Steely Library Collections

Book Collection

The Book Collection of Steely Library is housed on the first and second floors. The collection is organized using the Library of Congress call number system. All items in this collection can be checked out.

Closed Stacks view a map of this collection

The Closed Stacks are located on the first floor of Steely Library. To use materials in Closed Stacks, ask for assistance at the third floor Public Service Desk.

Course Reserves view a map of this collection

The traditional reserve collection is housed behind the third floor Public Service Desk. Materials in this collection circulate for periods ranging from two hours to three weeks.

Dictionary Stands

Dictionary stands can be found on the first, second, third, and fourth floor of Steely Library. These dictionaries cannot be checked out and must remain on the stand.

Electronic Collection

Steely Library users have access to many electronic materials: ebooks from netLibrary, Safari, and Credo Reference, and a wide variety of electronic journals. Materials in the Electronic Collection are located online and can be accessed through the library catalog NKUIRE and the A-to-Z Journals List.

Faculty Alcove view a map of this collection

The Faculty Alcove is located on the third floor of Steely Library, near the entrance. The collection contains books authored by NKU faculty and staff.

Farris Reading Room view a map of this collection

The Eva G. Farris Reading Room is located on the second floor of Steely Library. The room contains a collection of popular fiction and non-fiction. The materials in this collection can be checked out.

Foundation Center Cooperating Collection

W. Frank Steely Library is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center. As a member of this nationwide network of libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit agencies, Steely Library provides visitors with free public access to grantmaker directories, books on fundraising and nonprofit management, and the Foundation Center's electronic databases, Foundation Directory Online Professional and Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. The fully searchable databases include detailed profiles of all active U.S. foundations, as well as an extensive file of recent grants awarded by the nation's top funders. The Foundation Center databases are only available inside Steely Library.

Government Documents view a map of this collection

Government documents are housed on the third floor of Steely Library. The public is welcome to use all government documents free of charge. Both the University and Non-University community have free and equal access to the information included in these publications. Most government documents circulate in accord with Steely Library circulation policies. Access to this depository collection is available during library hours.

Documents data and information retrieval is available as part of Reference Service provided at the third floor Public Service Desk or by phone (859-572-5457). Classroom lectures and tours of the Documents Collection are provided upon request.

Learning Resource Collection view a map of this collection

The LRC is housed on the fourth floor of Steely Library. The collection is composed of materials which support the programs of Northern Kentucky University's College of Education. Materials in the LRC are appropriate for preschool through grade twelve, and include textbooks, computer programs, games and activities, puppets, and many other items that can be used with children in a teaching or tutorial environment. These LRC materials can be checked out.

Also housed in the LRC is the children's and young adult literature collection. This is a representative collection of the literature being published for children and young adults. Children's and young adult literature can be checked out.

The state textbook adoption samples are another aspect to the LRC collection. The subjects of these materials change each year depending on what curriculum areas the school districts throughout Kentucky are scheduled to update. Textbook adoption samples cannot be checked out.

Maps view a map of this collection

The map collection is housed on the third floor of Steely Library. Maps cannot be checked out.

Media Collections view a map of this collection

Media Collections is located on the second floor of Steely Library in room 215. The collection is made up of CDs, DVDs, audio tapes, video tapes, and LP records.

Materials in the Steely Library Media collection can be checked out for fourteen days.

New Book Shelf view a map of this collection

The New Book Shelf is located on the third floor of Steely Library. This collection contains a selection of books that have been newly purchased. The books in this collection can be checked out.

Oversize Book Collection view a map of this collection

The Oversize Book Collection is housed on the first floor of Steely Library. The collection contains books larger than thirty centimeters in height. The materials in this collection can be checked out.

Periodicals / Microforms

Current journals, magazines, and print newspapers are housed on the third floor of Steely Library. Materials in this collection can not be checked out.

Older journals and magazines are bound and stored on the third floor of Steely Library, behind the Reference Collection.

The Microform collection is housed on the fourth floor of Steely Library. The collection is made up of a variety of microfilm and microfiche. The materials are stored in large cabinets, arranged alphabetically according to title. Microform machines are available for viewing the collection.

Microform machine instructional videos:

Reference Collection view a map of this collection

Steely Library offers a strong collection of reference and research guides selected and organized to correspond to NKU's curriculum. The online collection is available through the library catalog - NKUIRE, and the Articles & Databases search. The print Reference Collection is located on the Library's third floor. Materials in this collection can not be checked out.

To locate reference sources for specific subject areas, please use our online Research Guides, the Articles & Databases search, or Ask Steely Library!

Special Collections and Archivesview a map of this collection

The Eva G. Farris Special Collections and Schlachter Archives at Northern Kentucky University is located on the first floor of Steely Library. The department documents the history of the people, events, activities, and buildings associated with the university from its founding forward.

The department also collects material documenting the history and heritage of the northern Kentucky region, the Ohio River Valley, slavery, the Underground Railroad, Appalachian writers, and military history.

To these ends, the department collects, preserves, arranges, and describes records of permanent value regardless of format.

Digital collections include:

Items in the special collections and archives cannot be checked out.