University Libraries

The University Libraries provide access to our cultural and scientific heritage through resources and services and cooperate actively with the faculty and students in the teaching, learning and research process. The print collections consist of more than 1.4 million books and journals, and the Libraries provide access to tens of thousands of full-text electronic journals and books.

The John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library provides a variety of study spaces to accommodate collaborative and individual learning and provide technologies which support the use of library resources, including scanning and printing.

The Special Collections consists of four distinct parts which include the Rare Books, Museum, University Archives, and Manuscript Collections. The Rare Books Collections contain approximately 70,000 volumes, which range from medieval documents to first editions of twentieth century authors. The Manuscript Collection, also known as the American Catholic History Collection, collects personal papers and institutional records which document the heritage and history of the American Catholic people. The specialized Semitics/ICOR Library supports research in the languages of the ancient Near East and the languages, literatures, and history of the Christian Near East. The specialized Oliveira Lima Library is a collection of books, manuscripts, pamphlets, maps, photographs and works of art that is dedicated to the history and culture of Portugal and Brazil.

Catholic University and eight other university libraries form the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC). Students and faculty may visit, borrow from, and order books and articles online from the other WRLC libraries.

Research assistance is available at the information desk as well as by phone and email. Personal consultations with librarians also are encouraged for more in-depth research assistance. Librarians also provide research workshops, training in online research and information literacy, and course-related instruction sessions.

The Catholic University of America Libraries are committed to providing Catholic University students with equal access to its resources. To reach this goal, the Libraries provide appropriate accommodations to Catholic University students with special needs.

For additional information, please visit the University Libraries on the web.