Library Words to Know: Around the Building

Borrowing Services
The desk where you can check out, renew, and return library materials. Located at the entrance of Adams Library. For the full list of services and information, visit the Borrowing Services Tab in this glossary.

Digital Initiatives
A unit of Special Collections responsible for digitizing materials from the RIC archives, as well as managing the institutional repository for the College. These materials can be viewed online on the Digital Collections page. Student projects and scholarship, as well as faculty and staff publications, are submitted through this department.
 

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
A service that allows for patrons to request books and other materials to be delivered to RIC. 

Reference (Library Service)
An area of the library that helps patrons find materials or information. 

• RIC’s Reference department offers a wide range of services, such as help with research, library resources, and campus information. Services are available in-person, over the phone, and online via chat. 

Course Reserves
A collection of course materials set aside by instructors. Physical items, like books or exam keys, are available for short-term, in-library use only; these are stored at Borrowing Services. Digital materials, such as articles, can be accessed online anytime. 

Faculty and Alumni Publications
A selection of works written by RIC professors, teachers, and graduates. Books published pre-2000 can be found on the 4th floor in Special Collections.

Open Books – Open Minds (OBOM)
An exhibit displaying creative and critical work selections from the annual Open Books – Open Minds conference. For more information, visit the Open Books – Open Minds page.

Main Collection
Circulating materials available on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors.

• The 3rd floor houses new, popular books, as well as current periodicals.

Reference (Collection)
A collection with materials for study or research, such as encyclopedias, handbooks, atlases, etc.

Special Collections Exhibit
A display of publications, artifacts, and other materials from Special Collections that center around a historical theme. Located at the entrance of Adams Library.

• Library Instruction Facility
• Reference Workroom
• Reinhardt Room
• Public and school computers 
• Microform scanner
• Photocopiers
• Vending machines

Student Success Offices:

• Academic Success Center
  A place that provides tutoring, support services, and resources to help students thrive in their school careers. Services include the Math Learning Lab, Tutorial Services, the Writing Lab, and various programs occurring throughout the semester.
• Learning 4 Life Center (L4L)
  A service that offers mentorships to students who are facing adversity, and connects them to on- and off- campus resources to improve and maintain quality of life. 
• Office of Academic Advising
  A department that assigns advisors to first-year students to help them explore majors, choose classes, and navigate Academic Standing.
   

Career & Life Design Center
Formerly known as the Career Development Center. A hub that helps students with employment opportunities, on- and off-campus, as well as post-graduation career readiness.

Main Collection 

• Levels 1A (bottom level) and 1B (top level) house most of the materials in the Main Collection.

(Level 1A)

• Collaborative Study Space 
• Private study rooms

CD/CD-ROM
Short for “compact disc”, this is used to store information such as files, music, or programs.

• On the 2nd floor, there is a Music CD collection that students can listen to and borrow from.

DVD
A disc with more storage than a CD. Commonly used for storing movies, TV shows, and other videos.

• The 2nd floor has a DVD collection of movies and documentaries.

Government documents
Publications from various government agencies. Examples include reports, statistics, memos, records, and censuses.

Main Collection 

• The 2nd floor houses materials on Music, the Arts, and Photography.

Microform
A miniaturized format for storing documents. Commonly used for accessing older periodicals that are out of print. Can be viewed and copied via microform scanner. 

• Microfiche - Flat sheets of film. Stores a material 100 times smaller than its original. 
• Microfilm - Rolls of film. Stores a material 10 times smaller than its original.
• The 2nd floor has magazines, newspapers, and academic journal articles in microform. However, the microform scanner is on the 3rd Floor.

Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning
A classroom used for faculty professional development meetings.

Library Director's Office

Special Collections
An archive of rare books and materials that are housed in their own space. 

• RIC’s Special Collections include materials relevant to the RIC community, college programs, and Rhode Island history.

Curriculum Corner/Curriculum Resource Center
An area on the fourth floor that has classroom materials, such as children’s books, primary sources, and kits, as well as resources for preservice teachers. In the library catalog, this location is called the Curriculum Resource Center.

• Fortes Room
• Classroom spaces