FAQs | University of Illinois Springfield

Is my book ready to be picked up?

When your requested materials are ready for pick up at Brookens Library, you will receive a Hold Shelf letter via email. You may pick up your materials when the

You can also log in to your and check the status of your requested materials there, as well.

I turned in my overdue item, how long does it take to get my fees cleared?

If you received an email saying an item is overdue, fees will be waived immediately upon return.

If you received an email saying charges are being posted to your student account, then they will be removed as soon as possible. Usually this will take 1-2 business days. If these fees are affecting your ability to register for classes, please call the library to speak with us directly.

I returned an item, but I received an email saying it is lost. What should I do?

Please submit the form below and our staff will address this as soon as possible.

Once this form is received, employees will conduct a thorough check to locate the item. When found, it will be removed from your account and all fees will be waived. We kindly ask that you check your home/vehicle/etc. as our staff searches for the item. Please note: while the item is being searched for, it will remain on your library account. However, during this time, no fees for this item will be charged to your account.

Claims of returned items are accepted at the discretion of library staff.

If you prefer to talk to someone directly, please call or visit the library during

I received a notice that my library account is blocked. What should I do?

You may be blocked from requesting or checking out library books if there are several fees on your account. To resolve this issue, simply return any library materials and the block will be removed and any fees will be waived. If you have lost/damaged a book, you may be responsible for its replacement.

If you have been blocked by another I-Share institution, please contact us to resolve this issue.

I need to replace a lost/damaged book. Will you accept a different book on the same subject or a different edition?

Usually, we would like to replace the lost/damaged book with an identical item.

However, it sometimes happens that these materials are difficult to source, no longer available, or no longer relevant. In this case, we may accept different editions or different books on the same subject. This is dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Before ordering these items, please consult our staff via phone or email.

If you are unsure how to find a replacement, please reference our

How do I pick a research topic?

Choose a topic that interests you and fulfills the requirements of your assignment. As you start crafting your research question, consider the following steps.

Step 1: Identify a broad topic of interest.

For example, immigration, pollution, health disparities, or any other issue that you think could be relevant to the assignment

Step 2: Consider other variables or subtopics to narrow and focus your research.

Use the 4Ws of What? Where? Who? and When? to think about possible variables or subtopics.
Example: Here are a few possible variables for a broad topic related to water pollution.
- What? plastics, microplastics, microfiber contamination, plastic bottle waste
- Where? oceans, lakes, rivers, or a specific area of the world
- Who? whales, aquatic life, shrimp, humans, children
- When? Last 10 years, historically, 20th century

Step 3: Start to string some of your variables or sub-topics into a research question.

You may not include every W in your question, and your question may have more than one W (what, where, who, when).
Examples:
- In the past 10 years (WHEN), what impact have microplastics (WHAT) had on aquatic life (WHO) in the Pacific Ocean (WHERE)?
- To what extent is plastic bottle waste (WHAT) entering the aquatic ecosystem (WHAT) and impacting the health (WHAT) of children (WHO) in China (WHERE)?

Step 4: Make adjustments with your research criteria in mind.

As you start searching, you may find that you need to revise your research question by adjusting the variables to broaden or narrow your research question's scope.

For more detailed information about how to pick a topic, check out the tutorial.

If you need additional help, you can always email us or .

Can I receive Financial Aid as a conditional admission student?

Find info about conditional admission

What is the the alternative application for Illinois Financial Aid?

Visit the for more info

When is the time to apply for Financial Aid?

Find out more about applying for aid

When should I start the Financial Aid process?

Find out more about applying for aid