Who was

Dean B. Ellis?

The Dean B. Ellis Library, centrally located in an eight-story building, functions as an educational center for the university community. It houses an open shelf collection which includes over 536,900 books and periodical bound volumes, 531,307 federal and state documents, and 482,122 units in microform. The collection includes most subject fields, but emphasizes education, history, fine arts, general reference, law and American and English literature. The Library of Congress classification system is used for the arrangement of books, and an online catalog provides access to the book collection. Reserve items are available at the Circulation Desk.

The library meets the informational needs of the university by offering a variety of services. A staff of 13 professional librarians and 24 support personnel acquires, organizes, and services the collection. Reference librarians assist users in locating information and in the use of the library. The reference staff also offers an active library instruction program which reaches numerous university classes. Databases searchable on CD-ROM, and computerized reference service, provide access to hundreds of remote databases. Materials that are not contained in the library's collection are accessible by interlibrary loan through the OCLC network. The library has access to the Internet and to the statewide network, ARKnet.

Special collections include 1) the Cass S. Hough Aeronautical Collection of 14,000 books and memorabilia which has been described as the single most valuable collection of aviation materials in private hands; 2) an outstanding collection of Lois Lenski books for children; 3) collections of notable Arkansas authors of children's books: Charlie May Simon, Lois Snelling, Faith Yingling Knoop; and 4) a collection of Arkansas writer John Gould Fletcher.

The Tom Love Collection forms the nucleus of an extensive "Arkansas Collection." It is comprised of manuscripts, documents, and other historic materials relating to the state of Arkansas. In addition, the Arkansas Room contains Arkansas topographic and other maps, state documents, and Arkansas State University publications.

The Honorable E. C. Gathings Collection is comprised principally of correspondence from Arkansas' long-time congressional representative, making available primary research materials relating to the First Congressional District during Gathings' time of service in the Congress.

The collection of creation science papers, donated by former Arkansas Attorney General Steve Clark, includes the state's side of the landmark creation science case.

The Robert Dale Owen Collection contains rare books from the private library of this 19th century legislator, diplomat, and author.

An Oral History Program, housed in the library, has conducted and taped interviews with a number of local citizens and state leaders. The tapes are available for use.

Other collections include audio-visual materials and the Curriculum Materials Center which contains K-12 teacher education materials. In addition to materials directly related to classroom and research work, the library provides students with general and recreational reading materials. Exhibits and displays presenting ideas and issues are also a regular part of an ongoing service program.

Media services, administered by the Dean B. Ellis Library, offers a wide range of audio and visual services for both students and faculty engaged in university functions. The staff produces overhead transparencies, produces audio and video recordings, and lends audio-visual equipment for short-term use to students and faculty.