The University Library

The University Library provides a wide array of print, non-print, and electronic information resources, which are housed in the main Parks Library, the Veterinary Medical Library, and four subject-oriented reading rooms (design, economics and sociology, mathematics, and physical sciences). The library’s extensive collections support research and study for all ISU graduate programs, with the strongest support at the Ph.D. level. These collections are nationally recognized for their strengths in basic and applied fields of biological and physical sciences. Library holdings include more than 2,203,800 volumes and approximately 21,600 serial subscriptions. 

The library encourages use of its collections and many services, and assistance is provided at nine public service desks. These desks include the Reference Desk, Reserve and Media Services, Interlibrary Loan, the Circulation Desk, the Periodical and Newspaper Room, the Microforms Center, Special Collections, the Map Room, and Document Delivery/Photoduplication. In addition, instruction in the use of library resources is offered to graduate and undergraduate students.

The library’s e-Library, accessed through the Internet, provides access to the local on-line catalog; indexing and abstracting databases; electronic journals; and selected Internet sites. Assistance in using this vast of body of electronic resources is available at the Reference Desk and through individually arranged appointments with reference librarians.
The Parks Library has a limited number of research studies available for faculty, graduate students and professional and scientific staff. They are intended for research and other scholarly activities that require extensive use of library material. Normally, assignments are made for a semester at a time.