Adams Library
The James P. Adams Library provides:
- Access to information in print and online.
- Reference services in person and through use of several icons, such as “Text Us” and “Email” on the library homepage.
- One-on-one research consultation.
- Public computers for use throughout the building.
- Laptops, iPads and Nexus 7 tablets for loan.
- Gate count for 2014-15 was 511,510.
The library collection today includes 153,307 eBooks, 51,159 journals in
electronic format and 152 databases, all of which are accessible both
on and off campus. Print holdings include 621,734 items and 194
periodicals. The library also has a collection of technical reports,
newspapers and government publications, a DVD collection of films and
documentaries, a variety of music CDs and a rotating collection of
popular fiction and non-fiction books for recreational reading.
In order to access the full range of library services, students are
required to have a RIC ID card activated for library use. Activation can
be done in person at the circulation desk, over the phone by calling
456-9617, or online at www.ric.edu/librarycardactivation. During the 2014-15 academic year, 65,834 items from the library’s collection were circulated.
Library faculty collaborate with college faculty to create library
instruction for specific courses focused on the discovery, use and
evaluation of library resources and information on the web. This year
the library will provide 158 library instruction sessions which will be
attended by 2,609 students. These sessions are conducted by the
reference librarians, who also answer about 7,141 reference questions a
year.
The library’s participation in the Higher Education Library
Information Network (HELIN) allows the RIC community to borrow from
academic and hospital libraries throughout the state with a click of a
button in the online catalog. Users can request items not available in
the HELIN consortium through the library’s Document Delivery Service.
During the past year the RIC library borrowed 5,182 items from other
libraries and lent 4,319 items, for a total of 9,501 items.
The College Archives, a rich depository of the history and records of
Rhode Island College, as well as faculty and alumni publications and
student theses, are located in the Special Collections Department.
Special Collections includes a number of subject collections consisting
of papers, books, manuscripts and other resources that document the
state’s education, ethnic and socio-political history. A growing number
of student theses and honor projects, faculty publications and Special
Collections materials are also accessible electronically in the Digital
Commons.
The Curriculum Resources Center, housed within the library, provides
instructional material and curriculum development resources for teachers
and teacher education programs.
Information about library hours, services and resources can be found on the Adams Library website at www.ric.edu/adamslibrary and by linking to Resources and Services for Students at http://digitalcommons.ric.edu/handbooks/3/
The college is currently planning for the re-purposing of Level 1 of
the Adams Library by having two student services, the Office of Academic
Support and Information Services and Learning for Life, move into the
building from other locations on campus. In addition, Room 401 will be
renovated for the use of the Veteran’s Resource Center.