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Physical Collections

Highlighting Special Collections and Archives

University archivist april anderson zorn points into a glass case full of university archival items while two students watch
The inaugural Redbird Reflections Pop-Up Museum was held in the Circus Room at the Bone [...]
Red line image of a birthday cake with many lit candles
Milner Library’s Digitization Center recently made available online the Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield [...]
Blues musician Muddy Waters holds a guitar in front of a microphone onstage at Illinois State in 1980
From the push for education equality to Redbirds’ passion for pizza, Tom Emery explores this month [...]
Students and parents unload a station wagon in front of a dorm.
From the first phone call on campus to the last ride on Route 66, Tom Emery explores this month in [...]

Browse the Collections

General collections are shelved on floors 2-6 of Milner Library. Consult the catalog and floor maps or ask us for help locating physical items.

Physical Collections

  • Stuffed animals.

    Teaching Materials Center

    Pre-K-12 materials, including picture books, YA novels, leveled readers, and teacher edition textbooks.

  • Books on a table.

    Government Information

    Up-to-date and historical federal and state information reflecting all aspects of government activity.

  • Maps and atlases drawing

    Maps and Atlases

    200,000 printed maps and cartographic materials with a major emphasis on Illinois and the Midwest.

  • Students browsing the DVD Collection

    Multimedia Center DVD & VHS Collection

    Broad range of educational films, documentaries, feature films, and performances in music, dance, and theater.

  • Piece of an old book.

    Special Collections

    The Special Collections Department at Milner Library holds rare books and archival materials.

  • Sword artifact

    Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives

    The Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives is the official repository for selected materials that document the history of the university.

  • Books on a shelf.

    Browsing Books Collection

    Recently published and/or bestseller fiction and nonfiction books.