About the Science Library

Location: Science Center

119 Woodland @ Lorain St. (Rte. 511)

We are adjacent to the Perlik Commons (the 2-story atrium in the center of of the building).
See the Science Center Site Plan.

Parking for visitors is available off Woodland Street, immediately across from the Science Center. Drive through the section reserved for staff to reach the parking lot extension for visitors.

Collection & Other Resources

We have 105,000 volumes (books and journals combined), including materials in Carnegie storage. 

Primary subject areas in the library: astronomy, biochemistry, biology, botany, chemistry, geology, neuroscience, physics, zoology

Also collected: history and philosophy of science, science education, agriculture, environmental technology, soil science, health and medicine.

Government documents from: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Envrionmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Geological Survey, National Institute for Standards and Technology, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Computer Lab, Printers, Photocopiers, Scanner

The iMac Lab holds 16 computers accommodating 32 people; one printer, a white board and ceiling-mounted projector for the instructor's workstation. It is open to any college-affiliated group - call 775-8310 to reserve the lab. It can be used only during the library's normal open hours.

A large-format scanner (11x17" scanning surface) is available at one of the iMacs near the Reference Desk. A laser printer and two photocopiers (one capable of scanning/emailing at no charge) are in the library's copy room. No color copier or printer is available. Color prints can be made in the main library and art library.

Printing is managed through the Pharos Uniprint system, administered through the CIT. Photocopies cost 10 cents per page, deducted from your ObieDollar account [learn more].

Data ports & wireless computing

All of the large reading tables and individual study carrels offer electricity and teledata ports, either from the tabletop or adjacent floor boxes. Teledata outlets are also on the walls near the window seats and under small tables. Wireless networking is available throughout the library and the Science Center Commons. The library has six laptops (Macintosh) for loan. (Use policy for the laptops).

History

The Science Center Library opened in August 2001.   Selected materials from the main library in Mudd were moved into the new science library along with the collections from Kettering (Class of 1904 Science Library) and Wright (Physics Reading Room). Those materials include all books with LC call numbers beginning with Q, QB-QR, S, TD, TN, TP. Government documents from science related federal agencies also moved to the new library.

Primary user population

The library serves approximately 34 faculty in the departments of biology, chemistry, geology, neuroscience and physics/astronomy. There are typically 150 seniors each year who graduate with a major in one of these natural science areas. The science library is also used by students who are not science majors, who are, of course, very welcome! The library strives to support the science curriculum, research, and teaching, as well as expansion of scientific literacy among the community at large. Speaking of Science, the science library blog, is part of that effort.

For more facility information and photos, visit the Science Center web site.