Library

Telephone: (973) 655-4291 (Reference)

The Harry A. Sprague Library is centrally located and offers services to students, faculty, and staff of the University and is open to the public.

The Library contains more than 400,000 circulating and reference volumes and has materials in diverse formats such as microforms, videos and audiocassettes, CD ROMs and software. The Library subscribes to over 2,600 periodical titles in print, microform and online formats. The Library is a depository for U.S. and New Jersey government publications available in print, microform, CD ROM, and online formats.

The Library subscribes to numerous electronic databases. The databases are available through the Library's homepage from any computer in the Library, computer labs, offices, and residence halls that is connected to the campus network. The Library's online catalog is available through the Library's homepage, as are links to many Internet sites of general academic interest and that relate to specific subject disciplines.

The Library's homepage URL is http://library.montclair.edu or it may be accessed through the University's homepage by clicking Library Services.

Librarians work with academic departments and area studies programs as liaisons to develop the resources and services appropriate to the needs of the particular department. A list of librarians and their academic departments and area studies is available on the Library's homepage.

MSU students, faculty, and staff and other registered borrowers may check out materials by presenting a current MSU ID Card or Guest Borrower's Card. Faculty may place materials (books, articles, media or electronic reserves) on Reserve for class assignments.

Librarians are available at the Reference Desk to provide assistance with locating, retrieving, and evaluating information resources and with using Library services. Orientation sessions are given by librarians upon request by the faculty. Faculty may also request reference librarians to conduct classes on research methodology and resources in a specific discipline. Students may request individual consultations regarding research papers or presentations. An orientation program is given each year for new faculty.

Materials not held in the Library are obtained through interlibrary loan from libraries in the state, region, nationally, and internationally. The Virtual Academic Library Environment (VALE) of New Jersey Faculty Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement enables MSU faculty and staff to borrow onsite from fifty-two participating academic libraries (http://www.valenj.org/). If an MSU faculty member wishes to use the resources in out-of-state libraries, particularly research libraries, a reference librarian should be consulted in order to obtain a letter of introduction. *A guest card allowing MSU faculty to use materials in Princeton University Libraries is available from a reference librarian.

A computer lab, maintained by Information Technology, is available for students on the Upper Level of the Library.

Hours are posted in the Library, on the Library's homepage, or call 973-655-4298 for changes in opening hours for summer session, intersessions, and holidays, and for inclement weather closings.