Library Services and Programs

At the library, we like to think of ourselves as a trusted partner on your journey of self-discovery and learning. We offer a range of services, but they all share a common goal: to help you find what you need.

Ask a Librarian

• 
  Schedule a research consultation
• 
  Send an email
• 
  Call 616-395-7904
• 
  Text 616-765-4673
• Chat with Research Help
  
  * View the library's Online Chat Policy.

Library and Information Literacy Education

Hope librarians teach an array of library and information literacy instruction sessions in both gen ed and discipline-specific classes. For more information, contact Todd Wiebe (wiebe@hope.edu).

Learn more about library and information literacy education at Hope 

Our librarians have also created interactive asynchronous tutorials designed to teach students a variety of information literacy skills.

Browse our online tutorials 

Circulation & Borrowing

Van Wylen Library loans materials to the Hope College community and the general public. The Circulation Desk is located on the first floor of the library and is open during all hours of library operation. For assistance, visit us in person, call 395-7905 or send an email to circ@hope.edu.

• Renew checked-out materials
• Place requests on library materials
• Your borrowing privileges
• Loan and checkout periods
• Overdue, lost and damaged items
• Suggest a purchase
• Find course reserves

Borrow from Other Libraries (ILL)

With Interlibrary Loan (ILL), you can borrow items not owned by Van Wylen Library. Before requesting anything through ILL, make sure to check our library catalog and MeLCat. MeLCat is a statewide lending service that typically sends items faster than traditional ILL does.

• Request articles from magazines, journals or newspapers
• Request physical books and ebooks
• Request chapters or essays from books
• Request DVDs or CDs
• Request materials from the Center for Research Libraries
• Renew your ILL items

Digital Liberal Arts Support

Digital Liberal Arts methodologies and projects are incorporated into scholarship and are often assigned as course projects. For assistance with these projects, please reach out to the Digital Liberal Arts Librarian or check out the Digital Media Lab for assistance with technology during open hours.

Learn more about the Digital Liberal Arts 

Digital Media Lab

Van Wylen Library's Digital Media Lab (DML), located on the 2nd floor, is staffed by student tutors and is open to all Hope College faculty, staff and students.

Specific lab capabilities include self-serve audio/video editing, image manipulation, graphic design, research poster layout and basic productivity (e.g., MS Office and Adobe Acrobat Pro). The lab provides access to color and large format poster printing, lamination, binding, book scanners and Ellison Die Cuts. We also offer a small supply of items for sale.

Visit the Digital Media Lab 

Citation & Plagiarism Resources

Need help with citations? The library has you covered!

Citations and Style Formatting

• MLA and APA Help: Tips on citing sources and formatting research papers in MLA or APA format
  • MLA Handbook (print version at Research Help Desk)
  • APA Manual (print version at Research Help Desk)
• Chicago Manual of Style Online: Covers all aspects of academic writing and publishing, including citation guides for notes and bibliographies
• NLM (National Library of Medicine): Style Guide
• ACS (American Chemical Society) Guide to Scholarly Communication
  • ACS Style Quick Guide
  • Print version at Research Help Desk
• Excelsior OWL: Support for APA, MLA, and Chicago documentation styles
• KnightCite: For quickly generating single MLA, APA, or Chicago Style citations

See all writing style guides available at the library (print versions at Research Help Desk)

Organizing and Keeping Track of Your Sources

We recommend Zotero. Zotero is a free citation management tool that can help with creating citations and storing sources as well as organizing your research through a tagging system, relationship building and note taking.

• EndNote Web: A cloud-based bibliographic management and source documentation system to help you collect, organize, and use citations (account required using 1Hope email address)

Plagiarism Information

• Online Plagiarism Tutorial
  • Plagiarism Tutorial Text
• Hope College’s Academic Integrity Policy
• For Faculty: Plagiarism Procedures

Technology Lending

We have MacBooks, Chromebooks, camcorders, adapters and other equipment for you to borrow. Ask at the 1st Floor Circulation desk.

Available technology 

Printing at the Library

Black-and-white printers are located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the library. Printing is free from the library's public computers, but there are limits of 100 pages per print job and 25 copies per print job.

To print using your own computer, follow these instructions.

For color printing, two walk-up print stations are available at the Digital Media Lab on the 2nd floor. A maximum of 50 color copies may be printed and there is a charge for printing. We accept cash, credit or department charge only.

For larger quantities of color printing or poster printing needs, please submit a print order with Campus Print and Mail Services.

Wireless Access (Wi-Fi)

The library offers free Wi-Fi access to Hope College students, faculty and staff. For assistance setting up your wireless consult with Library Digital Media Lab staff or CIT.

Wi-Fi network name and password