Library Collections

Whether you would like to research a topic, look for good books or other media, need to use a computer or want a quiet place to study, you can find all of these and more at the Rock Valley College Library. Our state-of-the-art Integrated Library System (ILS), Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and Internet capabilities offer a wide variety of materials to support the instructional and research needs of students, faculty, staff, and district residents.

Book Collection
 

At the of the heart of the college library's book collection are:

• 80,000 circulating books
• 102,000 e-books
• 6,000 reference books

These books and other related collections are organized by Library of Congress Classification System and are accessible through the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC).

Database Collection
 

The college library offers access to more than 70 online databases for locating magazine, newspaper, and journal articles. Online databases can be viewed by an A-Z List or a Subject List.

Journal Collection
 

The journal collection is in both print and electronic format. Print journals are organized alphabetically by title on the first floor of the library. Both print and e-journals can be found by title and subject category by using the journal search feature of the online catalog.
 

Audio/Visual Collection
 

The audio-visual collection includes DVDs and VHS video tapes, compact discs (CDs), audio cassettes, phonodiscs (LPs), study prints, maps, and CD-ROMs. These audio-visual materials are accessible through the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC).

Government Documents Collection
 

The college library is an official U.S. Government Depository Library. Library staff select government document materials to support both the college's research needs and the general information needs of the citizens of the local community and district. For assistance with our government documents collections, please contact Maria Figiel-Krueger, Reference Librarian.

College Archives
 

A finding guide to the college archives collection leads to documents that originate from many segments of the college. The collection is organized by originating department of the college. For example, press releases are located with documents generated by RVC Public Relations. Material in the archive collection reflects Rock Valley College's 50+ year history. Publications of the college, including the student yearbooks from 1966-1970 and the literary magazine are digitized and available through the Internet Archive.

The Achives Room is located within the library in ERC 2304. Visits to the archives are by appointment only which can be arranged with a librarian, email: RVC-LibRef@rockvalleycollege.edu, phone: (815) 921-4619.

Materials located in the Archives collection include:

• pre-organizational stages
• Board of Trustees reports
• course catalogs and schedules
• The Valley Forge newspaper
• newspaper clippings about Rock Valley College
• faculty and staff newsletters
• student organization & club minutes
• event photos
• athletics team records, insignia, programs, and team photos
• theatre and music programs
• educational certificates
• directories and handbooks
• recordings of concerts and athletic events
• fine art
• oral history transcripts and recordings