The Temple University library system ranks in the top 100 library systems in the United States with holdings of over 3M volumes. It is ranked in the top 60 in total library expenditures by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), an organization of the leading research libraries in North America which includes 113 academic libraries. Current collections support every department and discipline in our 17 schools and colleges with rich, deep collections in a range disciplines including science, engineering, law, medicine and liberal arts. The libraries also provide leading-edge services and serve as a rapidly expanding cultural and intellectual center for the campus community and beyond.

^[1]The Engineering and Architecture Library, which is a branch of the main library, resides on the second floor of the Engineering and Architecture building. It hosts a modest collection of engineering books and also provides study space and computer terminals. As with many libraries these days, electronic access has become as important as hardcopy collections, particularly for engineering. Two key capabilities that our library supports are: (1) electronic access to many journals, including the IEEE, Compendex, INSPEC and ScienceDirect, and (2) a proxy capability that lets users access these resources from outside the university network. Students can search any of these databases from any computer connected to the campus network and download electronic copies of documents. Students outside the network can log into the library system through a proxy server and then access the same resources. These capabilities are invaluable in terms of our students’ ability to do library research.

The library also employs a full-time librarian who focuses on the needs of our engineering students. As early as the Introduction to Engineering class, students are educated about the library and its resources. The librarian also works one-on-one with students to solve their particular research needs. For example, students in a senior design class who need to locate a document can consult directly with the librarian and solicit her help in finding the document.

Another invaluable capability is the Interlibrary Loan system. Students can request materials electronically and the library will search, locate, and acquire the document. It is then provided to the student free of charge. These types of searches often take less than a week and draw on a vast network of libraries sharing resources.

The library space in our building also serves as a study space for students. It is a social center of the college and is quite heavily utilized during weekdays for group study.