Nancy L. Khoury, Director
The Library is named for the first president of McNeese State University.
The collections and services of the Library are designed to complement the
educational and research programs of the University.
The original building was erected in 1961. A four-story addition to the
original structure was completed in 1974. The Library now provides book
stacks for over 300,000 volumes as well as room for study, library offices,
and service areas.
GENERAL BOOK COLLECTION
The general book collection is housed in open stack areas and is arranged
by Library of Congress Classification. This allows users the opportunity
to browse and select books themselves. The location of specific books may
be determined by using the on-line public access catalog. Individuals borrowing
books from the general collection must present an official identification
card to an authorized person in the Circulation Department.
RESERVE MATERIALS
Books and articles designated by faculty for reading by members of a class
may be obtained from the reserve section of the Circulation Department or
through the Electronic Reserve System. The length of time that students
may use reserve material will depend upon the faculty member's time limit
request.
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REFERENCE AND INFORMATION SERVICE
Personnel are available in the public service areas (Reference, Interlibrary
Loan, Circulation, Serials, Government Documents, and Archives) to offer
or secure assistance for library users. Information service may range from
providing a simple direction to a more complex reference transaction involving
guidance in location and use of library materials.
The Reference Department houses general and specialized materials including
encyclopedias, bibliographies, atlases, dictionaries, indexes, abstracts,
and book reviews, as well as many other tools which embrace all academic
disciplines.
A growing number of automated services are available for bibliographic searching
and information retrieval. Catalogs, periodical indexes, and full-text databases
are offered via the LOUIS Information Network. The Reference Department
houses a CD-Rom unit with additional information resources available for
searching. Internet workstations are available in the Reference Room for
information and research needs. Librarians are available to provide search
assistance.
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INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICE
Through its interlibrary loan service, the Library will secure materials
necessary for research if the material is not available locally. Material
borrowed on interlibrary loan is subject to the rules of the lending library.
The borrower is responsible for the cost of photocopies.
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS COLLECTION
The government documents collection is located on the fourth floor of the
Library. The Library is a selective depository for United States government
on various subjects. It is a complete depository for Louisiana documents
and receives some publications of international, local, and regional governmental
bodies. Federal, state, and international information is accessible in electronic
formats.
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PERIODICALS COLLECTION
The Library's periodicals collection is housed on the second floor and includes
magazines, journals, and newspapers. These may be available as unbound individual
issues, bound back volumes, or as microforms. A printed list of periodical
holdings is available in the library and through the library's web page.
The library's on-line catalog, FRED/LOUIS, also contains summaries for each
title owned by McNeese. ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center)
microfiche is included in the periodicals collection. Readers and printers
for microforms as well as video equipment are available for use. General
and specialized indexes and abstracts used for locating information in periodicals
are located in the Reference Department and available on-line through the
LOUIS System and the library's web page. Videos for currently offered telecourses
are available for viewing in the library.
ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
The Archives and Special Collections Department is a growing resource of
historical documents reflecting the history, growth, and development of
McNeese, Lake Charles, and Southwest Louisiana. Housed in the department
are books by local authors; books about the area; McNeese publications such
as theses, the Log, and the Contraband; a large photograph collection; and
numerous local history collections, including a collection of the oldest
area newspapers. The department also contains a collection of rare books.
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ON-LINE SYSTEMS
The Library is a member of OCLC through its regional network, SOLINET. OCLC
is the largest on-line bibliographic utility in the world. It is capable
of providing shared cataloging data and access to research collections nationally
and internationally through Interlibrary Loan. As a charter member of the
Louisiana On-line Information System (LOUIS), the library has an automated
link to other academic libraries in the state. The library is a full participant
in the Louisiana Library Network (LLN). This alliance of academic, public,
and school libraries provides patrons with access to on-line resources which
include journal databases, the INTERNET, and holdings from other academic
libraries in the state. Patrons may now access LOUIS through the library
website at http://library.mcneese.edu.
COMPUTER LAB
A computer lab, equipped with personal computers, scanner, and copy facilities,
is located on the second floor of the library. It is open during all hours
of library operation. Users have free access to word processing software,
e-mail and Internet-based resources. Some full-text materials are accessible
via the LOUIS System and the library's web page.
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SPECIAL SERVICES
Photocopy machines, typewriters, audio and video equipment, vending machines,
change machines, large group meeting rooms, group study rooms, and individual
study areas are available.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
Membership in the Friends of the Library group is open to anyone. Friends
are entitled to all Library privileges. Membership may be used as a means
to place books in the collection in honor of or in memory of someone. Funds
generated by Friends of the McNeese Library memberships sponsor special
library activities such as readings, lectures, exhibits, and workshops.
Friends receive special invitations to all library sponsored events.
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