University of Kentucky Undergraduate Bulletin

2003-2004

 

 

As the major research library in the Commonwealth, we provide comprehensive access to information essential to teaching, research, and service at the University of Kentucky, through our human resources and maximum use of technology. We extend information services to the Commonwealth and make unique holdings available to the world. The libraries' collection contains more than 2.9 million volumes and currently receives over 29,850 periodical and serial titles, including government document serials. The social sciences, humanities, and life sciences collections are housed in the William T. Young Library. Specialized collections are housed separately in other campus libraries and information centers serving the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, art, business and economics, chemistry and physics, communications, education, engineering, geology, law, mathematical sciences, medical sciences, and music.

The University of Kentucky has been a depository for U.S. federal government publications since 1907. The libraries maintain these resources, as well as official publications of Great Britain, Canada, the United Nations, the European Union, Kentucky, and other states.

The library system has a collection of over 244,000 maps. General interest maps are located in the King Library Map Collection; geological maps are in the Geological Sciences Library.

The library system houses and services over 5.9 million units of microform, including over one million technical reports from U.S. and foreign governments. UK Libraries receive 224 major U.S. and foreign newspapers, and a comprehensive collection of Kentucky newspapers.

Special Collections and Archives (SCA) holds extensive collections of rare books, manuscripts, and audio-visual materials. SCA units include Audio-Visual Archives, University Archives and Record Program, Wendell H. Ford Research Center and Public Archives, Manuscripts, the Oral History Program, Bert T. Combs Appalachian Collection, Family and Local History, and the King Library Press. Although the SCA's specialization is Kentuckiana, other large collections include: the Appalachian Regional Commission Archives, the Cortot Collection of Musicology, a John Milton Collection, and the W. Hugh Peal Collection of American and English Romantic and Victorian Literature. The latter collection includes extensive holdings of letters, literary manuscripts, and first editions, and is one of the outstanding resources of its type in the United States.

The library provides a variety of electronic information resources, including an online catalog of campus library collections and specialized databases in dozens of subject areas. Extensive access to online journal resources and links to electronic information are vital features of the library's approach to information access. Patrons have online access to their own circulation record and can renew and recall books online.

All campus libraries offer a variety of computerized bibliographic and full-text search services. The Information Services Department offers computer-assisted instruction to individuals, introductory orientation to the library for beginning students and in-depth presentations to classes of advanced students. Branch libraries also provide instructional services. Some library units and branches publish guides and brochures on the use of various library tools and services. Information about these and other services are available via the library's Web site at http://www.uky.edu/Libraries/.

The library system has long been a member of the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago. The Center's collection is one of unique and rarely-held research materials such as archival materials in microform, microform sets, dissertations, newspapers, serials, and materials from Eastern Europe and Asia (east, south and southeast). This material is made available to member libraries through interlibrary cooperation. The University community may borrow these materials through use of the Interlibrary Loan Departments on campus. More information about the Center can be found on the World Wide Web at: http://wwwcrl.uchicago.edu; and Internet users can access the Center's catalog by telneting to: crlcatalog.uchicago.edu (when the log prompt appears, enter 'guest').

UK Libraries hold membership in the Association of Research Libraries, an organization of the major American and Canadian research libraries. It is also a member of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), a computer-based system of shared cataloging that allows member libraries to make interlibrary loan requests online.