Library Collections

The Marquette University Libraries support the teaching and research efforts of Marquette University as it aspires to be recognized as one of the most innovative and accomplished Catholic, Jesuit universities in the world. This support is expressed, in part, through the identification, selection, management and preservation of collections and other information resources. Marquette's collections are by nature broad and diverse as they attempt to support the students, faculty and staff in an array of programs at undergraduate, graduate and advanced research levels.

We take seriously the principles of the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, which affirms that intellectual freedom is the essence of equitable library services, providing for open discovery and the free exchange of all expressions of ideas. While continuing to add to the collections of print books, journals, media, microforms and other formats of materials which form the historic foundation of library holdings, the Libraries also provide access to a vast and growing collection of electronic resources.

However, selectivity and responsiveness have become hallmarks of collection building and resource management in the Twenty-First century. Building comprehensive collections that cover all disciplines and specializations is not sustainable in an environment characterized by ever-increasing numbers of print and electronic publications, escalating costs that far exceed appropriations, and growing demands for increased access, convenience and functionality. Our local holdings are augmented by membership in the Center for Research Libraries, an international consortium of academic and research libraries, which supports advanced research by preserving and making available primary source material to researchers and scholars.

The majority of the Libraries' resources are located in the general stacks in the Memorial Library. However, a number of distinct collections, which are located throughout the Libraries, have been established to better serve users of selected materials. See the Location of Materials page for further information. Our rapidly expanding collection of electronic resources may be accessed online from any Marquette-authenticated workstation.