library-research

Main Library Collections

Books

The Library holds over 500,000+ print volumes. The collection supports all areas of research and teaching at AUC, but is particularly strong in topics relevant to the Middle East and  Arabic and Islamic studies. The collection is being developed actively, and grows every year. Subject librarians select new books, and AUC faculty and students are also encouraged to suggest purchases. 

Print books are shelved in open stacks on the first, and second floors. The Library is following the Library of Congress classification scheme which ensures that books are shelved by subject. In order to find a print book, use the Library Catalog, or Library OneSearch. Verify that the item is available (check shelf), and make a note of the location, and call number. 

If you need to learn how to read LC call numbers, refer to one of the many short videos on Youtube.  In each bookcase, the call number sequence starts at the top left of each shelving unit, and increases as one moves from top to bottom, and from left to right. 

 

e-Books

The Library’s collection of e-Books currently provides access to around 500,000 titles and is growing steadily. The Library has defined the e-Book format as its preferred format, though print formats are still acquired. We welcome suggestions for e-Book purchases, which can often be processed within a few working days. 

E-Books are marked as such in Library OneSearch, where users can select to view only e-Book results by checking the “Full Text Online” option on the top left. In the Library Catalog, e-Books can be distinguished by the note “electronic resource” after the title. 

Regardless of the platform, these books can be accessed for authorized users from off-campus locations, using an AUC login and password.

 

Journals

AUC Library maintains individual and packages subscriptions (through databases) that enable access to 100,000+ journal titles. These scholarly journals cover all disciplines and fields currently studied and researched at AUC. While most journals are available electronically via the Library’s databases there are still some journals that are only available in print versions. These are located in the periodicals room on the garden level and are not to be circulated.

 

Newspapers

The main library subscribes to a range of local newspapers. The print current issues are held for three months, in a cabinet on the garden level till their equivalents are received on microfiche or get bound. Since newsprint paper is brittle, historical issues of newspapers are only accessible in microform (microfilm or microfiche). To search for print newspapers, use the Library Catalog, choose ‘journal-title’ from the dropdown menu, and enter the title in the search box. In order to access microfilm, fill the online form or contact the help desk.

The Library also provides electronic access to a wide range of historical newspapers. These include: Al Ahram, Times of London, New York Times

Current newspapers are accessible through electronic platforms, the most important of which are Library PressdisplayAskZad and Access World News.

Audio and Video

The video and audio collections include over 64,000 items in all subject areas. They include documentary films on Quantum computing, partial differential equations, as well as blockbusters and independent movies.

Video and audio materials can be searched through Library OneSearch, where users can select to view only video or audio results by selecting the appropriate content type from the list on the left-hand menu (e.g. “Streaming Video”). Users can also search directly in one of the streaming video platforms, such as Academic Video Online (AVON)

DVDs are stacked in the media room behind the help desk on the plaza level. See a librarian to access DVDs. 

 

Grey literature

The migration and refugee studies collection is located in closed stacks. Contact the help desk to request items in the collection.

MRC collection includes 1800+ correspondence, reports, memoranda, and/or other forms of documentation pertaining to grants from the Ford and Mellon Foundations, the International Development Research Center, and the International Organization for Migration. There is also information on the Conference on Refugees and Refugee Law in Egypt, and the FMRS seminar series, as well as research proposals and reports. 

 

Theses 

All AUC theses are submitted both as an electronic copy to the online repository and as a print copy to the Library. The print copies are maintained on the garden level, but require a key to access. See the circulation desk for assistance. All AUC theses are submitted both as electronic copy to the online repository. Non-AUC theses are accessible in online repositories, such as NDLDT or ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (AUC Access only).

 

Popular Reading

Our subject librarians select novels and other titles of current interest from our main collection, and display them on the popular reading shelves on the plaza level, next to the scanning stations. Users are invited to browse the shelves for a good read!

 

Databases

The main Library subscribes to 150+ databases serving all academic programs. Databases provide premium access to a wealth of useful research materials--from primary resources, academic journals, business data, and newspapers to video streaming and ebooks essential for learning and research. By license agreement, the library is permitted to provide full access to certain categories of users though limited access to others. 

 

Arabic Collections Online

The AUC Library is a partner in the Arabic Collections Online project. Led by NYU Abu Dhabi, Arabic Collections Online (ACO) is a publicly available digital library of public-domain Arabic language content. It currently provides digital access to 14,183 volumes across 8,675 subjects.