The Facility
The Grace Doherty Library, originally constructed in 1967, renovated in 1987, and then renovated again and expanded in 2005, offers private study areas, collaborative study space, and seating for more than 400 patrons, with wireless connectivity throughout the building. A computer lab equipped with a teaching station and 27 desktop computers and a presentation screen is available for Extended Orientation and research instruction on the lower level of the library. Recent gifts from donors and the Parents Association have provided funds for the renovation and re-furnishing of several major study areas on the main floor and the upper level of the library.
The Collection
The Grace Doherty Library’s print collection includes approximately 265,000 volumes, as well as 32,000 e-books and 34,600 e-journals. The library provides subsidized interlibrary loan and document delivery service to the faculty and to students. In addition, an agreement with the Federation of Kentucky Academic Libraries (FOKAL) grants borrowing privileges at all academic libraries in Kentucky to the faculty and students of Centre College.
See the library webpage at http://library.centre.edu
The library’s webpage provides access to such scholarly databases as Academic Search Complete, Web of Science, MathSciNet , JSTOR, JSTOR Biological Sciences, Historical New York Times, Oxford Reference Online, The Times (London) Online Digital Archive , and many others. All Centre patrons have remote access to electronic resources. The Grace Doherty Library houses The Thomas A. Spragens Rare Book Room and Archives, which holds over 5,000 volumes of rare books, selected manuscripts, and the college archives.
Loan Periods
Faculty members have unlimited access to the library collection and may borrow circulation items for a period of 180 days and renew books for an additional period of 180 days.
See the library webpage at http://library.centre.edu. “About the Library,” “Policies.”
Services
- Research Services
The Reference Librarians provide twenty-eight research sessions to First Year Students each fall during Extended Orientation. Developing critical thinking and metacognition with a focus on facilitating high-level information literacy skills are foremost in course-specific sessions, which are available by appointment with the Divisional Librarian Liaisons. Reference librarians are also available at the Reference Desk approximately 85 hours per week during the academic year. The Reference Librarians request that faculty members provide them with copies of assignments requiring library use.
- Interlibrary Loan
The library subsidizes interlibrary loan and document delivery for Centre College faculty and students. All ILL books must be returned on or before the due date.
- Library Reserves
Faculty members may place library materials on reserve for their classes. Contact the Circulation Desk Supervisor or visit the library web page (http://library.centre.edu) for detailed information. The Circulation Desk Supervisor manages both traditional reserves and electronic reserves. Physical copies, including books, either from the library collection or personal copies, DVDs or photocopies may be placed on either Closed Reserve (3 hours) or Open Reserve (3 days). Please submit requests for electronic reserves three days in advance of when they will be needed for class. The library makes every effort to comply with federal copyright regulations. For additional information, see the section on Course Reserves at http://library.centre.edu.
Allocation of Library Funds
The Director of Library Services and the Instructional and Technology Resources Committee (ITRC) allocate learning resources to academic divisions based on specific criteria. The criteria include the following four factors:
- Average cost per book purchased during the previous year in each division;
- Average number of majors in each division over the previous five years;
- Total circulation (number of books borrowed) in each division during the previous year;
- Total instruction load in each division.
The use of this formula will be governed by the constraint that the percentage of the total divisional budget allocated to each division shall not vary by more than two percent per annum.
Division Chairs divide their book budget among their programs while setting aside as much money as they consider necessary for discretionary purchases.
The Director of Library Services makes every effort to make additional book funds available to new faculty members to strengthen subject collections in their areas. The amount of the extra funds may vary from year to year. New members of the faculty are encouraged to apply directly to the Director of Library Services for discretionary book funds.
Guidelines for Acquisition
Librarians and faculty members alike who order books and other materials for the library are encouraged to note the following priorities:
- Materials necessary or useful to members for courses they are teaching or planning and to students taking those courses;
- Works necessary to a strong reference collection (print or electronic) and works of recognized merit;
- Works that contribute to core collections in disciplines not now in the curriculum or in areas of disciplines not now represented by a member of the faculty;
- Books of general interest and for recreational reading;
- Materials that support the research of a single faculty member, when this research is not relevant to instructional activity.
Databases and Serials
Databases and serials may be added to the collection or dropped during regular reviews by the librarians and the divisions conducted according to the priorities listed in the Guidelines for Acquisitions.
The Director of Library Services and ITRC recommend the following procedure for requesting new resources:
- After the program committee has approved the request for a new database/serial, the committee will forward the request to the Division Chair, providing information on subscription costs, format, and justification.
- The Division Chair will forward the request to the Director of Library Services, who will add the title when funds are available or, in collaboration with the appropriate program and division, seek funding for the new resource or resources.
For additional information, see http://library.centre.edu. See “About the Library,” “Policies.”
Note: the library staff reserves the right to remove unsolicited periodicals or other materials from its tables and shelves.