Facts & Figures

Collections (FY18)

  • Volumes held: 2,801,438
  • Books purchased annually: 13,000
  • Journals received annually: 142,624
  • E-books in collection:  460,516
  • Electronic journals: 110,162
  • Microform units: 3,530,356
  • Photographs & slides: 1,081,526
  • Films and videos: 35,168
  • Audio materials: 20,184
  • General Collection: 24.4 miles of books
  • Manuscripts & archives: 23,433 linear ft.
  • Aerial photos & maps: 99,606

 

Materials range in date from 1475 to the present, representing 118 languages

Collection strengths: biological and physical sciences and technology

Annual Statistics (FY18)

  • Library building visitors: 2,314,211
  • Items circulated: 59,813
  • Items used in-house: 28,798
  • Items on e-reserve: 396 courses, 1,989 electronic files/links
    • Number of hard copy items (books, dvd's instructor copies): 1,070
    • Number of streaming videos: 148
    • Number of students served: 45,231
  • Items lent to other institutions: 20,373
  • Items borrowed from other institutions: 10,913
  • Seats for patrons: 2,594 (w/ branches)
  • Employees (full-time equivalents): 43 librarians, 
    77 support staff, 24 students, 144 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, 1997-2014
  • Joyce C. Garnett, Interim Dean, 2014-2015
  • Beth McNeil, 2015-2019
  • Hilary Seo, Interim Dean, 2019-

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
  • Topel and Cheng Art Collection: Chinese jades, hard stones, and scrolls

ISU Library Facilities

Parks Library

  • Size: 325,488 gross sq. ft.
  • Original building: 1925; Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson Architects
  • Addition I: 1961; Brooks-Borg Architects
  • Addition II: 1969; Brooks-Borg Architects
  • Addition III: 1983; Charles Herbert and Associates 

Dedicated to William Robert Parks and Ellen Sorge Parks in 1984

Branch Libraries

  • Design Reading Room, 111 College of Design: 3,096 sq. ft.
  • Veterinary Medical Library, 2280 Vet Med: 6,631 sq. ft.
  • Storage Building: 16,500 gross sq. ft.
  • e-Library: opened March 2001