3.5 LIBRARIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

The University of Alabama provides research library facilities and services to its faculty, students, staff, and other scholars and information users through a system of discipline-related libraries. Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, serving the humanities, social sciences, and arts is centrally located on the University Quadrangle. Three other units are located adjacent to their discipline-related teaching areas: Angelo Bruno Business Library, McLure Education Library, and Eric and Sarah Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering. The W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library is located on the second floor of Mary Harmon Bryant Hall. Under separate administration are the Health Sciences Library located in the University Medical Center, the Bounds Law Library located in the Law Center, and the Map Library located in Farrah Hall.

The libraries combined hold more than two million cataloged items. In addition to book and microform materials, the collections include a broad selection of journals, newspapers, and other serial titles in paper and electronic format. The libraries serve as the regional depository for United States government publications. Through interlibrary loan and document delivery services, the library provides options for obtaining materials unavailable in the University's collections.

The W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library contains materials related to Alabama and the Deep South (including manuscripts), rare editions, Confederate imprints, pamphlets, maps, archives of the University, and Alabama state publications.

The University Libraries' website at http://www.lib.ua.edu provides all library users with off-site access to library information resources and services. Tutorials and FAQs on the website assist students and faculty in making effective off-site use of library resources and services.

The Libraries' catalog, e-journals, e-books, and a wide variety of databases may be accessed in the computer areas in each library as well as throughout the building via the wireless network. Materials for course reserves are provided in print and electronic format, and reference service is delivered in person, through chat in real time, and by e-mail. The libraries have a variety of study area options, including group study rooms, individual study desks, and scattered soft seating.

Librarians with subject expertise assist library users with specialized research needs. Library instruction classes are offered on campus to assist students and faculty with research and teaching. For students working on class projects or individual papers, expert assistance is provided in the library's center for digital media production in Gorgas Library.

The University's libraries are committed to providing service and access to information resources equally to all library users. Library services supporting distance education are available by telephone and through the University Libraries' website.

The University of Alabama has an academic membership in the Association of Research Libraries, a selective group of institutions emphasizing research and graduate instruction at the doctoral level and supporting large, comprehensive collections of library materials. The University's libraries also hold memberships in the Center for Research Libraries, the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, the Southeastern Library Network, the Coalition for Networked Information, and the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GRADUATE CATALOG

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Update: Sep. 2007