Collections

View information about selected collections of the DeWitt Wallace Library. To search for materials and resources available through the Library, use the CLICnet Catalog and the Journal Finder.

Questions? Please ask for help at the Reference Desk on the First Level of the Library.

General Collection / Mac Stacks

By far the largest collection in the library is the general collection, or Mac Stacks. The general collection is located in the center of second, third and fourth levels. They are arranged by Library of Congress call numbers (using both letters and numbers) beginning with the A's on the north end of fourth level to the Z's on the south end of second level. Here is the general breakdown of what call numbers can be found on which level:

Level 2 - call numbers beginning with PR-Z
Level 3 - call numbers beginning with HB - PQ
Level 4 - call numbers beginning with A - HB

The Reference Desk on the first level has bookmarks/handouts available which assist users in finding library materials. The Library also provides access to collections of electronic books, or Ebooks.

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Reference Collection

The Reference collection is located on the main level of the library near the reference desk. It includes information sources such as encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases and dictionaries that are frequently used by reference librarians in assisting library users. Generally speaking, these materials cannot be checked out by library users and must be used in the building.

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Reserves Collection

The Reserves collection is located behind the circulation desk (the end of the desk closest to the photocopier room) and includes high use materials that have been identied by faculty as being needed by a class.

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Periodicals Collection

The Periodicals collection includes the many magazines, scholarly journals, and newspapers to which our library subscribes. This collection can actually be found in two different locations: newer issues are kept on the south end of the main level; and older issues are kept on the lower level of the library. In both cases, they are arranged in alphabetical order by title. Like reference materials, periodicals cannot be checked out by library users and must be used in the building. The Library also provides access to electronic subscription journals, magazines, newspapers, etc.

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Harmon Collection

Located in the Harmon Room (the glass-in room) on the southwest corner of main level, the Harmon Collection includes newly purchased materials and items that are more popular in nature. This collection is where you'd find the newest book in the Harry Potter series or that controversial new nonfiction title that everyone is talking about.

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Wood Collection

The Wood Collection is our library's children's book collection. It is located in a room north end of the second level of the library between the BI Room and the elevator. The Wood Collection includes all of the Caldecott and Newberry award winners as well as a wide selection of other children's book titles. Wood Collection books can be checked out.

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Archives/Rare Books

Located on the east side of second level of the library (facing Kirk Residence Hall) next to the library office, the Archives/Rare Books Rooms are where college historical documents and materials that are rarer in nature are kept. These areas are available by appointment only.

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Oversized Collection

Some materials are just physically too large to fit on the regular shelving. These materials are kept on special shelving located at the end of the general collection on the second level. The really big books are kept on shelves in the group study area in the sothwest corner of second level. Materials located in both the "oversize" and "super oversize" collections are clearly marked as such in the library catalog.

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Microform Collection

To save on space and to better preserve some materials, they have been converted to microfilm or microfiche. These materials include newspapers like the NY Times and government materials like older census records. These materials are located across from the lower level information desk. Microform equipment is located nearby for use with these materials.

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Greats Collection

The Greats collection is located on north end of the main floor (overlooking the chapel and campus center) and includes materials identified as "great works" of literature and the sciences.

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Sound Recordings/Media Collection

The library's sound recordings and a small collection of popular DVD's are located on the north end of main level in the racks between the circulation desk and the elevator.

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