Library and Research
The Five Branches University (FBU) Library serves both the Santa Cruz and San Jose campuses; providing access and delivery of accurate, reliable, useable and up-to-date information resources to support the instructional, clinical and research needs of students, faculty and staff. Users also include distance education users, such as our alumni and other TCM practitioners who use library services through our online catalog/resource page. A PowerPoint presentation of library services, search tips, and orientation to PubMed is also available here.
The Library has accumulated over the years a physical collection of 6,000 monograph, serial and audio/visual volumes in English, Chinese and Korean on subjects such as: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Integrated Medicine, Public Health and Western Medicine. The collection also includes materials ranging from Asian Art and Literature to Modern Science, Psychology and Business Management. The Library has twenty current serials subscriptions.
Access to this collection is available from a searchable online web based catalog in the library and by remote access. Bibliographic records for these materials are created by a licensed librarian according to national library standards to ensure future interoperability. The database is searchable by author, title, subject and keyword headings. A web-based program also facilitates advanced Boolean searches. The online web based catalog also provides linkes to nearby public and medical libraries.
For students in San Jose, the Planetree Library at Good Samaritan Hospital near the San Jose campus is available to students at no cost. In addition, Five Branches students can gain unlimited access to the University of California library system at UCSC with material checkout privileges for a small fee. Efforts are underway to forge partnerships with other institutions to augment the resources offered by the Library.
Library Hours
Library hours will be posted at the beginning of each semester. Hours will vary by campus and semester. In general, during the spring and fall semesters, the Santa Cruz library is open Monday 9:30-4:30 pm, Tuesday through Thursday 9:00 am-6:00 pm, and Friday 10:00 am-2:00 pm; during the winter and summer intersessions the hours will be reduced. The Santa Cruz library is closed Saturday and Sunday. The San Jose library tends to stay open later, sometimes until 8:00pm; however, the hours should be checked at the beginning of each semester.
Orientation and Regulations
For newly entering students, an orientation to the library will be provided within the first couple weeks of the semester. During this orientation, the students will be given a general tour of library materials and available services. At this time, students will be provided with a set of instructions and regulations for library use.
E-Newsletter
The FBU library E-newsletter aims to keep the students abreast of changes to library hours/semester breaks, additions to the library materials/services, current projects being completed by library staff, reminders of library policy or changes to policy, and library work-study opportunities.
Quiet Oasis
The goal of the FBU library is to provide a space where students will be able to focus on studying and research, therefore cell phone use, food, and loud discussion are not allowed in either campus libraries. The students are able to “get in that last bit of preparation before an exam or lecture” without interruption by using the on-campus library facilities.
Computer Labs
Each campus library offers computers for student use. The Santa Cruz campus has three and the San Jose campus has two computers available to students.
Wireless internet access is available in the library and in many other areas of the school. E-email access is also available through the library computers; however, students needing to research for class and clinic are given priority access. The library web based online catalog is available from mobile devices. Some of the databases such as PubMed are also transmitting to handheld devises.
Photocopy Machine and Printing
A photocopy machine with double-siding capabilities is available for student use in the Santa Cruz campus; San Jose requires librarian assistance. Copies are $.10 per side. Each campus also has a laser jet printer which is connected to the computers available for student use. Just as with copies, printing costs $.10 per side.
Required and Recommended Academic Texts
The FBU library keeps copies of the texts required for classes in the reference section in each campus. Students have found this access especially beneficial when they have forgotten to bring their texts for the day or are waiting for financial aid distributions before buying texts.
Clinic Research
During clinic hours, many of our students use the on-campus library computers for research. For example, a student may want to research more information about his/her patient’s past medical conditions. Or, in the case of a sports injury, the student may want to find and print a summary of post-treatment stretches for his/her patient. Because the library is on-campus, this research can be completed between patients or while the patient is relaxing, with needles in place, on the treatment table.
The FBU library offers access to research databases such as MedConsult and PubMed through our website. In fact, the library provides full text and intern library loan capabilities from PubMed for University students and staff. In addition, the library provides students with an instructional slide-show to help students use the research databases we offer.
Exam Preparation
FBU Cumulative Exam Information
Practice tests and general study suggestion material for the FBU cumulative exams are kept in the reference section of the Santa Cruz library; San Jose may, in the future, also offer these resources.
National and State Exam Information
Practice tests, general study suggestion material, and instructions for the State and National exams are kept in the reference section of the Santa Cruz library; San Jose may, in the future, also offer these resources. In addition, we keep the texts required for each exam stocked in the reference section of each campus.
Conferences and Lecture Materials
The FBU library offers copies of lectures and conferences related to TCM and massage. For example, for those unable to attend the recent Fascia Research Congress, a DVD copy of the proceedings has just been added to our Santa Cruz campus and will be available for student check-out.
Work-study Opportunities
The FBU library offers employment opportunities for in-coming and currently attending work-study students. This is a great way to earn extra income without the stress of finding an employer flexible enough to deal with the ever-changing schedules and needs of a graduate student.