University Libraries at Bowling Green State University

Jerome Library

The Building [insert picture]

Created to support the University’s expanding educational role, construction of the Bowling Green State University Library began in 1965. Although the official opening did not occur until almost two years later, the building was named in honor of William Travers Jerome III, who served as the sixth president of Bowling Green State University.

The building, which was designed by state architect Carl E. Bentz, features unique non-objective murals on the east and west facades of the library designed by Donald Drumm. Drumm, an artist in residence during the 1960s, actively participated in the conceptualization and construction of the murals. Donning a hard-hat and overalls, Drumm outlined contemporary designs onto the concrete. Construction crews then sandblasted the designs into the concrete. Drumm added shadow pins to the west mural to capture light and create shadows to complete the mural. He also created the terrace entrances, which are furnished with sculptures, flowers, and lush landscaping symbolizing the growth and development of students.

In 1996, under the direction of then Dean, Dr. Linda Dobb, the murals and sculptures were refurbished to their original state. Funding for this project came from distinguished teaching professor, Dr. Janis Pallister, for whom the library’s Pallister Conference Room is named.

The nine-level, 156,895 sq. ft. structure, which is located between Memorial and East Halls, offers an attractive learning environment for students and faculty. The Wm. T. Jerome Library is also open to the community for special events.

Hours, Staff, and Directions

•Hours http://ul.bgsu.edu/hours/hours.phpStaff directory

•Staff Directory http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/about/page40123.html

•Virtual Tour http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/lib_tour_main.html

•Directions http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=113240094040467184368.000434c7f33cf69239857&z=16

Services and Programs

Circulation Desk For information about borrowing materials, paying fines, and keeping your library account in good standing, visit the Circulation Desk or refer to the Circulation Survival Guides at: http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/circ/survivalguides.html

Reserve Reading Room Faculty and teaching assistants sometimes designate specific materials for use in courses. These items can be borrowed only for short time periods: 2 hours, 1 day, or 3 days. Photocopiers, typewriters, microform readers, and televisions are also available in the Reserve Reading Room.

Research and Information Desk Reference librarians and student employees staff this first-floor desk during most of the library’s open hours. For questions on conducting a research strategy, selecting resources ( both print and electronic) help navigating the BGSU Libraries catalog, directional questions, and much more, visit this desk. It is staffed most of the hours the library is open. You may also call the Research and Information Desk at 419-372-6943.

Research Guides The library’s website provides a number of handouts prepared by library staff to aid your research. Similar to the tutorials, but often more in-depth, these guides offer assistance with navigating various research databases, how to best use specific research tools, style guides for MLA and APA citations, and more.

• Tutorials

• QuickQuest

Specialized Collections and Branches

Government Documents (1st floor) Bowling Green State University became a federal depository in 1933. Librarians select 51% of the offered items, receiving approximately 1,500 documents each month. This collection of 700,000 publications is rich in historical and current material including the following materials: • Census of Population reports from 1790 to present, • Foreign Relations of the United States, • U.S. Treaties and International Agreements • U.S. Congressional Serial Set, • and many other important historical primary research sets.

The collection emphasizes materials in agriculture, business, civil rights, economics, education, environment, foreign relations, geology, health, housing, justice, labor, law, presidential materials, small business, and social welfare. Additionally librarians select all congressional materials including hearings, reports, documents, floor debates, bills and public laws, and studies.

Bowling Green State University has traditionally served the Fifth Congressional District in Ohio. In 1990 changes in the congressional district boundaries incorporated the depository into the Ninth Congressional District. Due to our historic ties to the Fifth District and our legal obligations to the Ninth, we currently serve both districts. The department became an Ohio depository in 1953 and receives all agency publications distributed through the state depository program. Our state collection numbers about 20,000. The collection includes agency publications such as reports, directories, pamphlets, leaflets, posters, newsletters, and journals; Judicial Branch materials including administrative opinions and state Supreme Court opinions and decisions; and Ohio General Assembly materials, including the Laws of Ohio and the House and Senate Journals.

In the early 1980’s selected material from the City of Bowling Green were added to the collection including City Council Minutes, Mayor’s Reports, the Bowling Green City Code of Ordinances, and the Annual Report of the Bowling Green Police Division. This collection is located in the main documents stack area behind the Ohio Collection, and all call numbers begin with BG.

BGSU became a Canadian Government Documents Depository in October, 1999. This collection focuses on business, environment, Great Lakes, Native Peoples, and social issues. It includes journals, reports, and cd-roms. We also collect some of the important statistical reports produced by Statistics Canada. The growing collection is arranged by Canadian Documents Classification Number and is shelved in the main documents stack area.