About the Library: Collections

Imagine that the Thrift Library’s physical collections – Books, DVDs, Music CDs, Scores - were as big as the Earth.

Unless noted otherwise, library materials may be checked out for three weeks.

Three week renewals through end of the semester.

Student ID required.

You may renew materials over the phone - 231-2050

Or by email - reference@andersonuniversity.edu

Or renew online.

• 87.000 books including both fiction and nonfiction.
• Books are arranged on shelves on the second floor according to the Library of Congress System.
• Three week checkout. Three week renewals up till the end of the semester.
• Student ID required for checkout.

• Faculty sometimes pull books from the shelves and place them behind the Front Desk to make them easier for students to find.
• Reserve materials may take any format - books, media, cameras, photocopies, etc.
• Usually check out rules are 3 hrs., do not take from the library, in order to ensure that an entire class can share the same material.

Unlike public and school libraries which use the Dewey Decimal system to arrange books on the shelf, books in the Thrift Library are arranged according to the Library of Congress system. Under that system Fiction is located in the P's upstairs.

• PR - British Literature
• PS - American Literature

The Library of Congress system combines books by an author with books about the author, and is better for scholarship.

The library subscribes to a limited number of magazines, journals and newspapers in print. Located next to the fireplace. The great majority of its periodicals though are located online.

2,000 children and young adult books located in the Curriculum Lab in Johnston Hall.

There are two subcollections.

• The Caldecott Collection contains winners and runners up for the Caldecott Medal given by the American Library Association each year for the best in Children's Illustrated Books.
• The Newbery Collection contains winners and runners up for the Newbery Medal given by the American Library Association each year for the best in children's literature.

• 40,000 digital journals and magazines are available through OneSearch, and individual databases.
• To find what titles are contained in what database, what years are covered, and whether or not there is an embargo period (delay), check Journal Search.

• Streaming Audio - 100,000 recordings located in two databases and in OneSearch.
• Over 2,000 Music CDs located near the fireplace on the main floor. Find these by searching OneSearch.

The Curriculum Lab at Johnston Hall

The Curriculum Lab is located on the second floor of Johnston, in Room 215

It contains thousands of children and young adult books, classroom textbooks, booklets, kits, audio visuals, manipulatives, maps, posters, Big Books, puppets, costumes, realia and educational journals.

Its holdings are noted in OneSearch. Call numbers begin with JUV or CURR.

Two computers are provided as well with a printer. Copies are charged to your account through the university's printing software. 

• 1,600 plus scripts and supporting materials - How to Audition, Acting Tips, Stagecraft - located on the main floor behind the Current Periodicals.
• Scripts may be monologues, dialogues, and multi person plays suitable for auditioning.
• Also includes Music and Musicals
• An additional 400 - 500 plays are located upstairs with their authors.

• 270,000 streaming media located in over a half dozen databases.
• Almost 1,500 DVDs located on the main floor next to the Current Periodicals.
• Video recordings may be checked out for three days.
• Video equipment for DVDs  available for check out for three days. Ask at the Front Desk.

• Over a half million titles located in over a dozen eBook databases.
• NOTE: The library's eBook collection is six times as large as it physical collection.
• Rules for downloading vary from database to database and even from title to title.
• In most cases though, there is no need to download. Titles are easier to use with the built in online reader.

The library's science fiction collection is arranged according to Library of Congress rules in the P's.

• The library's special collection consist of historical documents including Yearbooks, Academic Catalogs and Handbooks, and its Literary Magazines.
• Yearbooks are located on the main floor near the end of the Bound Periodical section, Yearbooks may not be checked out.
• Other materials are stored in the Special Collections.
• Digital copies of the university's yearbooks, catalogs, literary magazines, etc., may be found on the Internet Archive.

• Graphic Novels do not have a special location. Instead they are filed upstairs in the P's according to the Library of Congress system.
• To find graphic novels, search for "graphic novels" in OneSearch and then limit to Books under Resource Type.