LIBRARY RESOURCES

Lafayette's libraries provide students with a wide range of information sources and services developed to support their educational pursuits. The David Bishop Skillman Library is the college's main library, with a collection of more than 500,000 volumes. Kirby Library has an additional 30,000 volumes related to government and law. The two libraries subscribe to about 1,200 magazines, journals, and newspapers in paper form and provide full text, online access to thousands of additional titles.

Lafayette College Special Collections and College Archives is available for student research and features especially strong holdings relating to the Marquis de Lafayette, Stephen Crane, and angling. Students also have access to the expertise and equipment provided by the instructional technology department.

The libraries provide access to information sources far beyond what is held within the physical confines of its two buildings. Students have borrowing privileges at five other colleges in the Lehigh Valley and may use interlibrary loan services to request materials from libraries across the country. Students can also use the library's expanding array of electronic resources wherever they have an Internet connection.

A staff of librarians helps students to use the libraries' resources and obtain the information they need. Librarians meet with classes in all disciplines and provide group instruction in library research. Reference assistance is available to students on weekdays, most evenings, and Sundays. Students may arrange personalized research assistance sessions with librarians for extended consultations about their research projects.

Lafayette's libraries also provide space for students to study and collaborate with one another. Kirby Library is housed in the Beaux-Arts style Kirby Hall of Civil Rights, which was completed in 1930 and renovated in the late 1990s. The library's classic, oak-paneled reading room is among the most beautiful interior spaces on campus.

A renovated and expanded Skillman Library was dedicated in 2005. The three-year project added more than 28,000 sq. ft. to the library and created an enhanced environment for collaborative learning, information technology, and an expanding book collection. The library’s newly redesigned spaces include a formal reading room, a program room, two instruction rooms, a digital media lab, and a variety of individual and group study spaces.

Lafayette College's computing and network access is designed around a multi-gigabit Ethernet network that serves the entire campus community. The campus network provides high-speed access to all on-campus residences, faculty and administrative offices, Skillman and Kirby Libraries, and public and departmental computing labs. In total there are about 4,500 wired network outlets and multiple wireless network locations.

The bulk of academic and administrative computing takes place on networked PC's and Macs. Several dozen Novell, Windows, and Unix/Linux/VMS servers support these networked systems with Internet, email, personal file storage, file sharing, and printing services. Students and faculty have web access to academic and financial records in addition to online course registration.

Assistance with computer or network problems is available through the help desk. Support is also available for supported software such as Windows, Mac OS, MS-Office, and other common desktop applications.

Lafayette does not require students to purchase a computer or bring one to campus. Students have ample opportunity to use the computers in public computing sites. These sites are open weekdays, evenings, and weekends during the academic year including one 24-hour public lab. In addition, most academic departments have special-purpose computing labs available for student use for course work. Many specialized applications are accessible by students from any networked PC on campus, including from student residences.

Many students bring their own computer to campus or choose to purchase one through a special arrangement with Dell, Gateway, or Apple. Lafayette has standardized on Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP Professional, Mac OSX, and Microsoft Office Professional as the supported desktop environment.

In late spring, newly accepted students are sent full details on recommended hardware configurations and current standard software along with procedures to prepare a system for connection to the Lafayette network.