Kentucky Building

The Kentucky Building houses the Department of Library Special Collections, which has three divisions:

• Kentucky Library
• Kentucky Museum
• Manuscripts & Archives

Kentucky Library

Second Floor, Kentucky Building. Enter main entrance, take stairs to second floor and turn left.

Scope

The Kentucky Library houses an extensive published collection of Kentuckiana, including:

• rare books and periodicals
• unique collections of materials on specific subjects or persons
• early maps
• scrapbooks, social invitations
• broadsides
• sheet music
• photographs
• Genealogical index 1847-1989

The Kentucky Library offers Kentucky Workshops for teachers. They are designed to help those who wish to teach in Kentucky, as well as current teachers, make the most of primary local resources. The workshops feature objects, photographs, maps, gravestones, buildings, broadsides, ads, letters, diaries, post cards, folklore, court records, and more. They are particularly helpful in planning thematic units on subjects such as pioneers, the Civil War, or transportation. When looking for educational resources, remember to visit the Kentucky Library and attend its workshops.

Kentucky Museum

Ground through Third Floors, Kentucky Building

Scope

The Kentucky Museum contains exhibits relating to Kentucky life and history. Thousands of artifacts are housed and exhibited in the Museum. The Museum also offers a year-round program of field trips, workshops, lectures, receptions, and exhibit openings designed for the University community as well as the general public.

The Museum Store features a variety of Kentucky crafts and gift items related to the collection.

Manuscripts & Archives

Second and Third Floors, Kentucky Building. Enter main entrance, take stairs to second floor and turn right.

Scope

The Manuscripts collection consists of unpublished primary source materials having research or historical value. The holdings date from 1700 to the present, but are mainly 19th and 20th century materials. They are predominantly related to Bowling Green, Warren County, and south central Kentucky.

The Folklife Archives is the repository for unpublished materials, chiefly collected or written since the 1950's, by faculty and students of the Folk Studies Program at WKU.

University Archives is the official repository for Western Kentucky University records of historical significance, including the existing records of the genealogical antecedents of Western, such as Ogden College (1877), Southern Normal School and Business College (1884), Potter College for Young Ladies (1889), and the Bowling Green Business University (1892).

Educational Resources Center

Third Floor, Tate C. Page Hall (formerly the College of Education Building)

Scope

The Educational Resources Center had its beginnings in 1962 when a room in Cherry Hall was designated the Educational Materials Center. When the Center moved to the third floor of Tate Page Hall in 1970, the name was changed to Educational Resources Center. The ERC supports the faculty and students of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, particularly the School of Integrative Studies in Teacher Education. The collection is comprised of educational methodology books, textbooks for grades K-12, curriculum guides, audiovisual curriculum materials, and juvenile books. Over 65,000 volumes are included. The ERC provides materials related to the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 (KERA). They are located in the Curriculum Guides alcove. An Ellison Lettering Machine and a laminator with an extra large capacity are housed in the Center.

Extended Campus Library Services

Glasgow Regional CenterLibrary

Located at 500 Hilltopper Way, Glasgow, KY 42141

 

 

Scope

The former site of the Glasgow Regional Center Library opened in 1990. A $100,000 donation from the Business and Professional Women's Club of Glasgow made the reference library a reality and permitted the move from the Glasgow Public Library. The current site serves as a general reference library with primary emphasis on undergraduate needs, the Associate Degree in Nursing and the Elementary Education programs. The Glasgow Campus Library Coordinator works closely with the Extended Campus Services Librarian to provide reference assistance and services to students enrolled at the Glasgow Regional Center and other extended-campus sites. The collection includes state-of-the-art electronic reference assistance, standard reference, microform sources, and current reading materials. Fax service for articles and courier service for books is available for extended campus students. Glasgow is the county seat of Barren County and is located 45 minutes northeast of Bowling Green.

All extended campus students may utilize library services by calling a toll-free number available from the library staff.