Library Collections

No matter what course of study students pursue, the resources and services of the A.C. Clark Library play an important role in their education. The Library provides access to nearly 400,000 on-campus holdings, nearly one-quarter of a million books, audio-visual materials, maps and microforms. Online access to high-quality research tools (such as electronic indexes, full-text periodical article databases, collections of government publications and electronic reference materials) is provided through the Library’s web site. The following are descriptions of our physical collections.

2nd and 4th Floor Collections

This is the Library’s general, circulating collection of books to serve the research needs of BSU students, faculty and staff. Items in this collection with call numbers A through P are located on the fourth floor of the A. C. Clark Library. Oversize items with similar call numbers are also located on this floor along the front wall near the main stairway. Items in this collection with call numbers Q through Z are located on the second floor. Oversize items with call numbers Q through Z are also located on this floor at the beginning of the 2nd Floor collection.

Reference Collection

Items in this collection include encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, almanacs and atlases. Because reference materials are useful for looking up background information, overviews and facts about a wide variety of topics, they are for “In Library Use” only (they do not circulate). The Reference Collection is housed on the third (main) floor of the A. C. Clark Library.

Government Publications

The A. C. Clark Library is a member of the Federal Depository Library Program, and these Federal government publications can be found online in the library catalog Library OneSearch.

Children’s and Young Adult Collections

The A. C. Clark Library provides a collection of books that support the curricula of both the University’s Professional Education and English departments, allowing teachers in training access to a wealth of fiction, non-fiction and picture books for grade-level appropriate teaching and learning. The collection also includes many award-winning books, such as the Caldecott and Newbery Medal Award books.

Items in the Children’s Fiction Collection are located on the second floor of the A. C. Clark Library, are marked with green tape and have a call number composed of the first two letters of the author’s last name (for example, Le for Lenski). Items in the Children’s Non-Fiction Collection are also located on the second floor of the Library, are marked with red tape and have a Dewey Decimal call number (for example 940.93 Br). Finally, items in the Picture Books Collection are located on the second floor, are marked with purple tape and have call numbers composed of the first two letters of the author’s last name.

Circulation and Circulation Desk Media Collections

The Library purchases audiovisual materials (such as DVDs) to support subjects taught in the University’s curriculum. Some items can be checked out, but some are “In Library Use” only materials. People wishing to use an item from this collection should request the item at the Circulation Desk, on the third (main) floor of the library, using the item’s call number (e.g. VIDEO DVD PN1997 .B767 2007) or title.

Course Reserves

Many faculty will make materials used in courses (such as books or DVDs) available for their students to consult via the Course Reserves service. Items in this collection are housed behind the Circulation Desk, on the third (main) floor of the A. C. Clark Library. You can also search Course Reserves in the library’s catalog Library OneSearch.

Instructions for placing items on Course Reserves.

Periodicals

The Library has a large collection of print-based periodicals (i.e., items that are published on a periodic basis, such as journals, magazines and newspapers). The collection is located on the first floor of the Library. You may search the Library’s extensive list of electronic (online) and print periodical holdings.

Microform Collections

The Library’s collections of microforms (miniaturized photographic reproductions of documents such as historical newspapers and journals, which can be viewed on units called microform viewers) are located on the first floor. There are units on the third floor which can scan microform images to a flash drive, or print out in hard-copy. Units in the first floor Microforms room can print out to hard-copy; microfiche (a special type of microform) viewers are located on the outer walls throughout the library.

University Archives and Special Collections

The University Archives and Special Collections area is located on the second floor of the Library. To schedule an appointment to use the University Archives and Special Collections area, please email libraryreference@bemidjistate.edu. Select digitized images of historical BSU memorabilia (such as photographs and yearbooks) from the University Archives are available online.

Audio CD and LC Media Collections

The library has two collections of recorded media such as LP (long-playing) record albums, and audio CDs, consisting of all types of genres and styles, available for checkout. Items in these collections are located on the third (main) floor of the A. C. Clark Library.