2010-2011 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
University Libraries
University Libraries
Administration
Dean: Van Orsdel.
Director of Administrative Services: De Wind.
Director of Research and Instruction: Garrison.
Director of Special Collections and University Archives: Beasecker.
Director of Technology and Information Resources: Van Orsdel, Acting.
Director of User Services: Armstrong.
Website
www.gvsu.edu/library
Mission
The Grand Valley State University Libraries enrich the educational mission of the university by advancing intellectual growth and discovery. Through the acquisition, application, dissemination, and preservation of knowledge we strive to serve the community, the state, the nation, and the world.
Library Services
The University Libraries offer dynamic and diverse opportunities for research, collaboration, and individual study. From three unique locations (James H. Zumberge Library in Allendale, the Steelcase Library at the Richard M. DeVos Center in Grand Rapids, and the Frey Foundation Learning Center in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences in Grand Rapids), the Libraries serve the entire Grand Valley community. Each librarys collection is tailored to its location and the programs it serves, with daily deliveries between all of Grand Valleys sites throughout Michigan.
The University Libraries house a robust collection in multiple formats that support the research and scholarship activities of students and faculty. They have 669,226 volumes and 557,000 electronic journals and books. The GVSU library is also a United States Government Depository.
The libraries provide a number of free services that support student research and increase student efficiency, including desktop delivery of journal articles across campuses, an interlibrary loan service that borrows materials from other institutions for our students use, and electronic course reserves for required class readings. Research help is available through email or chat www.gvsu.edu/chat, by phone, or in person at any of our three locations.
Computers in the Libraries
PCs, laptops, and printers are available for use in all GVSU Libraries.
Government Resources
Grand Valley State University is a depository for United States government documents. The library has been a selective depository in the Federal Depository Library Program since 1963 and currently receives approximately 44% of the documents distributed by the program.
Curriculum Materials Library (CML)
There are two Curriculum Materials Libraries: one in the DeVos Center on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus and another in Zumberge Library on the Allendale Campus. The two centers house current, high-quality instructional materials for preschool through grade twelve and provide spaces where education majors can preview resources, develop lesson plans, create media for the classroom, and try out teaching aides.
Special Collections
Seidman House on the Allendale Campus contains both the University Archives and the Libraries Special Collections. The latter includes substantial numbers of rare books, Michigan novels, the Harvey Lemmen Collection on Lincoln and the Civil War, the Johnson Center Philanthropy Archives, and the papers of acclaimed Michigan author Jim Harrison, among others. Overlooking the ravine, Seidman House also offers a quiet study area during business hours.
Digital Collections
Grand Valley State University Digital Collections database contains a selection of photographs, correspondence, diaries, interviews, and publications from the holdings of the Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives, and other university entities. This resource makes unique or rare materials from GVSU collections available electronically to students, faculty, administrators, researchers, and the general public. This project is a work-in-progress. Collections will be added as they become available.
Scholar Works@GVSU
Scholar Works@GVSU is an online repository of research and scholarly output selected and deposited by individual university departments and centers on campus. Visit the website at scholarworks.gvsu.edu/.