Facilities and Resources

Bizzell Library Clocktower

University of Oklahoma Libraries

Denise Stephens, Dean of University Libraries
401 W. Brooks St. Norman, OK 73019
Phone: (405) 325-3341
libraries.ou.edu

The University of Oklahoma Libraries in Norman, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa are at the core of the University and serve as an intellectual center for interdisciplinary innovation to all OU students, staff and faculty. The research library facilities on the Norman campus include Bizzell Memorial Library and separate branch libraries for architecture, fine arts, and geology/engineering. The OU College of Law has a separate library in its facility, the Donald E. Pray Law Library. The Robert M. Bird Health Sciences Library at the OU Health Sciences Center supports teaching and research in medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and health-related disciplines. The Schusterman Library at OU-Tulsa supports students enrolled in Tulsa-based programs.

Bizzell Memorial Library

Bizzell Memorial Library, the main library on the Norman campus, consists of an original building constructed in 1929 and a large addition completed in 1958. The 1929 building was recently declared a National Historic Landmark and contains the Peggy V. Helmerich Great Reading Room, an elegant room beloved by students and alumni. The Doris W. Neustadt Wing was built in 1982 and added 150,000 square feet to the library facility. The library includes technology-enabled learning spaces, quiet and collaborative study areas, as well as the popular Bookmark Café Coffee Shop, and the Oklahoma Canyon Garden, which offers an outdoor area for reflection and study. Recent renovations have updated existing spaces to create the Peggy V. Helmerich Collaborative Learning Center, the Learning Lab, the Innovation @ the Edge learning space, and the Zarrow Family Faculty and Graduate Student Center.

General Collections

The collections in the libraries total more than 6 million volumes, including 1.3 million eBooks, 3.6 million microform materials and 116,000 serials subscriptions. The libraries also maintain over 17,000 linear feet of manuscripts and archives, 1.6 million photographs, and more than 1.5 million maps. It also holds more than 70 incunabula (books printed before 1501), the oldest one of which was published in 1467.

Special Collections

In addition to the general collections, there are notable special collections.

Boorstin Collection

The Boorstin Collection is used for quiet study and reading books from the collection and is located on the main floor of the library. The facilities for the Daniel J. and Ruth F. Boorstin Collection were made possible by a generous gift from ConocoPhillips Inc.

Chinese Literature Translation Archive

The Chinese Literature Translation Archive provides students and scholars with a wide range of rare books, reference materials, translation drafts, correspondence, notes, ephemera, and other historical materials that provide context for Western readers to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese literature. The archive currently houses nearly 10,000 volumes and thousands of documents from some of the greatest translators of modern Chinese literature in the West including Howard Goldblatt, Wolfgang Kubin, Wai-lim Yip and the "William Bikales and Margaret Eliot Grady Collection" of Arthur Waley. The mission of the archive is to improve the material conditions for translation students and for comparative and world literature by providing the materials necessary for historically informed research supported by the richly textured intellectual environments within which translation takes place.

Bass Business History Collections

The Harry W. Bass Business History Collection began in 1955 with the purpose of collecting and preserving materials relating to the history of business and industry. The collection contains books, microforms, videos and journals on a number of topics including the histories of business leaders and firms and the economic, social and political forces that influence the role of business in society.

History of Science Collections

The History of Science Collections, located on the 5th floor of Bizzell Memorial Library, is a premier research collection in its field. Holdings of nearly 100,000 volumes from every field and subject area of science, technology and medicine range chronologically from Hrabanus Maurus, Opus de universo (1467) to current publications in the history of science. 

The John and Mary Nichols Rare Books and Special Collections

The John and Mary Nichols Rare Books and Special Collections are comprised of rare books and special materials in English, European and American literature dating from the 15th century to the present. A collection of general rare books, including several incunables, and a Bible collection complement the focal literature collections. These collections offer opportunities for interdisciplinary research in such fields as literary studies, the history of printing, and religion.

Western History Collections

The purpose of the Western History Collections is to enhance the University Libraries general collection on the history of the American West; to support the research and teaching programs of the University of Oklahoma; and to provide opportunities for research through the acquisition, preservation, and access of materials relating to the development of the Trans-Mississippi West and Native American cultures.

William Bennett Bizzell Bible Collections

In addition to more common European languages such as Greek, Latin, German, French and Spanish, President Bizzell collected many Bibles in numerous other languages such as Cherokee, Muskogee, Hindi, Swahili, Javanese, Mongolian, Tartan, Mooltan, and Turkish. Additional related works include commentaries, textual studies, illustrations, geographies and histories of the holy land, works on the life of Christ, prayer books and hymnals. The collection contains 665 Bibles, including several incunabula (books published in the infancy of printing, before 1500). The oldest book is a hand-painted manuscript prayer book written on vellum in the fifteenth century. The Bizzell Bible Collection is housed in the Gaylord Room on the 5th floor of the Bizzell Memorial Library.

Branch Libraries

The University Libraries include three branch libraries:

Services

Library Website and Catalog

The University of Oklahoma Libraries provides a wealth of electronic, print and non-print resources. Students may access many library resources through the Libraries’ website, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The library catalog and website provide access to databases, books, e-journals, high-quality websites, government documents, and e-reference materials.

Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, and Sooner Xpress

Most library materials are available for loan to students and faculty. Circulation policies are available on the library website. Materials not held by the libraries may be obtained through interlibrary loan services on all three campuses. Delivery on-campus is available via Sooner Xpress.

Ask Us Reference Services

Reference and information service is available in all library facilities, in person, by telephone, by e-mail, and through instant message. Individuals may visit the reference desk at their convenience for assistance with questions, assignments or specific databases. They may also arrange an appointment with a librarian to discuss library resources and research questions. Questions may be sent via email a librarian at librarian@ou.edu.

Library Instruction

The libraries provide instructional services to teach students and faculty how to access, evaluate, and use a variety of information sources. These services range from general orientation activities to classroom instruction designed to meet specific research needs.

Online Tutorials

Online tutorials are available to help students learn how to evaluate and understand scholarly information, search electronic databases, search the catalog and request books and other materials through interlibrary loan.

Government Documents

State, federal and foreign government publications are collected and made available through the Government Documents unit. Reference services and instructional sessions specific to government documents are available upon request.

Digital Scholarship

Through workshops, consultation, and training, our Digital Scholarship Specialists help faculty and graduate students identify innovative digital tools and resources that build on traditional research and teaching methods.

Helmerich Collaborative Learning Center

The Helmerich Collaborative Learning Center is a technology enabled, collaborative space where students can work together in groups. In this space, students can learn to create information, to explore it visually, and to synthesize it in new and different ways. Visit the Bookmark Café to grab a cup of coffee, and talk with a professor, colleague, or with friends.

Innovation @ the Edge

Innovation @ the Edge is a flexible experimentation and innovation space that provides access to the latest tools used in research, instruction and knowledge creation, including 3D printing tools, custom virtual reality workstations, software and data skill development and microelectronics kits. Any member of the OU community, from any field, is free to prototype concepts or fly-through 3D data sets in this centrally located makerspace in the Bizzell Memorial Library, room 126. 

Learning Lab

The Learning Lab on Lower Level 1 provides presentation consultations from library personnel as well as other services that support student success such as the Writing Center and UC Action Tutoring.

Loveridge Computer Lab

The Loveridge Computer Lab is located on the main floor of Bizzell Memorial Library, next to the West entrance and across from the main Circulation Desk. A number of computers are available for OU students, staff, and faculty; additionally, customers not affiliated with OU can request a guest log-in from the computer lab staff. A variety of software is available for all users. Multiple scanners and printers are also available in this lab.

Zarrow Family Faculty and Graduate Student Center

Located on Lower Level 2 of Bizzell Memorial Library, the Zarrow Family Faculty & Graduate Student Center is a space dedicated to supporting the research and teaching needs of OU faculty and graduate students in a central campus location. The center enables members of the academic community to access the wide variety of information resources available through OU Libraries creatively, analytically, and critically in pursuit of academic goals. 

Data Analytics, Visualization & Informatics Syndicate

DAVIS, located in the Zarrow Family Faculty and Graduate Student Center, supports OU community members with their data needs. Specialists and graduate assistants who are familiar with working with data, including management, analysis, and visualization are available for consultation. With the ability to ask questions and receive guidance, DAVIS helps faculty, researchers, and students work with their data.

Other Services

OU Libraries offers a wide range of services for students, staff, faculty, visiting scholars, and the community. In addition to print and digital resources, services are available to help students plan, get research assistance, share their research, access scholarly tools and publication resources. 

OU Information Technology

OU Information Technology (OU IT) offers the following world class technology services to help you succeed at the University of Oklahoma.

  • OUNetID – Set up your account at one.ou.edu/account to access the services outlined below. Additionally, you can set up your email alias, sign up for emergency communications, and update your emergency contacts.
  • WIFI@OU – Connect to WIFI@OU across campus for dependable, secure, and speedy access to network and Internet resources.
  • OU.edu Email – Check your OU email for official communications from departments and colleges at outlook.office.com.  
  • ONE Student Portal – View your schedule or grades, accept financial aid, prepare for enrollment, pay your bursar account and more – all in one place – at one.ou.edu.
  • OU App – Download OU’s mobile app on iOS or Android at the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to access important student services, including a campus map, directory, bus routes, etc.
  • Canvas Course Management – Access course information and assignments, view grades, and stay in touch with your professors at canvas.ou.edu.
  • Office 365 – Use Microsoft’s full suite of online services for FREE or download and install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more on your own devices at portal.office.com.
  • Academic Technology – Enhance your learning experience with classroom technology, remote learning using Zoom, computer labs equipped with PC and Apple workstations, printers, and work areas specifically designed to meet the guidelines for computing as specified in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • LinkedIn Learning – Visit linkedin.com/learning for FREE, unlimited access to instructional videos covering the latest software, creative, and business skills.
  • WEPA Cloud Campus Printing – Print from your laptop, USB, or mobile device to one of our cloud printing kiosks on campus. For more information, visit print.ou.edu.

Need Help?

Call us at (405) 325-HELP (4357) or visit needhelp.ou.edu for a full list of support options, including live chat, 24x7x365 self-help, ticket requests, or in-person support at one of our Service Center locations.