Welcome to Getchell Library

The University of Nevada, Reno Libraries contain more than one million volumes. Getchell Library (the main library) contains social sciences and humanities materials, special collections and University archives, the Basque Library, media, government publications, the DataWorks lab (GIS, data analysis, and visualization software), and a popular collection of books, music, and videos. Getchell Library also has group instruction and study rooms, a computer lab, and a teleconference center.

There are also several science libraries on campus that have extensive collections in engineering and computer science, life sciences, physical sciences, and medicine. You are encouraged to ask at any public service desk whenever you have questions about the libraries or about using information resources. E-mail or Live Help reference service (Ask Us!) is available at any time.

Getchell Library Points of Interest

Main Floor Map

Circulation/Reserves Desk

The Circulation and Reserves desk is the place to get a library card, check out or renew books, pay fines, and request searches for material not on the shelf. There are book return slots along the circulation desk, where you can return books whenever the library is open. (Outside bookdrops are located at the back of the Main Library and in front of the Life and Health Sciences Library and at other University of Nevada, Reno branch libraries.) Ask for class material placed "on reserve" by faculty for assigned readings at the reserve desk. You must have a UNR Library card with you to check out books. The photocopy machines near the circulation desk are WolfCard operated. You may purchase WolfBucks at the Card Management Center (CMC) located next to the circulation desk.

Popular Collection

The Popular Collection on the main floor of Getchell Library has new and interesting fiction and non-fiction books, DVD and VHS videos for movie buffs, art film aficionados, and children of all ages, and a variety of Music CDs representing pop, rock, jazz, country, and classical titles. You may suggest items for addition to the Pop Collection.

Computers in the Reference Area

Computers in the Reference area offer Internet Access and Microsoft Office software. When you first log in with your UNR NetID, you see the home page of UNR Libraries' information services. In the center of the Library home page, there are links to the Library Catalog, Find Articles, Find Subject Information, Find Journals, Electronic Books, Find News & Newspapers, Style Guides, the Web Reference Shelf (Web sites where you can look up facts or other information), and Google Scholar. Across the top of the Libraries' home page, there are drop-down menus for library hours, departments, science libraries, staff directory, services, help, search functions, and comment forms. On the left side of the home page there are links to information especially useful to students and faculty.

Select Library Catalog on the Libraries home page to search for books or other items in the UNR Libraries, the Desert Research Institute, or the Learning Resource Centers of Western Nevada College (Carson City) and Great Basin College (Elko).

Reference/Information Desk

The Reference/Information Desk staff are available to answer your reference questions. They can also assist you in using the Reference Collection, which is shelved nearby. Anytime you have a question about the library, be sure to stop at the desk and ask, or click Ask Us! on the Libraries home page. We will be glad to assist you.

Reference Collection highlights

The Reference Collection contains printed reference items, including general works such as encyclopedias and dictionaries, as well as subject-specific sources of information. Although most indexes to scholarly journals, magazines, and newspaper articles are now on the Web, there are still many useful printed resources shelved in the reference collection.

Walk through the reference collection to see the variety of sources available. The library catalog identifies these materials by the "Ref" abbreviation in the location area of an item's display.

Microform Area

The cabinets in the Microform Area provide storage for more than 42,500 reels of microfilm and 650,000 microfiche items. Paper copies of microform materials can be produced for 10 cents/page using the reader-printer machines near the Reference Desk. One of the reader-printers is connected to a computer that allows you to scan images from microfilm or microfiche to file, and then transfer them to a CD-ROM.

Newspaper Area

Current newspapers are available on the newspaper rack and newspaper shelves behind the Microform Area. Most of these newspapers are permanently retained on microfilm.

Document Delivery Services

Document Delivery Services staff work with UNR faculty, staff and students who need materials not owned by the UNR Libraries. Arrangements are made with other libraries to ship requested items to UNR or provide photocopies of articles to UNR users.

Book Nook

The Book Nook is operated by Friends of the Library. Used books and magazines are sold as a fund-raising activity to benefit the UNR Libraries' collections.

Current Periodicals

The Current Periodical shelves hold recent issues of selected journals and magazines still received in print format. They are arranged alphabetically by title. Older issues are shelved by call number with the books or are available on microform in the Microform Area. Do a Journal Search in the Library Catalog to locate back issues of periodicals in the UNR Libraries or online.

E. L. Cord Computer Lab and Information Technology Help Desk

The E.L. Cord Computer Lab provides PCs and Macintoshes for UNR students and faculty. A laser printer is available for quality printouts. A variety of software programs are available for word processing and desktop publishing needs, including converting files between Macs and PCs. A typewriter is also available here. A current UNR ID is required to enter this lab.

UNR Information Technology Help Desk staff are available to help resolve technical issues concerning your PC, e-mail account or Internet configuration. Call the Help Desk for assistance at 775.682.5000 or e-mail help@unr.edu.
 

Top Floor Map

Basque Studies Library

The Basque Studies Library is a unique research collection containing more than 25,000 volumes as well as videos, audio cassettes, maps and posters related to Basque people in the Basque country and throughout the world. Materials are in English, Spanish, Basque, French and other languages. The Basque Library has nearly 1,000 serial titles and receives journals on a daily basis. While here, be sure to see the tree carvings made by Basque sheep herders in the Great Basin region.

University Archives

The University Archives is the official depository for records, documents, publications and correspondence pertaining to the operation of the University. Holdings are both historical and current and include photographs, theses and written materials. Holdings are not listed on the Libraries web pages but are accessible using catalogs located in Archives.

Special Collections

The Special Collections department houses rare books, manuscripts, photgraphs, maps and other materials concerning the history of Nevada and the Great Basin region. You'll also find the Nevada Women's Archives here, and historical materials in many other specialized research areas.

Business & Government Information Center

At the Business & Government Information Center (BGIC) Reference Desk, staff members are ready to assist you in business research and in locating publications of the U.S. Government, the State of Nevada, the United Nations and other international organization. Government materials are checked out at this desk.

BGIC Bookstacks

The Business and Government Information Center (BGIC) is a depository for United States federal, Nevada state and United Nations publications, and also serves as a location of business reference materials. BGIC has many CD-ROM databases, statistical indexes, and a microfilm collection of U.S. patents, as well as many publications on current social, political and economic topics. Federal depository materials are arranged by Superintendent of Documents call numbers in the bookstacks. Search for business and international governmental materials, as well as U.S. Federal and Nevada state publications in the Library Catalog. There is a searchable database of Nevada state publications that supplements the library catalog. Please ask for assistance.
 

Maps of Lower Levels

Nevada Writer's Hall of Fame

The Nevada Writers Hall of Fame is a permanent site honoring the literary achievements of Nevada authors. It is located on lower level 2 below the staircase.

Patricia L. Chase Quiet Study Area

It is located on lower level 2 to the right of the main staircase.

Multimedia Center

The Multimedia Center, located on lower level 2, has 12,000+ videocassettes, 1,900+ DVDs, and 100+ books on CD to support University instruction. The Multimedia Center also has specialized equipment for media listening and viewing. The music collection is strong in classical, jazz, and opera, with 3,000+ compact discs. The Multimedia Center has an instruction room (smart classroom) and projection room (theater-seating) that seat 40 students, group study rooms for small-group collaboration, and a video teleconference room.

Reshelving Unit

The Reshelving Unit is a temporary area where library materials are gathered from tables and study areas throughout the building. When an item cannot be found in the bookstacks and its Library catalog display indicates it has not been checked out, remember to look for it in the Reshelving Unit before reporting it missing at the Circulation Desk.
 

And don't forget...

We encourage you to ask at the Reference Desk or click Ask Us! if you have any questions about library resources or services.