EIU Booth Library

About Booth Library

A comprehensive program of Library Services is offered to students, faculty and citizens of Illinois. Visit our website for the most current status of services and collections and a wealth of electronic publications. Booth Library, the general library of the University, is named in honor of Miss Mary Josephine Booth, who served as Head Librarian at Eastern from 1904 to 1945.

The library collection consists of more than 1,000,000 cataloged volumes, as well as maps, music scores, and pamphlets selected to support the University’s educational mission. The government documents collection includes United States and Illinois State publications. Booth Library is also home to the Ballenger Teachers Center housing K-12 curriculum materials, an extensive juvenile collection, and a variety of non-print materials related to teachers and teaching. Leisure reading interests are served through materials from the general book, serial, and newspaper collections, as well as the latest best sellers, films, and popular materials. The general book collection and the periodicals collection are arranged according to the Library of Congress classification scheme.

Booth Library's public catalog is part of I-Share, the statewide network of 91 Illinois academic and research libraries. Additional electronic systems provide online access to a variety of periodical and subject databases. For the university community, interlibrary loan services supplement Booth Library's resources by making available materials that are owned by other libraries. I-Share and the EIU Online Catalog may be accessed from the library's website.

Research Engagement and Scholarship provides professional help to students and faculty in their use of the library and its resources. The Reference department provides individualized assistance, instructional materials, orientation tours, and (by appointment) specialized research clinics. Web, phone, and fax access may be used to contact Reference staff.