THE ROBERT JAMES TERRY LIBRARY

The combined facilities of the Robert James Terry Library at Texas Southern University support the curricular and research needs of the University community through the development of pertinent collections and the provision of services designed to facilitate access to information. The principal research collections, numbering over 266,000 volumes, over 1,700 periodical subscriptions, and over 462,000 microforms, are housed in a centrally located facility providing seating for over 1,000 patrons. To augment study, a number of closed study rooms and individual study carrels are provided on most fl oors. With the exception of the special collections, the entire library has an open stack arrangement.

The Robert James Terry Library is conveniently arranged with three major public-access service areas on the fi rst fl oor: reference, circulation, and special collections. The fi fth fl oor contains the business and economics collection. The Library has automated circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, and serial control systems. Online public-access catalog terminals are located on each fl oor and in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Reading Room. Computer based bibliographic search services offer over 200 databases. CDROM access to databases is also provided to students.

The Library provides interlibrary loan via direct link with most major libraries in the U.S. by means of the computer and telecommunications facilities of the OCLC bibliographic utility. Tours of the Library can be arranged to cover areas from general orientation to in-depth bibliographic instruction in specifi c fi elds of study. Electronic access to library fi les is available through the University website.Equipment has been added to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Included are a closed circuit television system (CCTV), which can enlarge the size of printed material up to 60 times its original size, and a Kurzweil reader, which can scan printed material, convert the text to synthesized speech and read it aloud in seconds. On each fl oor of the Robert James Terry Library are tables which are designed to accommodate library users in wheelchairs. For users of computers, televisions, etc., there are screen enlargers available to enhance viewing. In the Reference Department, fi rst fl oor, some reference materials are available in large print editions.

Finally, one of the unique features of the Library is its special collections, housing the “treasures” of the University. These unique holdings provide a varied repository of collections with international signifi cance. The collections include the Barbara Jordan Archives, the Traditional African Art Gallery, the Heartman Collection on African-American Life and Culture, and the University Archives.