Gallaudet University Library and Archives
The University Library provides instructional, reference, and library collection services to the Gallaudet community, supporting uses of information resources and the development and enhancement of information literacy. The Library builds, maintains, and organizes the world's largest collection of deaf materials, as well as a collection of general materials to support academic programs. There are two Library units: (1) Library Deaf Collections and Archives, and (2) Library Public Services. Library technical services (collection development and cataloging) are shared responsibilities for the two units, with separate focuses on the Deaf Collections and General Collections.
The University Library manages the following major web sites:
- University Library library.gallaudet.edu
- University Archives archives.gallaudet.edu
- Library Digital Collections www.aladin.wrlc.org/dl/
- LibGuides (Instructional Materials) libguides.gallaudet.edu
- ALADIN Online Catalog discovery.wrlc.org/?skin=ga, http://aladin.wrlc.org
Director of Library Deaf Collections and Archives
Library Deaf Collections and Archives is committed to building and maintaining the world's largest collection of materials related to the Deaf Community. It is also the home to Gallaudet University's institutional records. The Deaf Library Collections is composed of Deaf books, Deaf DVD/VHS, Deaf periodicals, a Deaf Subject Vertical File, a Deaf Biographical Vertical File, a Deaf School Vertical File, and other forms of non-print media which are located on the main floor of the Merrill Learning Center (MLC). It also provides instructional tours to both the Gallaudet community, including students and faculty, as well as to patrons and scholars off campus. The Archives is responsible for manuscripts, photographs, rare books, periodicals, films, artifacts, and other items. While maintaining a comprehensive collection, the archives have the important mission of preserving the records of the global Deaf Community and collaborating with other repositories to ensure the longevity of its collection. Archival materials may be examined in the newly-renovated Archives Research Room, B125 in the Merrill Learning Center (MLC). Library Deaf Collections and Archives is currently digitizing many of Gallaudet's Rare Book collection. Various digital collections of manuscripts and photographs are linked on the Archives web site.
Sarah Hamrick, Director of Library Public Services
Library Public Services provides instruction, reference, access, and collection services in all subject areas to the university community. Library Public Services includes two functions: Instruction and Reference Services and Circulation Services. Public Services staff also provides assistance to researchers outside of Gallaudet who want information about deaf history, culture, and sign languages. Public Services staff select, purchase, and provide access to print and electronic resources chosen to support the university's curriculum and co-curricular programs. More than 15,000 ebooks, 50,000 full-text journal articles, and many other scholarly resources are available in the Library's ALADIN system, which students can use both on and off campus. Films on Demand and other electronic resources are also available. Students can also use the ALADIN system to find print materials in the Gallaudet Library. The more than 4 million print materials available from members of the Washington Research Library Consortium can be found via ALADIN and are available to students within 48 hours through the Library's Consortium Loan Service. The Library also provides access to specialized research tools such as Refworks, Libguides, and Credo Reference. Library staff also provides instruction and reference services that enable students to find the information they need. Through workshops, class sessions, appointments with students, and through e-mail, chat, and videophone, highly skilled librarians promote information literacy.
The Library serves the Gallaudet community as well as the world wide community of researchers and scholars interested in deaf people and their culture and history. The Library is a member of the Washington Research Library Consortium, and its print and electronic resources are indexed in the ALADIN online catalog. Selected library video resources have been included in the online Gallaudet Video Library, and other special digital collections are online in the ALADIN catalog and accessible through the Archives web site. Examples of available special deaf digital resources include the Silent Worker newspaper, cards containing alumni information, and papers of selected deaf leaders and organizations.
