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The renovated and expanded Carrier Library opened its doors on August 3! Visit during our hours of operation and save the date for our celebration on September 10 – Read More about The renovated and expanded Carrier Library opened its doors on August 3! Visit during our hours of operation and save the date for our celebration on September 10

Collection Types

This page describes our physical collections, available across four library locations at a variety of call number locations.

Other related pages include:

JMU Libraries’ physical collections:

General Collection Items

General collection items include books, some music scores (those marked as “general use”, and other materials that you can borrow for our standard loan period. These items can be found in all four library locations.

Course Reserves

Course reserves are library materials that have shortened check-out periods after being placed on reserve for courses.

Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers

Physical journals and magazines are housed in Rose Library, Carrier Library, or storage. Item in storage are available via library delivery services.

Use our Journals search tool to search for our physical or online journals, magazines, and newspapers by their title or ISSN. To browse our online news sources, visit our News Databases page or our Newspapers and Magazines page.

Reference Books

A reference book is a publication, such as an encyclopedia, dictionary, or atlas, that is used for looking up specific facts. Reference books are provided in Carrier Library, Rose Library, and the Music Library.

Our popular books are grouped together on the first floor of Carrier Library in the double-height open study space in the Jones Wing. These best sellers are offered with shortened loan periods.

Graphic Novels

Our graphic novels are grouped together on the first floor of Carrier Library in the double-height open study space in the Jones Wing. These graphic novels are available in variety of genres that you can borrow for our standard loan period.

Juvenile Collection

Our juvenile collection includes children’s and young adult books, which are available in the ETMC in Memorial Hall.

Music Scores

Music scores (“general use” and “collected edition”) by various composers are among the collections housed at the Music Library.

Audio & Video

DVDs are available in Carrier Library. CDs are available in the Music Library. LPs (also called vinyl or records) are housed in storage. Items in storage are available via library delivery services.

Microforms

We have a variety of journals, magazines, and newspapers in microform formats. These materials are searchable in the Journals search tool. Microforms are located in storage. Items in storage are available via library delivery services. Microform readers are on the first floor of Carrier Library.

Special Collections

Archives, manuscripts, rare books, and other unique materials are available for use in the Distinctive Collections space on the second floor of Carrier Library.

Music Special Collections

Music manuscripts, unique recordings, and other rare material are available in Music Library Rare Items and Music Special Collections, both in the Music Building. See Music Library Collections for more information.