The Binghamton University Libraries’ slogan “Connect - Discover - Create” remains meaningful. We invite users to make both personal and network connections, discover new (and old!) resources, and create new pathways to knowledge and solutions to problems.
Our People
The Libraries have a Dean, library faculty, professional staff and classified staff - see Library Directory. In addition, we employ about 120 student workers. Our faculty and staff are engaged in applied research to enhance the quality of our library services and share our successful initiatives regionally and nationally at professional meetings and literature.
Our Collections
Since the University’s founding, our subject librarians have collaborated diligently with the teaching faculty to build first-rate collections in support of all academic programs and research. The Libraries recognize the importance of maintaining consortial memberships and cooperative programs that extend our patrons' access to research collections and resources regionally, nationally, and even internationally.
Our Special Collections and University Archives materials range from Chinese books of the 19th and 20th centuries to Civil War manuscripts and beyond. Our noteworthy collections include the archive and library of celebrated Austro-German theater director Max Reinhardt and the Frances R. Conole Archive of Recorded Sound, as well as distinctive archives of regional importance such as Link Collections, the collection of Edwin A. Link, Jr., Binghamton-area resident and renowned inventor. The collections are used by researchers worldwide who are interested in the origins and history of flight simulation.
For more information, visit our Collections pages.
Our Spaces
The Glenn G. Bartle Library, named after the University's first president, houses collections in the humanities, social sciences, government documents, mathematical and computer sciences, and Special Collections and University Archives. Bartle Library has collaborative and quiet study spaces, including several reading rooms and the Graduate Student Commons, as well as our library instruction lab. Located on the first floor, our video recording studio has multimedia production capability and can be used for presentation practice.
Known as the quiet library, the Science Library contains materials in all science and engineering disciplines, as well as an extensive map collection. There are different types of study areas, including group study rooms. The Libraries’ Digital Scholarship Center is located on the second floor of the building.
The University Downtown Center (UDC) Library supports the College of Community and Public Affairs. The UDC Library collection contains books, reference materials and regional government documents in the areas of community research, public administration, human development, social work, education and student affairs.
Located in Bartle, Science and UDC libraries, our Information Commons are a welcoming, state-of-the-art, student- centered space with the information and technology resources and expert staff needed to support and enhance the scholarship and course work. Services include scanning, color printing and advanced resource discovery tools.
The Collection Management Facility (CMF), located off campus, houses important, uncommon materials in the Libraries’ collections. The items include print journals and infrequently used book and book sets. The CMF ensures space on campus for newer and more heavily used materials. Materials are delivered to the Bartle, Science or UDC libraries upon request.
Our Services
The Libraries offer a wide variety and range of services, including research assistance, instruction, user-friendly interfaces, digital scholarship and preservation, scholarly communications, digital scanners, and resource sharing.
Research Assistance
Our Ask a Librarian service is designed not only to help users answer specific questions but also to help them formulate better research strategies. Research help is available via email and chat. You are also invited to make an appointment with a Subject Librarian for an one-on-one appointment for research assistance.
Instructional Services
The Libraries' instruction program promotes information literacy on campus via teaching, ongoing assessment, new methodologies, and collaboration with other campus groups (e.g., the First Year Experience Program and the General Education Program). Librarians offer course-specific sessions, general sessions, personal research consultations, tutorials, tours, and other outreach services.
Find It!
Find It!, a multi-faceted discovery and delivery service, allows users to choose how they search and retrieve information. Find It! works seamlessly with Rosetta, our digital preservation system.
Digital Scholarship
Our Digital Scholarship Services create a community of practice for research and creative activities, opening new possibilities by extending traditional methods of research and pedagogy through application of new technologies and digital media to advance the teaching and learning processes.
Open Repository and Digital Preservation Services
The focus of digital preservation and repository services are the unique or rare content from collections owned by the Libraries or the University at large, as well as open access scholarly content created by Binghamton University scholars. The Libraries support the long-term preservation and accessibility of digital material, whether born-digital or digitized, by utilizing two distinct systems: Rosetta and the ORB.
Scholarly Communications
Our Scholarly Communications Program facilitates discussion of emerging publication and scholarship models to support campus faculty, staff and student publishing and archiving of scholarly works.
Digital Scanners
The "BookEye" scanner is a fast, user-friendly, self-service scanner. We have these in all library locations. They are popular among both students and faculty, giving them the opportunity to digitize-on-demand anything from our vast print collections.
Resource Sharing
Our Resource Sharing service is an integral part of the research cycle of our users. We can deliver articles from other institutions or the CMF in digital format via our document delivery service. The uniqueness and strength of our collections keep us consistently rated among the top institutions in New York State for lending our materials to others.
