is available to all eligible patrons through both an on site (walk up) requesting service and a remote requesting service.

• Click here for a tutorial on using GIL Express
• GIL Express FAQ's

GALILEO is a collection of over 200 electronic databases which indexes thousands of      periodicals and scholarly journals. Over 2000 periodical titles are provided in full text. Some of the databases are subject specific while others are more general in nature. Not all databases have full-text articles. It is important to choose the best database for your topic. You can start your search from the GALILEO link “Find an article” on the Library’s webpage or specific databases found in the Subject Guides.

• Click here for a tutorial on finding articles in GALILEO
• Click here for a tutorial on finding peer-reviewed articles in GALILEO
• Click here for a tutorial on finding a specific article in GALILEO
• Click here for tutorials on specific GALILEO and Macon State database

Many times in your research you will come across periodical citations GALILEO or in references and you need the full-text. There are two ways you can go about locating a periodical. One way is through GALILEO and the online catalog, GIL. The second is through the Find a Journal, which allows you to locate periodical titles that are available in all our library research databases in a “one-stop shopping concept” and allows patrons to search by title or subject.

The tutorial will show you how to go about finding a full-text article, and if one is not available what your options are.

• Click here for a tutorial on how to find a full-text article through GALILEO if it's not available.
• Click here for a tutorial on how to find a full-text article from a reference citation

Credo Reference is an easy to use tool for research projects and homework. A giant online collection that searches hundreds of encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations and subject specific titles as well as 200,000+ images and audio files and nearly 100 videos.

• Keyword searching in Credo Reference
• Advanced searching in Credo Reference
• Using Credo Reference’s “Find a Book” feature

The Concept Map displays the connections between search results in a visual, interactive and easy-to-use format. It enables users to quickly find information when they don't know what to look for, when they need topic ideas for papers or research projects, or want to expand their knowledge of a given area.

• How to use the Credo Concept Map

Topic Pages provide context and vocabulary around a subject.  They act as a research starting point on one easy to navigate page.

• How to Use Topic Page

eBooks on EBSCOhost is a collection of over 30,000 full text electronic books. These are available to currently enrolled Macon State College students, as well as faculty and staff. You can set up an account which will enable you to:

• Save your preferences
• Save and retrieve your search history
• Gain access to your saved research remotely
• Organize your research with folders
• Create email alerts and/or RSS feeds

eBooks on EBSCOhost is a GALILEO database and can be accessed both on and off campus via GIL or GALILEO. Off-campus access through GALILEO requires the use of your email username and password. Search for eBooks on EBSCOhost as you would any GALILEO database, by name in the Databases A-Z list.

• Click here to create an EBSCOhost account
• Click here to learn about the eBook Viewer
• Click here to learn how to search for eBooks on EBSCOhost
• Click here to learn how to download ebooks from eBooks on EBSCOhost
• Click here to learn how to take notes on eBook

Ebrary's Academic Complete Collection provides a comprehensive database of more than 41,000 titles in 16 key subject areas. These are available to currently enrolled Macon State College students, faculty and staff. This collection can be accessed both on and off campus via GIL or GALILEO. Off-campus access through GALILEO requires the use of the current GALILEO password. Search for Ebrary as you would any GALILEO database, by name in the Databases A-Z list.

• Click here for overview on how to search for electronic books and other features

Macon State College Library subscribes to approximately 225 print periodicals which include: professional journals, magazines, newsletters, and newspapers. Periodicals may be used only in the Library. Use the online catalog, GIL, to determine if the Library subscribes to the periodical and view a summary of the holdings. Bound periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title on the shelves following the current periodicals. Some may be on microfilm or microfiche.

Back issues of magazines, journals and newspapers are photographically converted to either microfilm or microfiche. Microfilm is stored alphabetically in cabinets on the second floor in the corner next to the periodicals. To obtain microfiche, please ask a Library staff person for assistance. One microform viewer/copier is available. Copies are $ .10 per page. Use GIL to see if the Library subscribes to the periodical and what years are available on microfilm/microfiche.

• Click here for a tutorial on using GIL to find microfilm, microfiche, print journals and magazines

Whenever doing research, you are likely to find lots of information on your topic. It is important to that you select the best information to use. Evaluating all sources used in research is essential, but there are some special guidelines you should follow when evaluating Web sites.

• Click here for information on evaluating web resources