Print Resources

While technology continues to drive the "information explosion," the Reference Department retains its commitment to providing information in traditional formats as well as in computer-based resources. Reference collections on the second floor of the library are cataloged in the Library of Congress classification system. However, some of the older materials in the Ready Reference section of the Information Desk are still classified under the Dewey Decimal classification system. Many items have been reclassified as part of the Cataloging Department's ongoing retrospective conversion project.

Members of the Reference Department faculty and staff cooperate with the Acquisitions Department in the collection development process. In addition to selecting new items and updating existing reference sources, library faculty serve as liaisons to various colleges, schools, and departments in the University. Interaction with and input from other University faculty members serve as additional sources of expertise for maintaining and upgrading the reference collection.

In addition to print versions of general and subject encyclopedias, the department also retains a number of indexes, abstracts, bibliographies, atlases, yearbooks, and other specialized reference sources. Dictionaries (abridged and unabridged), thesauri, and style guides (American Psychological Association, Modern Language Association, Chicago Manual of Style, and others) are also available. Bound periodicals are also housed on the second floor (with overflow on the third floor) in an open stack arrangement.

Reference Department faculty, staff, and student assistants are involved with day-to-day maintenance of the print reference collections, along with providing point-of-use assistance to library users.