Collections

General Collection

The General Collection refers to most of the books in the RMU Library that can be borrowed by students for one month and by faculty for one semester.

The Moon Campus Library General Collection is located on the third floor of Patrick Henry (the second floor of the Library).

Periodicals (Journals, Magazines, Newspapers)

eJournals
Most of RMU Libraries' Periodical Collection is in electronic format, particularly scholarly journals. Because the electronic portion of the periodicals collection is restricted to RMU students, staff, and faculty, you will need to use your Sentry login and password to access it.

Accessibility
To see whether the Library has access to a particular periodical (newspaper, magazine, or journal), in print or in electronic format, refer to the Journal Finder, under Search & Find.

If the Library does not have an article from a particular periodical, submit an Interlibrary Loan Request for the article. We can usually obtain the article in a matter of days.

Print Periodicals
The Periodicals Collection includes the Library's magazines, journals, and newspapers.

Location
The majority of the periodicals in print format are shelved in alphabetical order within the Periodical Stacks within the Library Research Room, on the first floor of the library. Bound volumes are shelved alphabetically alongside the current issues of their corresponding publication

Electronic Resources

The Library subscribes to a large number of online resources, full-text article databases, citation & abstract databases, e-journal collections, individual electronic journals, and e-books. Most of our online resources are restricted to RMU students, staff, and faculty due to vendor licensing restrictions.

To find out whether the Library subscribes to a particular database or if you are searching for a specific topic, go to Find Articles.

If you would like to see if the library subscribes to a specific (print or online) journal, or to see what journals we have access to -- in a particular subject area -- go to the Journal Finder under Search & Find.

If you would like to see what eBook collections or packages RMU Library subscribes to, go to Find eBooks. The majority of individual eBook titles are also accessible through the library's WorldCat Discovery.

Reference

The Reference Collection is a good place to find background information for a variety of topics. Many different types of materials are available in Reference: subject-specific encyclopedias, literary criticism sources, statistical sources, handbooks, directories, business guides, test preparation books, and more.

Print reference materials can only be used in the Library.

RMU Library also maintains several electronic reference subscriptions, including:

Cabell's Directories
Cabell's Directories are a directory of publishing opportunities providing information about over 4,000 journals, their coverage, scope, and submission guidelines for authors.

CIA World Factbook
The Factbook provides information about the history, people, government, economy, geography, transnational issues, and more for 267 countries.

Gale Virtual Reference Library
Classic Gale Reference titles available through the Gale site in a searchable, browse-able user-friendly format.

Gale Virtual Reference Library
Classic Gale Reference titles available through the Gale site in a searchable, browse-able user-friendly format.

Oxford Art Online
Includes Grove Dictionary of Art and Benezit Dictionary of Artists

Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Online
The online edition of the Oxford English Dictionary

Oxford Scholarship Online   New!

Sage Reference
The premier social sciences platform for SAGE and CQ Press reference and other book titles.

SAGE Research Method Online (SRMO)

Media

The Media Collection is composed of a Popular DVD Collection and an Educational/ Curriculum Media Collection, as well as streaming media access to digital media video content. 

The Popular DVD Collection includes commercial and independent feature films. It is displayed near the Library front desk. 

Streaming media video content is available primarily through Films on Demand, Alexander Street Press Video Online, as well as through Kanopy and other streaming media sources by request. WatchDocumentaries.com is another useful resource for streaming documentaries. 

The Curriculum DVD Collection includes documentaries, training DVDs, and other curriculum-based DVDs intended for classroom purposes or to supplement or complement classroom instruction. Faculty can ask at the Library Help Desk for any questions about borrowing curriculum-based DVDs.

DVDs and streaming media content are findable via WorldCat, the library's online catalog, and can be searched by title or keyword through the Media tab of the search box on the library homepage.

Institutional Repository

The Robert Morris University Institutional Repository is an online archive, administered by the RMU Library, which collects, preserves, and provides digital access to documents related to the intellectual achievement and history of Robert Morris University.

Administration

The Institutional Repository is administered by RMU librarians, with the Library Director having ultimate responsibility for determining policy and practice.

Contributors

All current full-time and adjunct faculty members, emeritus faculty members, graduate students, undergraduate students, and University administrative units may contribute materials to the repository.

Guidelines for the Inclusion of Materials

  • Materials must have been created, submitted or sponsored by a member of the RMU Community
  • The inclusion of student work must be sponsored by an RMU faculty member
  • Any author publishing or adding their work to the Institutional Repository must either own the copyright for the work or have the copyright owner’s permission to publish it. Authors will retain the copyright for submission.
  • The copyright owner of a document which is to be included in the collection must be willing to grant the RMU Library permission to preserve and distribute the work via the RMU Institutional Repository web site.
  • Once accepted for inclusion, materials added to the Institutional Repository will be considered a permanent part of the collection
  • Materials will only be removed from the Institutional Repository in the case of demonstrated violation of copyright law. The final decision for inclusion or exclusion with regard to the Institutional Repository will remain with the RMU Library

Access

The Robert Morris University Institutional Repository is accessible to all, without permission or charge, regardless of RMU affiliation. All users will be expected to use materials in the Institutional Repository within the generally accepted limits of copyright law.

Archives
The Archives houses photographs and records about Robert Morris University.

Most items from this collection cannot be borrowed, but some of the items can be scanned or photocopied -- depending on the material and how the reproduction will be used.

For further inquiries, contact Christopher Devine - Copyright, Archives, and Reference Librarian. 

Tom Marshall Collection

RMU Professor of English Thomas A. Marshall donated many books to RMU Libraries over the years. Upon his passing in 2007, the Library received over two thousand books from his personal collection; this donation became the new Thomas A. Marshall Collection.

The Collection includes many classic works of British, American, and World literature, and a variety of other modern works of fiction and nonfiction.

The Thomas A. Marshall Collection is integrated into the General Collection of the Moon Campus Library. It is possible to generate a list of books presently in the Marshall Collection or to do a search limited to only materials in this collection by doing an advanced search for Books, specifying collection limiters, and searching.

Instructional Resource Center (IRC)

The Instructional Resource Center (IRC) is comprised of elementary and secondary school teaching materials, including children's literature and K-12 textbooks. It supports the curriculum needs of the RMU School of Education, particularly for student teaching and other instruction practica.

Location
The IRC is located on the 3rd floor of Patrick Henry (the 2nd floor of the Library) near the School of Education Computer Lab. 

Borrowing Materials
Books in the IRC Collection follow the same borrowing guidelines and loan periods as books in the General Collection (3 weeks for students; 1 semester for faculty). Students can usually renew books for a total of 1-2 times.

Textbook Reserve Program

This program is offered through RMU Library, in cooperation with the Center for Student Success, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

Search the library catalog for items on Textbook Reserve - you can also see if a textbook is currently checked out to someone.

Request a Chapter 
In light of the Covid-19 crisis, Textbook Reserves has moved partially online to better support online classes and social distancing precautions.

If you do not have a copy of a book currently on Textbook Reserves and it is not available as an eBook through the library, 
you may *Request an individual chapter, section, or select page range to be scanned*

You may only request ONE CHAPTER or ONE SECTION PER BOOK, PER DAY.
(You are welcome to submit additional scanning requests in subsequent 24-hour increments).

We must keep in line with U.S. Copyright Law Fair Use Guidelines and cannot scan a large portion of any individual book.

Borrowing a Textbook
Only valid RMU ID cards can be used to borrow materials from the Textbook Reserve Program. Textbooks can be checked out for three hours, but they must remain in the Library during that time period. A late fee of $5 per hour will be charged for books returned late. A non-refundable fee equal to the cost of the book plus $100 will be charged for books that are borrowed but not returned.

Textbooks are maintained in the Library's Reserve section -- just ask at the Library Help Desk for more information.