E&H Library functions as the heart of the College's academic program. The Library provides collections, services, and spaces to pursue excellence in confronting ideas, thinking critically about the human experience, and pursuing research. Library staff work with students and faculty to develop research skills and to provide a wide range of services that enhance the teaching and learning experience.
The Library provides easy access to more than 530,000 items including books, ebooks, periodicals, government documents, and DVDs. E&H Library subscribes to approximately 420 periodicals and newspapers in print and has access to 100,000 full-text periodicals and newspapers in electronic databases available through the Library’s website. The Library’s electronic resources can be accessed by any College user from on or off campus.
On the Emory campus, the Frederick T. Kelly Library’s facilities include collaborative study space, private study rooms, Kelly Computer Lab, McGowan Computer Classroom, and the Robert D. and Rachel K. Denham Poetry Collection. The Kelly Library is open 90 hours per week when the College is in session. Kelly Library also houses the college archives, rare book collections, the Hunt Room and its Collections, and historical collections of note.
On the Marion campus, the School of Health Sciences Library and Learning Center facilities include group study rooms, quiet study space, health science focused collections, and resources and technology for supporting research. The SHS Library is open and available to anyone with Marion campus access.
Students may check out print materials for 30 days, and DVDs and CDs for one week. Although the Library does not charge overdue fines for its materials, students are encouraged to return all materials promptly so they are available for other patrons. All materials must be returned by the end of each semester. Failure to return library materials in a timely manner could result in items being billed to the student's College account. The replacement charge for each item (books, CDs, DVDs, etc.) is a minimum of $75 depending on the actual replacement cost, plus processing, of the lost item.
E&H Library is a member of the Holston Associated Libraries, Inc. (HAL), a consortium of two private colleges and three public library systems. The Library also participates in the VIVA (Virtual Library of Virginia) and the Appalachian College Association’s Bowen Central Library consortia, which provide an extensive collection of electronic resources. If students need research materials that are not available in the Library, the materials may be requested online through ILLiad, the college’s electronic interlibrary loan system.
Students and faculty have access to research assistance through online chat, text messaging, email, phone, and in person. The professional librarians offer instructional programs, training sessions, and orientations, along with academic reference services, and individualized research assistance.