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Facts & figures

Location & contact information
University Library
Corner of Osborn Dr. & Morrill Rd.
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011-2140
General phone: 515 294-3642
General fax: 515 294-5525
Collections (FY09)
Volumes held: 2,578,144
Books purchased annually: 28,369
Journals received annually: 97,352
Electronic journals: 84,174
Microform units: 3,540,812
Photographs & slides: 920,761
Films and videos: 32,874
Audio materials: 17,164
General Collection: 28.02 miles of books
Manuscripts & archives: 17,842 linear ft
Aerial photos & maps: 99,038
Materials range in date from 1475 to the present, representing 118 languages
Collection strengths: biological and physical sciences and technology
Annual Statistics (FY09)
Library building visitors: 1,817,364
Items circulated: 251,683
Items used in-house: 75,755
Items lent to other institutions: 34,033
Items borrowed from other institutions: 17,754
Seats for patrons: 2,565 (w/ branches)
Employees (full-time equivalents):
     52  faculty
     85  support staff
     30  students
     167 total
History of the Library
History
Library located in Old Main:
     1868-1891
Library located in Morrill Hall:
     1891-1914
Library located in Beardshear Hall:
     1914-1925
Construction of original Library building:
     1925
Library Instruction
     dating from 1891
Library of Congress classification,
      used since 1925
Librarians, Directors, and Deans
J. C. Arthur, 1878-1879
J. K. Macomber, 1879-1883
Mary McDonald, 1883-1885
Ida M. Riley, 1886-1888
Cora Marsland, 1889-1890
Fanny Thomas, 1890-1893
Flora Wilson, 1894-1897
Vina E. Clark, 1897-1916
Vera Dixon, 1916-1920
Gladys M. Rush, 1920-1922
Charles H. Brown, 1922-1946
Robert W. Orr, 1946-1967
Warren B. Kuhn, 1967-1989
Nancy Eaton, 1989-1997
Olivia M. A. Madison, 1997-
Art in Parks Library 
Murals
Kurt Anderson mural
     Prairie Sky
Doug Shelton mural
     Unlimited Possibilities
Grant Wood murals
     When Tillage Begins
     Agricultural Panel
     Home Economics Panel
     Engineering Panel
Sticks mural
     What We Love About Iowa State

Portraits
Dr. and Mrs. Parks Portraits
Portraits of Iowa State Presidents
Sculptures
Christian Petersen sculptures
     Boy and Girl
     Old Woman in Prayer
Stephen DeStaebler sculpture
     Left-sided Angel
Nina Ward sculpture
     On Shoulders of Giants

Other Art
Judith Lazelere banner
Nellie Walker bas reliefs
Printers' Marks bas reliefs
Henry Chapman Mercer fireplace tiles
ISU Library Facilities
Parks Library
Size: 325,488 gross sq. ft.
Original building: 1925
Addition I: 1961
Addition II: 1969
Addition III: 1983
Dedicated to William Robert Parks and
       Ellen Sorge Parks in 1984

e-Library: opened March 2001
Electronic Journal Collections: 84,174
e-Reserve (Fall 2009): 234 courses
       918 electronic files/links

Storage Building
Size: 16,500 gross sq. ft.
Branch Facilities
Design Reading Room
       111 College of Design
       3,096 sq. ft
Mathematics Reading Room
       401 Carver Hall
       558 sq. ft.
Veterinary Medical Library
       2280 Vet Med
       6,631 sq. ft.
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Iowa State University Library
Corner of Osborn Dr. & Morrill Rd.
Ames, Iowa 50011-2140
Voice: (515) 294-3642
Fax: (515) 294-5525