Other Academic Units

University Libraries

Dean: Patrick José Dawson
Associate Dean: Byron Anderson
Associate Dean: Chalermsee Olson
Assistant Dean: T. J. Lusher

Faculty

Byron Anderson, professor, M.L.S. & M.A., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
William Baker, Presidential Research Professor, M.L.S., Loughborough University, M.Phil. & Ph.D., University of London
Jana Brubaker, associate professor, M.L.S., Indiana University, M.A., Northern Illinois University
Michael J. Duffy IV, assistant professor, M.L.I.S., Dominican University, M.M., Northwestern University 
Wayne E. Finley, assistant professor, M.L.I.S., University of Illinois, M.B.A., Western Illinois University, Quad Cities
Mary Frances Grosch, associate professor, M.S.L.S. & M.B.A., University of Illinois
Karen Hovde, associate professor, M.A., Northern Illinois University, M.A., Western Washington University
Jitka Hurych, professor, M.A., Northern Illinois University, M.A., Purkyne (formerly Masaryk) University, Czechoslovakia
Wendell Johnson, assistant professor, M.A., Northern Illinois University, Ph.D. & M.A., Rice University
Ladislava Khailova, assistant professor, M.A., Charles University, Czech Republic, M.L.I.S. and Ph.D., University of South Carolina
Charles Larry, associate professor, M.A. & M.F.A., Northern Illinois University
David F. Lonergan, associate professor, M.A., Western Washington University, M.S.L.S., University of North Carolina, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
T. J. Lusher, associate professor, M.L.I.S., University of Iowa, M.A., Iowa State University
Rebecca A. Martin, associate professor, M.L.I.S., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, M.A., Kent State University, M.A., Northern Illinois University
Sarah McHone-Chase, assistant professor, M.S.L.I.S., University of Illinois, M.A., Illinois State University
James Millhorn, associate professor, M.A.L.S., University of Iowa, M.A., University of Oklahoma
Chalermsee Olson, associate professor, M.L.S., Northern Illinois University, M.A., University of Pittsburgh
Nestor L. Osorio, professor, M.A. & M.L.S., State University of New York, Geneseo
Junlin Pan, associate professor, M.A.L.S. & Ph.D., University of Arizona, M.S., Southwest Missouri State University
Robert B. Marks Ridinger, professor, M.L.S., University of Pittsburgh, M.A., Case Western Reserve University
Cason Snow, assistant professor, M.L.I.S., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, M.A., Northern Illinois University 
Lynne M. Thomas, assistant professor, M.S.L.I.S., University of Illinois, M.A., Northern Illinois University
Leanne VandeCreek, associate professor, M.S.L.S., Catholic University, M.S.W. Fordham University, Tarrytown
H. Stephen Wright, professor, M.L.S. & M.M., Indiana University

The Northern Illinois University Libraries system consists of Founders Memorial Library, branch libraries which include Faraday Library, the Music Library, NIU Hoffman Estates Library, NIU Naperville Library, and NIU Rockford Library. The University Libraries contain over 2 million volumes as well as periodicals, government publications, microforms, maps, recordings, audiovisual materials, electronic databases, and over 26,000 electronic journals.

NIU Libraries are participants in the I-Share System, a network involving 76 academic institutions throughout Illinois. Using computer workstations in the libraries, or on the World Wide Web, users may immediately determine which libraries own desired research materials. Materials not owned by NIU can be obtained quickly from other I-Share member libraries.

Founders Memorial Library, the main library, has six levels with 327,000 square feet of space and seating capacity for 1600 students. The first floor houses key library services including the circulation desk, the reference desk, services to students with disabilities, library instruction, the information desk, document delivery services, the reserves collection, periodicals collection, and the Scholars’ Den. Microforms/media services, the map collection, and government publications are located on the second floor; the Digital Convergence Lab and the Writing Center are housed on the third floor; and the Regional History Center/University Archives, rare books and special collections and the Southeast Asia collection are on the fourth floor. The upper three floors house circulating books.

Faraday Library serves faculty and students in the disciplines of chemistry and physics. Similarly, the Music Library serves the music curriculum. NIU Hoffman Estates Library, NIU Naperville Library, and NIU Rockford Library service the needs of library users at those sites. Regular, interim, and holiday hours are posted near the entrance to each library.

NIU libraries provide a variety of guides to collections and services. These materials are available at the information desk and at service desks in the reference and government publications area in Founders Memorial Library. Instruction in the use of the library is given to classes by librarians as part of the University Libraries library instruction program. Library instruction covers both basic library orientation and, for upper-level classes, in-depth instruction related to materials in particular subject areas.

Regional History Center and University Archives

Cindy S. Ditzler, director, M.A., Western Illinois University