WELCOME TO FRAZAR MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Frazar Memorial Library is named for Lether E. Frazar, former lieutenant governor of Louisiana and the first president of McNeese State University. The collections and services of the library are designed to complement the educational and research programs of the university. The original building was erected in 1961. A four-story addition to the original structure was completed in 1974. Renovated in 1986, the library now provides shelving for over 400,000 volumes as well as room for study, library offices, and service areas. Students, faculty, and staff of McNeese, as well as their families, have full library use privileges. Local and area citizens are also encouraged to use the library, and are invited to join the Friends of the Library, for a fee of $15 per year, in order to check out library materials. Membership entitles Friends to all library privileges and can be used as a means to place books in the collection in honor or in memory of someone. Funds generated by Friends memberships sponsor special library activities such as readings, lectures, and workshops. Friends also receive a newsletter, Simply Stated, which is published at the beginning of each semester and includes information on library events.

Library Departments and Services

The Reference Department provides assistance to library patrons in the use of both traditional print sources and evolving computer technologies. Materials kept in the Reference Area include encyclopedias, bibliographies, almanacs, atlases, and indexes. Library tours and library instruction classes are scheduled through the Reference Department. Five study rooms for student use are available in the library and may be checked out on a first-come, first-served basis at the Reference Desk.

Access to the library's collection is made possible through the online catalog, which is part of a statewide library network known as LOUIS. From the catalog, items in the collection may be searched by author, title, subject, keyword, or call number. Items indexed in the catalog include books, McNeese theses, audio-visual material, government documents, archival material, and serial titles. Materials from other campus libraries, such as the Music Learning Center and the Curriculum Materials Center, are also included in the library catalog.  In addition to library catalogs, LOUIS provides access to a variety of periodical indexes and full-text databases.  Public-access workstations are available on the first and second floors of the library as well as in the Reference, Serials, and Documents departments.

The Circulation Department controls the circulation (check-out or borrowing) of library materials. A current McNeese identification card serves as the library card for McNeese students, faculty, and staff; Friends of Library are issued membership cards which must be presented when checking out books. Hold requests and recall requests may placed on items which are currently checked out; the library will notify the requestor when the item is returned. McNeese faculty may reserve certain materials for use by their students. These items are considered "on reserve" and are kept at the Circulation Desk.  Some reserve items are available through Blackboard. Audio-visual materials are also shelved at the Circulation Desk.  The library contains certain items which generally do not circulate. These include bound and unbound serials, microforms, government documents, special collections, and reference books.

The Serials Department, on the second floor, houses magazines, journals, and newspapers. These are available as current individual issues, as bound back volumes, or as microforms. Serials are shelved in alphabetical order by title. Complete, current lists of the library's serials holdings are available throughout the library. Individual titles may also be checked in the library catalog. General and specialized subject indexes, for locating information in serials, are available in the Reference Area or online through LOUIS/FRED terminals. Readers and self-service printers for microforms are kept in the microforms room on the second floor. Telecourse videos are available for viewing in the Serials Department. The Serials Desk is staffed during regular library hours, to provide assistance in locating journals or in using the microforms.

The Government Documents Department is both a Selective Federal Depository and a Complete Louisiana Depository Library. The department, located on the fourth floor of the library, houses over 900,000 United States, Louisiana, international, and regional publications. The collection includes items in electronic, map, microfiche, and paper formats. The electronic information products are available to the public through CD-ROM, computer diskette, and the Internet. Federal documents, which include publications issued by almost every government agency, are easily accessed through the use of indexes, as well as through Frazar Library's online catalog. The documents staff offers many services to McNeese students and faculty and to the public. In addition to reference service and research consultation on specific projects, the documents staff presents seminars and workshops on a variety of topics. The documents staff should be consulted for assistance in locating items in the department's closed stacks. Government Documents monographs circulate to students, faculty, and staff. All Government Documents items are available for public use and we are happy to assist you.

The Interlibrary Loan Department provides assistance to patrons in obtaining books and articles not available at Frazar Memorial Library. Usually there is no charge for books, and the due date is set by the lending library. Patrons are responsible for the cost of photocopied articles. One to three weeks should be allowed for the receipt of material. Interlibrary loan request forms are available from the Interlibrary Loan office or at the Reference Desk. Interlibrary loan items are picked up and returned at the Reference Desk.

The Archives Department houses archival collections reflecting the history of Southwest Louisiana. Included are manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, business papers, and scrapbooks. Special Collections houses rare books and the Southwest Louisiana Collection, which contains books by area authors or about local topics. The Archives and Special Collections Department is open from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday, or by appointment.

Both the university and the community use the library's exhibit area to display paintings, photographs, and other works of art. Frequently, the Friends of the Library will sponsor exhibits or receptions that honor local artists and authors.  Meeting rooms, holding from 20 to 80 people, are used by the university and the community for meetings, readings, and other special events. Meeting rooms are available on the first and second floors, and their use is scheduled through the Serials Department.

Copy machines are located on the first, second, and fourth floors. Copies are 10 cents each, and the copiers accept nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollar bills. Microform copiers are available on the second floor. Microform copies are 20 cents each, and the copiers accept nickels, dimes, and quarters.  An electric typewriter is available for $1 per hour in the Serials Department.

A ramp at the entrance of the library and an electronic door opener allow access for disabled patrons. The library also provides adequate space in elevators, aisles, and restrooms to accommodate wheelchairs. Two print magnifying readers are available in the Reference Department. Special needs should be brought to the attention of the library director.  Eating and drinking are allowed only in the first floor lobby. Vending machines are located in this area, along with tables and chairs for patrons' convenience. The library is a smoke-free building.

This page last updated on November 13, 2007.