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Basic Library Description

Basic Description

 


Picture by Dr. Steven Reyer

The Walter Schroeder Library was opened in 1980. It was named for Milwaukee businessman Walter Schroeder. The library's fundamental purpose is to help with the academic research and information requirements of the students, faculty, and staff of the Milwaukee School of Engineering. The library additionally provides help to all support programs and departments on campus.

 


The library also makes efforts to provide access to non-academic and recreational types of resources and information. For example, in direct response to student input, the library established a paperback book lounge area. The lounge area features a large variety of paperback books, including novels and New York Times best-sellers.


The library is appropriately located in the library building. The library occupies the first and second floors; the General Studies, Mathematics, and Technical Communications departments are on the third floor, together with classrooms.


The entrance to the library is on the second floor of the library building. Located on the second floor in the library are the following:

  • Circulation area and front desk
  • A color copier and a CSVT Terminal (use the CSVT Terminal to place money on your MSOE ID card)
  • The AudioVisual Department
    • A 24-hour advanced reservation is required to check our equipment!
  • The Reference section
  • The lounge area for paperback books, current newspapers, social events, special lectures, library exhibits and new book displays
  • Ten PC desktop machines
    • The Library is an Open Computer Lab
    • Desktop PCs feature Internet access
    • Desktop PCs feature Novell Network access
    • MicroSoft Applications are available (Word, Access, Excel)
    • Networked printer is available
    • Two EPSON Perfection 1660 Photo 1600x3200 DPI scanners
  • Seven study rooms
    • Study rooms 207 and 208 may be reserved
  • Section F through Z of the book collection is located on this floor
    • LC classification system (alphanumeric call numbers) For a brief, one-page explanantion of how the LC classification system works, click here
    • LC subject headings (controlled vocabulary)
      • For example, "integrated circuits," not "computer chips"
    • Approximately, 45,000 book volumes.
      • More than one-half of the book collection is devoted to engineering, mathematics, physics, and chemistry
  • Three PCs with Internet access are available for searching the library catalog

Located on the first floor of the library are the following:

     

  • The periodical and magazine collection
  • Section A through E of the book collection
  • The MAC Lab
    • 12 Power Mac G4 Computers
    • Ports for 12 laptop connections
    • All students should be able to access the lab with their ID cards
    • The Lab includes a flatbed scanner
    • Networked printer
  • Five PC desktop machines
    • The Library is an Open Computer Lab
    • Desktop PCs feature Internet access
    • Desktop PCs feature Novell Network access
    • MicroSoft Applications are available (Word, Access, Excel)
    • Networked printer is available
  • A color copier
  • The microfiche collection: The microfiche collection contains microfiche copies of several journals, in addition to more than 10 year's of technical papers published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
  • Two microfiche reader/copiers

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The library is wired for laptop connections!
Many of the study carrels on the first floor have connections, and all of the study rooms are wired. A total of 12 network connections are afixed to three columns on the South side of the library next to the windows overlooking Cathedral Square. A total of 8 network connections are in the Southeast corner of the library in the reading area next to the Fred Portz, Sr. Special Chemistry Collection. In the Fall of 2004, the library is scheduled to have a Wireless hub installed.

Library Help Resources

Try the following resources to help you with questions about the MSOE Library.

  • The MSOE Library Homepage
    • Available at http://www.msoe.edu/library
    • Check out the red navigation bar on the left -- links to major resources are located here
    • Check out Library Resources for information on holdings (such as magazines) and services (such as Interlibrary Loan)
  • The START Library Tutorial
    • Created by three Technical Communications students
    • START stands for STudent Academic Research Tutorial
    • An excellent introduction to the MSOE Library and library resources that can help you with research papers
  • Walter Schroeder Library User's Guide
  • The Library Staff. At least one staff person is on duty at all times when the library is open.
    • You can send email messages to the librarians (see their email addresses in the staff listing above). You can also reach the library by clicking on the library webmaster email links on all of the library webpages.