| Description of library facilities: | Special Collections/Rare Book Room: Special Collections houses materials on the circus and allied arts book collection, works of several British and American authors, the Lincoln Collection of Harold K. Sage, subject collections in drama, humor, and history of printing, historical children's literature and textbooks, works from small private presses, 18th and 19th century operatic scores, and limited editions and fine bindings.Map Collection:The Map Collection has major holdings of U.S. and Canadian topographic quadrangle maps, geological maps of many states and countries, aerial photographs, road maps and recreations literature are available.Media Resource Center: The Media Resource Center (MRC) contains non-print materials that cover all subjects taught at ISU. Any patron may listen to or view items in one of the individual carrels equipped with CD, LP, cassette, videotape, slide, 16mm film, filmstrip, or videodisc players. There is also a viewing room for group projects. Non-print reserve materials for classes are also available here.Teaching Materials Center: The TMC contains a representative collection of instructional materials including textbooks, books for children and young adults, and audiovisual materials intended for use by students from preschool through grade twelve. Materials for teachers' professional use include activity books, curriculum guides, teaching aids, publishers' catalogs, and standardized tests. |
| Museums in proximity: | University Galleries is one of the largest galleries for rotating displays in the state. Devoted to presenting a wide survey of contemporary art, the galleries have received national recognition for its exhibits in the Village Voice, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the New Yorker. The main focus is creating innovative exhibitions featuring locally, regionally, and nationally known artists working in a variety of mediums, styles, and conceptual approaches. Regularly scheduled exhibitions include Illinois State University faculty, student, and alumni artwork, as well as selections from the permanent collection of over 2,000 twentieth-century paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, photographs, and objects in glass, metals, wood, fiber, and ceramic. In addition to exhibitions, University Galleries presents extensive educational programs open to the University and general community. Bone Student Center contains restaurants, a bookstore event and bus ticket sales, teller machines and check cashing; study lounge areas; and multipurpose rooms for student activities and programs. Adjacent to the Center are the Bowling and Billiard Center and a 500- space parking lot. Braden Auditorium seats 3,457 on three levels. It is an academic and public service facility and an entertainment center for the University and the community. The Eyestone School Museum, a renovated 1900 one-room school, is located at Adelaide Street and College Avenue. The Stevenson Memorial Room, on the first floor of Stevenson Hall, displays memorabilia of the Stevenson family with particular emphasis on Adlai E. Stevenson II. The President's Gallery, located on the fourth floor of Hovey Hall, features a rotating series of exhibitions highlighting the University's art collections. The Planetarium serves more than 15,000 visitors annually, including grade school and high school students as well as the general public and campus community. More than 250,000 people have visited the planetarium since 1964. This celestial theatre-in-the-round provides a unique environment that is used by astronomy and other University classes. Primary and secondary school students can select from a variety of programs or have special programs tailor-made to suit their specific interests. In addition, regular public shows are scheduled providing a popular form of enriching entertainment. The 30-foot domed structure seats 110 individuals and houses a Spitz A-3P star projector. The star projector and various other multimedia effects are used to recreate the wonders of the universe. |