Services & Departments

Dean of Library Services    464-5364

The Dean of Library Services provides leadership and support for all library staff and operations through strategic planning, budget allocation, marketing, staff development, and monitoring building maintenance.

Acquisitions / Gifts     464-5808

Acquisitions department orders all new library materials, from books to videos to sound recordings. Careful record keeping avoids duplication and insures that the most current edition available is ordered. The processing of library donations begins here also.

Cataloging     464-5397

Cataloging, a vital behind-the-scenes Christopher Center department, creates the records for GALILEO, keeping subject headings and classification numbers consistent and accurate. The department also prepares items for shelving and use. When items are lost or withdrawn, the process is reversed.

Circulation & Reserves     464-5366

The Circulation Desk is the nerve center of Christopher Center Library Services, staffed every moment that the library is open. Directly in front of you as you enter the 2nd floor of the library, this is where you check-out and return library materials; find Reserve materials, pick up Interlibrary Loan materials; get change for copiers; purchase copy cards, transparencies, and computer disks; and check the Lost & Found. Have a library-related question? A Circulation Staff member will answer it or take you to a person who can.

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Equipment Loan     464-5774

Housed on Christopher Center's first floor (across from the elevator), Equipment Loan offers a small collection of presentation media that may be borrowed by current faculty, staff, and students of Valparaiso University. Reservations are recommended.

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Financial Operations     464-6951

Another behind-the-scenes department, Financial Operations makes sure that Library Services remains a fiscally sound and responsible member of the VU community.

Government Information     464-5771

The Government Information Department provides service to VU and to the citizens of the First Congressional District of Indiana. This department selects about 25% of the U.S. government documents offered to libraries, including topographical maps and CD-ROMs. We are also a depository library for the state of Indiana. For assistance, ask the Government Information Services Librarian, the Government Documents Assistant, or at the Reference Desk.

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Interlibrary Loan     464-5363

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service provided only for VU students, faculty (current & emeritus), and staff. Christopher Center's ILL office obtains, from other libraries, research materials not available in our collections. The average number of working days to fill a loan request is seven. However, depending on the lending library's operations, it may take two to three weeks to obtain some materials.

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Library Instruction Services Program     464-5693

Christopher Center's Instruction Services program provides discipline-related instruction for specific courses, enabling students to learn about the breadth of library resources in all formats available to them locally and at remote locations. Working with faculty to customize each session, the librarians design sessions that range from basic introductions to Christopher Center resources to the use of upper-level subject-specific research tools.

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Map Collection & Information     464-5771

The Map collection is located in the Reference Area on the second floor. The Christopher Center collects U.S. government maps from the U.S. Geological Survey, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, CIA and Departments of Agriculture and Interior. The collection also contains National Geographic maps, maps of cities in Indiana, the United States and the world. Reference assistance is available from the Government Information Services Librarian (office in the Reference Area) or from the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor.

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Media Services & Collection    464-5774

Formerly known as the Media Library, Christopher Center's Media Services & Collection contains video and sound recordings on compact disc, record, and tape, along with the appropriate listening and viewing equipment. Many recordings can be borrowed for use outside the library. Located on Christopher Center's first floor, the Media collection also houses a small collection of presentation media equipment that may be borrowed by current VU faculty, staff, and students for use off-campus.

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Periodicals & Journals     464-6146

Located on the Christopher Center's first floor, this department tracks receipt of current scholarly journal and periodical issues and prepares them for shelving and binding. Popular magazines are also available for reading. GALILEO displays journal and periodical records to help you track down the specific issues you need. Need more assistance? Ask for help in Reference.

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Reference Services     464-6890

The Reference Area is often the first place to begin library research. Located on the second floor, the collection contains all types of reference resources, the general and Lutheran pamphlet files, many atlases, and the map collection. Trained staff provide individualized assistance, helping you to develop research strategies as well as learn how to use electronic and print library resources. Computers are also available here.

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University Archives     464-5482

University Archives, located on Christopher Center's third floor, is responsible for collecting, preserving, organizing, and describing the official records of VU. The collection includes VU artifacts, audio/visual materials, books, documents, and photographs of enduring administrative, legal, fiscal, and historical value. Contact the Archivist to request research privileges.

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