Professor John Christopher
The University of Kentucky Library System, one of the nation's top research libraries, ranks as 34th in the United States according to the Association of Research Libraries. The library owns over 2,500,000 volumes, 5,000,000 microform units, and 13,000 linear feet of manuscripts. The collection also includes over 220,000 maps, 9,600 music records and cd's, more than 2,500,000 government documents and 250,000 pictures and other miscellaneous items. The Library currently subscribes to over 27,000 periodicals including more than 270 foreign, domestic, and Kentucky newspapers.
Strong emphasis is placed on the development of a high-quality collection responsive to the teaching and research needs of the University. The obligation to secure resources for the future needs of the academic community is also recognized. The collection is particularly strong in bibliography, history, coal, science and technology, agriculture, law, literature, and languages. Branch libraries housing special collections include, agriculture, biological science, chemistry and physics, law, architecture, geology, engineering, mathematical sciences, art, education, medicine, and music.
The Library obtains for its scholars needed research materials not available in the collection through document delivery services and inter-library loan. Other services offered by the library include online computerized literature searching, reference, individualized instruction in library use, and consultation on information resources. The library's card catalog and other popular data bases are available on the campus computer network so bibliographic searches may be conducted from faculty and student offices. There are ten computer laboratories on campus, including one with forty-five computers adjacent to the Chemistry/Physics Library. These provide access to the CD-ROM network which includes databases such as Physics Abstracts, as well as Internet and mainframe access.
The Chemistry--Physics Library is a branch of the University of Kentucky Library System located in the Chemistry--Physics building. It contains over 54,000 volumes and subscribes to over 400 journals. Access to all of the major scientific databases is provided as well as inter-library loan, document delivery, reference service and bibliographic instruction.
Graduate students may obtain keys to the Chemistry--Physics Library for after-hours use of the facility.