Decker Library

Help

Decker Library Home Search the Catalog Book Your Librarian
Home
Libraries
Decker Library
Help
With so many resources and services... you might have some questions. Luckily, we have answers!

Decker Library offers a lot of resources for our patrons. As a result, we encourage users to check in with us as they navigate our stacks and space. Our Help section is meant to provide answers for any common questions you may have.

For information related to your Library account, overdue materials, Holds, Interlibrary Loan, and more, contact us at circ@mica.edu. 

For research help, contact us at refer@mica.edu. 

Frequently Asked Questions

At this time we are only able to accept donations that will enhance and contribute to our Special Collections. Special Collections include rare books, artists’ books, design material samples, and archival collections or records, including AV materials directly relevant to MICA.

Before donating, prospective donors must first complete our Donation Form. Please have an itemized list ready before filling out form.

 

Fill out donation form

See our collection policies

Please take a look at our Graduate Theses page. There you'll find a Google Form link (where you will submit your PDF/A and provide information about your work) and resources such as how to create a PDF/A file and our website for best practices for Personal Digital Archiving.

When the library is open to the public for art and design research, alumni are welcome to use materials and databases at the library after graduating. Please check our homepage if we are currently open to the public. 

If you're alum and you'd like to check out books or items from the Film and Video Collection, you can purchase an alumni card for $25 per year. Contact us at circ@mica.edu for more information or visit the Alumni Card page. 

Due to subscription license limitations, alumni do not have access to research databases (articles, online media, etc.) off-site.

Our librarians are available for one-on-one research consultations to help you develop your research roadmap, learn more about our resources, and more. Pick your program on Calendly to find a time. 

There are a couple ways to find artists' books: 

1. Search the Library Catalog (type in an artists' name or other keyword). You can limit your search to Special Collections, then use Filters to limit to Artists' Books under Format.

2. Browse digitized items from the Artists' Books collection on the MICA Digital Library. Keep in mind not all items from this collection are digitized and available here. 

Once you've identified an artists' book you'd like to view in person, you can request an item or items when the Research Help desk is open. During the academic semester hours are: 

- Monday through Thursday: 12pm-6pm
- Friday: 12pm-4:30pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 12pm-6pm

Summer and Winter Break hours will differ. Check the homepage for Research Help hours. Questions? Contact us at refer@mica.edu. 

Yes, users able to physically access our library can print documents from any computer in the library, your laptop, or your mobile device. Payment should be made using your MICARD.

Text-only printing works best in the library, we suggest printing any art and design-related work that consists of more than simply text at Art Tech Center. 

See the Printing page for more information.

Take a look at the Renew Materials page!

You can either suggest we purchase it or request that we borrow an item on your behalf from another library (a service called Interlibrary Loan).

Purchasing items typically takes up to a month or longer and therefore should not be used for items needed right away. We suggest requesting items through Interlibrary Loan if you are under a time constraint. Take a look at the Borrow from Other Libraries page for more information.

You can find text-based and video tutorials on our Tutorials page, as well as our Vimeo page. 

Search for anything and everything at MICA: