Collections

The Bishop’s Library Learning Commons maintains several special collections. In many cases, these materials must be used in the Library only. Please inquire at the Research Assistance Desk as to whether other arrangements are possible. Check the online catalogue for the specific locations of all Library materials.

A.  General Collection

The Bishop’s Library Learning Commons maintains a General collection of books, ebooks, and other information resources that support the academic departments and courses taught on campus. The General collection covers a vast array of topics, disciplines, and areas of interest, including a children’s literature section.

Subject librarians develop and curate the General collection to meet the evolving needs of the Bishop’s University learning community. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to make recommendations of materials to purchase. The General collection is located throughout the library. Please see the building floor plans for more detailed location information.

B.  Periodicals

The Library Learning Commons subscribes to approximately 19,550 print and on-line journals.  Periodicals are listed in the online catalogue. Current issues of newspapers can be found on the main floor across from the Library Services Desk. Most issues of current periodicals can be found on the second floor. Bound issues of many titles, can also be found on the second floor. For assistance with locating titles and issues of periodicals, please see the Periodicals Clerk at the desk located at the top of the Agora or ask at the Research Assistance Desk.

C.  Reference Collection

The print Reference Collection is housed in the Webster Reference Room, located to the right of the main lobby. The Reference Collection is a non-circulating collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, yearbooks, bibliographies, and other material. This collection includes introductory reference sources, and serves as ready access to information and general overviews of most subject areas taught at Bishop’s University.

D.  DVDs & Streaming Videos

The Library Learning Commons has a large collection of feature films and documents on DVD video, including many foreign films located on the basement floor. They are identified and shelved by the language of the soundtrack (English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Other Languages and Silent). The collection also includes a separate section for musical videos, primarily operas.

A multi region, multi format DVD/Blu-Ray player is located nearby.

Streaming Videos

The university community also has access to streaming videos from NFB Campus from the National Film Board of Canada (on campus access only.)

E.  CDs, Audio Files and Equipment

CDs are located on the second floor. Music recordings of Western classical music, jazz and popular/rock music make up most of the collection, but there are also many literary works such as Shakespeare’s complete plays.

Two audio workstations on the basement floor near the video production studio have CD players with USB turntables and equipment for converting LPs and cassettes into audio files.

The university community also has access to Naxos Music Library, a database of streaming audio files of Western classical music (available on or off campus).

F.  Eastern Townships Collection

The Library includes amongst its holdings a substantial collection of materials relating to the history, development, culture and society of the Eastern Townships. These materials are housed in the Old Library in McGreer, and may be consulted there, but do not circulate. For more information, see the Old Library web page.

G.  Special Collections

The Library houses a number of special collections in such fields as religion, history and literature. These include the Hon. C. Gordon McKinnon Collection of Canadiana, the Bélanger-Gardner Collection of books on civilization and the arts, Bishop’s University student theses, books from the Library of Bishop Charles James Stewart, second Anglican Bishop of Québec, books from the Lloyd Library of Divinity House, the Québec Clerical Library, archives of the Québec Diocese of the Anglican Church, early records and archives of the University, and the Library’s collection of rare or pre-1900 books. Please contact the University Archivist at ext. 2609 for further information.

H.  Art Collection

The Library Learning Commons University Librarian and Art Collection Committee are responsible for the University Art Collection, which includes more than 575 paintings, prints, installations and sculptures displayed in the Library and across campus.