Media Center

Phone: 515 294-3961; circdesk@iastate.edu

Location: Lower level of Parks Library (Room 2).

Collections: Maps, Media, and Microforms

Hours: See Main Desk hours

Services and equipment available in the Media Center

  • Blu-rays, DVDs and videos, CD-ROMs, audio cassettes/CD's, microfiche, and maps and related book items
  • Audio/visual equipment for in-house use of material
  • Self-serve equipment for viewing and scanning (digitizing) microforms, slides, and negatives (free service)
  • Portable microfiche reader available for checkout

While some Media Center materials may be checked out, others must be used in the Media Center. For more detailed information regarding Media Center loan periods, overdue fines, lost item charges, etc., see Loan periods, Fines, or the complete ISU Library Lending Policy.

Collections in this center

Map Collection

The Map Collection contains all types of maps, atlases, charts and globes:

  • United States Geological Survey topographic maps
  • US road maps
  • US and foreign city maps
  • National and state atlases
  • National parks and forests maps
  • General and thematic maps of most sections of the world

Media Collection

The Media Collection covers a wide range of subjects in a variety of formats:

  • Movies and TV
  • Educational films 
  • Closed Captioned videos
  • Audio books
  • Classical and contemporary music

Audio-visual materials can be located through Quick Search.

Equipment for in-house use includes 1/2" VHS video (NTSC), DVD (Region 1, NTSC), Blu-ray, audio cassette/CD, slides. Complete list of audio-visual equipment.

Microforms Collection

The Microforms Collection includes materials in microfilm, microfiche, and micro-opaque card formats.

Ask at the Main Desk to retrieve:

  • Newspapers
  • Magazines
  • Government documents
  • Technical reports

Equipment for viewing is available for use in-house. A portable microfiche reader may be checked out at the Main Desk for four weeks. It can be used with fiche that circulates for four weeks, and must be renewed in person.

Self-serve digital scanners are available on a first come, first serve basis, for viewing and digitizing non-moving film images including: slides (1 slide at a time), 35mm negatives, microfilm, microfiche, and micro-opaque cards.. The scanning itself is free of charge and patrons can print, save, or email their files. Digital scanners use an 18 megapixel camera, with 7x to 30x optical zoom and total combined optical/digital zoom up to 105x, to create scans with resolutions from 200 dpi to 1200 dpi.

Audiovisual equipment in the Media Center

The equipment in the Media Center is for use in the Media Center only.

  • Computer workstations
  • Laser printer
  • High-definition monitor
  • Blu-ray player
  • VHS/DVD combo players
  • Slide scanner
  • Tape/CD player