Collections and Facilities

Welcome the UHD Library! This guide is an introduction to our collections and facilities. We also offer Subject Guides with details about specialized collections in each field of study. If you would like to make a suggestion, please contact one of our Subject Librarians or Ask a Librarian.

 

Books and Reference

The General Collection in the South Tower has current and classic books on subjects taught at UHD. Collection strengths include business, criminal justice, and education. Large books are shelved in the Oversize Collection at the back of the South Tower (rows 182-183). Both collections are arranged by subject using Library of Congress Call Numbers. You can find the location and call number of each book by searching the Library Catalog. The catalog also shows books at UH-Central and UH-Clear Lake. Use the request feature in the catalog to have books from those campuses delivered to UHD.

See the Leisure Reading Collection in the South Tower for a selection of popular fiction and nonfiction paperbacks. Stop by and pick up a "fun read" to take a break or to read at home in your spare time.

Our in-house book collections are supplemented by more than 78,000 electronic books. Start with the Library Catalog or Find Books and Multimedia to search our e-book collections. You can also find hundreds of online dictionaries, encyclopedias, and statistics sources on our Reference Sources page.

 

Theses

The Thesis Collection located near the Information Desk includes a copy of every thesis submitted to graduate programs at UHD. For a complete list of theses, please see the Library Catalog.

 

Journals and Magazines

The library offers more than 44,000 journals and magazines in our electronic and print collections. Start with Find Articles (Databases) to find research databases that can be used to search these collections by keyword, subject, author, etc. Once you find an interesting article, look for the Find This Article link in your search results to find the location of the article. This feature will connect you to the electronic journal or magazine, give you the library location of the print edition, or offer information about other ways to get the article. If you already know the name of the journal or magazine you need, you can start with Find Journals by Title. This service will also tell you the location of a particular journal or magazine.

Printed journals can be found in the Periodicals Collection in the North Tower. They are arranged in alphabetical order. Current issues of some magazines are kept on display shelves in the North Tower.

UHD students, faculty, and staff can use Interlibrary Loan to get publications not available at UHD.

 

News Sources

The library provides access to thousands of current and historical news sources. Start with our News guide to search full-text articles from newspapers, magazines, news wires, and radio or television news, including major news sources from Texas, the United States, and almost every corner of the world. To find the location of a particular newspaper or news magazine, start with Find Journals by Title.

Our in-house collection of newspapers includes Barrons, the Houston Chronicle, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and La Voz de Houston. Current issues can be found at the Circulation Desk or at the newspaper stand in the library's North Tower. We also offer microfilm archives of the Houston Post (1976-1995), the Houston Chronicle (1901 to present), the New York Times (1852 to present), the Wall Street Journal (1970 to present), and the Washington Post (1877-1991). Microfilm cabinets and viewers are located in the North Tower. For other historical newspapers, see our News guide.

 

Juvenile Collections and Textbooks

The Juvenile Literature Collection at the back of the library's North Tower supports teaching in English and Urban Education by providing fiction and nonfiction books for children in preschool through grade twelve. The collection is focused on award-winning and multicultural books. It includes both English- and Spanish-language publications.

The Texas Education Collection has a selection of textbooks chosen by the Texas Education Agency and adopted by Houston Independent School District in kindergarten through grade twelve. These materials include teaching kits, teacher's guides, and curriculum guides, plus "big book" editions of English- and Spanish-language picture books. Textbooks and guides are arranged by subject area, grade level, and publisher. The collection is located in Room 506A-South in the hall at the back of the South Tower.

In addition to print collections, we also offer research databases aimed at children, allowing education students to preview resources available in many Texas schools.

To search the collections, see the Library Catalog or our Children's Literature guide.

 

Audiovisual Collections and Equipment

Viewing and listening stations for compact discs, DVDs, VHS videotapes, and audio cassettes are available near the North Tower computer lab. Computer workstations in the nearby computer lab also support use of compact discs and DVDs. Our Circulation Desk staff can provide headphones to use with the audiovisual equipment or computers.

DVDs and compact discs are available in display stands near the Circulation Desk. VHS videotapes and audiobooks are shelved in the Reference Colleciton. In addition to these traditional media formats, our staff is also building a collection of digital media sources with images and streaming audio or video. To search audiovisual collections, see the Library Catalog or try one of these guides:

• Find Books and Multimedia
• Multimedia Databases and Web Sites
• Music Subject Guide - Compact Discs and Digital Media

 

Computers and Wireless Networking

The library computer lab is located in the North Tower. It has computers with research databases and Internet access, software for playing compact discs and DVDs, and technology for the visually impaired. Headphones for use with computers are available at the Circulation Desk. Please keep the volume low to be considerate of your neighbors.

Most computer workstations are reserved for UHD students, faculty, and staff. UHD students, faculty, and staff with laptops may also connect to the wireless network. Some computers are available to visitors. A government-issued photo ID is required.

For more information, please see Computers and Wireless.

 

 

Study Areas

The library currently offers several options for individual or group study. The back portion of the North Tower is marked with blue walls to distinguish it as a quiet study area. The quiet study area is equipped with individual study desks and lounge chairs for reading. Cell phone use is prohibited in this area. We also ask everyone to show consideration for others by refraining from talking and by quieting noise from laptops and other devices.

The South Tower has a greater variety of study desks, lounge chairs, and open tables for both individual and group studying. Separate group study rooms are also available in the South Tower on a first-come, first-serve basis. Priority is given to groups of three or more. Individuals or groups of two may be asked to leave if a larger group is waiting. For details, please ask at the Circulation Desk, call 713-221-8186, or Ask a Librarian.