Departments and Service Desks

Circulation Desk

The circulation desk provides the following services:

• check out, renewal, and return of circulating books and media
• pick up and return of I-Share and Interlibrary Loan items
• check out and return of course reserves
• placing items on course reserve
• check out and return of media equipment (phone chargers, laptops, headphones, cameras, etc.)
• creating and renewing courtesy cards
• lost and found
• proxy designations
• claims returned
• fines and fees

Related Links

• How to Borrow Materials
• Circulating Technology and Devices
• Campus Delivery Service
• Interlibrary Loan
• Courtesy Card
• Claims Returned Guidelines

Collection Development

Collection Development is one of the primary functions of a university library and provides access to high-quality, relevant, and balanced collections in a variety of formats. Books, periodicals, multimedia, and electronic resources are selected by a group of subject specialist librarians to meet the instruction, research, and service needs of Illinois State University's students and faculty. These librarians serve as liaisons to the various departments and schools in the university. The Collection Development department is also responsible for coordinating assessment and maintenance of existing collections.

Data Services

The Data Services unit supports and expands the University community's awareness and understanding of data sets, services, resources and issues. It coordinates the library's assessment and user experience efforts to encourage evidence-based and user-centered decision-making.

Digitization Center

The Digitization Center provides digital reformatting services to enable access and digital preservation of unique materials and digital collections.

Related Links

• Digitization Center

Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives

The Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives at Illinois State University is the official repository for selected materials that document the history of the university and all aspects of university life. The University Archives collects, preserves and makes accessible these materials to support Milner Library and the ISU community's research and teaching goals.

The Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives are located off-campus at 2016 Warehouse Road in Normal, Illinois. The Archives are open to the public. However, because of the fragile nature of the materials, the stacks are closed for general browsing. Materials can be requested for viewing by contacting Archives staff.

Related Links

• University Archives Collections
• Finding Aids Database

Government Documents

Milner Library is a congressionally designated depository for U.S. Government documents. Public access is guaranteed by public law. The program is administered by the Government Publishing Office and provides free federal government publications to depository libraries in exchange for the library's commitment to make these publications available to the public at no fee.

Its mission is to:

• collect, organize, preserve and provide free and unimpeded public access to government resources in support of Illinois State University curricular and research needs
• serve the information needs of the general public, specifically the 13th Congressional District
• instruct library skills to help create an informed and educated citizenry

Related Links

• Government Documents Collection
• Government Documents Guides
• Answering the Call: World War I Poster Collection
• Propaganda on All Fronts

Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) - ISU Branch

IRAD @ ISU is a branch of the Illinois Regional Archives Depository that shares office and archival storage space with the Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives. The Illinois State Archives in Springfield administers seven repositories in the IRAD system which house and provide research services for historical records transferred by local governments. The IRAD @ ISU branch holds government documents from 14 surrounding counties that include Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, Logan, Marshall, McLean, Piatt, Tazwell, Vermilion, and Woodford.

Related Links

• Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Illinois State University

Instruction and Student Engagement

The Instruction and Student Engagement department's promotes information fluency by using established and emerging practices to provide multi-faceted learning opportunities to guide students in their journey as content creators and consumers. Through these efforts we promote an inclusive learning environment by fostering meaningful relationships and creating individualized, transformative learning experiences.

The vision of the Instruction and Student Engagement Department, in alignment with Educate, Connect, Elevate: Illinois State and Milner Library's vision, is to impact students’ success by helping them develop persistence, adaptability, and flexibility in an evolving information environment.

Related Links

• Information Fluency Definition & Outcomes
• Research / Help Guides
• Milner Library iTour
• About Learning Spaces

Library Administration

Library Administration oversees, and coordinates, the work of all library units. The department's work consists of facilitating activities among library units, and ensuring the library's continuing responsiveness to the changing needs of the university community. Activities include library-wide annual and strategic planning initiatives; managing library business operations, personnel, public relations, and fundraising. Library Administration is guided by a dean and two associate deans, one focused on public services and technologies, and the other on information assets (i.e., Access Services, Digital Collections, Preservation, Special Collections, Technical Services, and University Archives).

Library Information Technology Services

Library Information Technology Services (LITS) provides support for the information technology needs of all library departments, faculty, and staff.

Primary services include:

• Desktop support and troubleshooting
• Graphic Design
• Purchasing, tracking, and licensing of software or IT-related equipment
• Management and support of technology equipment located in library spaces
• Management of the library website
• Server administration and maintenance of Linux and Windows servers providing both internal and public services including patching, security, and backup
• Collaboration with Office of Academic Technology (OAT), Administrative Technology (AT), and Student Affairs Information Technology (SAIT) departments to grow services and ensure compliance with University IT policies

Preservation

The Preservation Department coordinates services that extend the useful life of Milner Library's collections to help ensure continued access for ISU students and faculty. These services include conservation, binding, education, disaster preparedness, and environmental monitoring and are integrated through the work of two units: Binding and Processing, and Conservation.

Related Links

• Binding and Processing

Public Relations

Milner Library's Public Relations efforts promote its activities; complement the Library's Strategic Plan; and assist the campus and off-campus communities in better understanding the marketing of the Library's cultural events and intellectual resources.

Related Links

• News
• Events
• Exhibits

Reference Desk

The Reference Desk, located on floor 2 near the library entrance, offers information and research assistance to students, faculty, staff, and local community. Librarians and staff assist with accessing library collections and services and conducting research using online subscription-based and free resources and print materials. Reference Desk services emphasize teaching library patrons how to identify, access, and evaluate information and appropriate resources. Help is available in-person, by phone, and via chat, text and e-mail. Patrons may also be referred to the subject librarian for their major to set up an appointment. The Reference Desk is staffed many hours, including evenings and weekends. A floor 6 Desk is staffed minimal hours.

Related Links

• Reference Desk Hours
• Contact the Subject Librarian for your Major
• Milner Library Frequently Asked Questions
• Campus Map

Research Services

Research Services coordinates and supports the provision of library information and research assistance offered in-person and by phone at the floor 2 Reference Desk and floor 6 satellite desk, and virtually via chat, text, and e-mail. By serving research needs of students, faculty, and staff, as well as the local area, reference services support student learning, the curriculum, teaching and scholarship, and epitomize individualized attention, a core value articulated in Educate Connect Elevate, the university's strategic plan. The department makes referrals to subject librarians, plans and pursues initiatives to enhance and assess reference services, and selects print and online resources for, maintains, and evaluates the reference collection.

Related Links

• Ask A Milner Librarian
• Subject Librarians
• Milner Library FAQs

Scholarly Communication

The Scholarly Communication Program supports and promotes research produced at Illinois State University. The program seeks to:

• Collaborate with library personnel and other campus units to provide services that support research and scholarly publishing at the University
• Educate faculty, students, and staff about their rights as authors, open access, and emerging publishing models
• Advance open access to information
• Extend the reach of scholarship produced at Illinois State University
• Engage in wider conversations about scholarly communication to stay current in a changing landscape

Related Links

• ISU ReD: Research and eData
• Scholarly Communication Services

Special Collections

Special Collections' mission is to enhance accessibility and integration of unique print and digital materials into the teaching, learning and research of the University and broader community. The Department additionally supports the strategic directions of the University by acquiring and preserving rare materials relevant to these purposes; by providing instruction and reference assistance in finding, interpreting and using these materials; and by serving as a resource for marketing and fundraising that highlights University's valuable artifacts and collections.

Related Links

• Special Collections Services
• Finding Aids
• Special Collections Guide
• Passion for Circus
• From the Page

Technical Services

Technical Services provides customer-centered access to the intellectual resources of Milner Library through cost-effective acquisition and efficient creation and enhancement of resource descriptions and through the management of library resource discovery systems.

The department consists of several units that are responsible for acquiring scholarly resources and making them discoverable to and accessible by University students, faculty, and staff. These units perform functions for management of acquisitions, cataloging, and electronic resources.