Welcome
to the
Howard University Library System!
 When
Howard University opened in 1867, its
library consisted of a small reading
room and a few thousand books in the
frame building in which classes were
held. Today,
the University Library System is among
the nation's larger academic and research
libraries. It consists of a central
library group (comprised of the Founders
Library/Undergraduate Library and four
branch libraries in professional schools―Architecture,
Business,
Divinity, and
Social Work); the Moorland-Spingarn
Research Center; the
Louis Stokes Health
Sciences Library; the Law
Library; the
Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs
Center Library; and the Afro-American
Studies Resource Center.
Together,
these facilities contain more than 2.4
million volumes; 12,000 current journal
subscriptions; 3.8 million microform
pieces; 18,000 manuscripts; and thousands
of audio-visual items. Services and
traditional collections are greatly
enhanced by a rich universe of digital
resources and the smart use of information
technology.
The
Founders Library
 The
Founders Library,
named in memory of the seventeen founders
of the University, is the main facility
in the University Library System. Opened
in 1938, the building was designed by
Albert
Irvin Cassell (1895-1969), an African
American architect from Towson, Maryland.
The
contiguous Undergraduate Library
(UGL) opened in 1983. The Founders
Library and UGL house more than half
of the books, periodicals, microforms,
and other resources held at the University,
with comprehensive coverage of disciplines
in the behavioral and social sciences,
the sciences, engineering,
and the arts and humanities.
 FIRST
FLOOR
The
Browsing Room―a
place for quiet study and a meeting
room for special events.
Moorland-Spingarn
Research Center―world
renowned, non-circulating collection
on Africa and people
of African descent.
The
Digital Learning Classroom―a
computer lab for hands-on library
training.
Channing
Pollock Theatre Collection―a
non-circulating collection of materials
about the theatre and the performing
arts.
The
Howard University Museum―an
exhibit of historical documents and
artifacts from the Moorland-Spingarn
Research Center collections.
 SECOND
FLOOR
Reference
Room―print
reference resources and networked facilities
to access databases and the Internet.
Reference librarians are available to assist you
with your research needs. See the Instructional Program.
Circulation
Desk―check
out and return books here.
The
Card Catalog and STERLING
(the online public catalog, named in
memory of Sterling
A. Brown) show the holdings of the
HU libraries. Use the card catalog
for pre-1976 acquisitions; use STERLING
for post-1976 purchases.
Interlibrary
Loan Services―borrow
books or journals from other libraries.
Internet
Workstations―access
the Web, electronic databases and e-mail.
Books
that may be checked out are located
in the stacks. Enter the stacks from the second floor (Stack 5). Follow the signs
to go up or down the stairs in the stacks.
THIRD
FLOOR
The
Afro-American Resource Center―a
collection of essential materials assembled
by the Department of Afro-American Studies.
Reference
Librarians and Faculty Offices.
^Top Welcome
Tour, Continued » |
