Directions:

Location:

Mary Church Terrell Main Library
148 W College St. Oberlin, OH 44074-1545

Parking:

The main visitor lot is the east Service Building lot, and the south row of the Carnegie Building lot for visitors to offices within that building.

Search Tools

Summon

Summon provides access to millions of sources of all types (books, articles, audio, videos, images, etc.) on nearly any subject. Summon searches many, but not all, Oberlin College Libraries resources; comprehensive research should include subject databases. It searches the full text of some, but not all, Oberlin books, including books that Oberlin only owns in print.

If you are looking for a specific book, film, or journal, use OBIS, our catalog. If you are looking for a specific journal article, use the Journal Finder. Summon also includes the collection of the Allen Memorial Art Museum as well as materials from other research centers and open access repositories.

Databases A-Z

The Databases A-Z list provides a complete alphabetical list of searchable databases accessible to you through the Oberlin College Libraries. The databases range from those that cover multiple subject areas, e.g. JSTOR or Web of Science, to more narrow research topics, e.g. SOCIndex.

They contain both citations and full text for ebooks, peer reviewed journals, newspapers, magazines, data sets, images, music, primary documents, and more. You will want to use them for finding credible and scholarly materials required for your college research.

If you are unsure which databases are best for your research topic try using the subject and type filters, consult a subject or course guide, Ask a Librarian or make a research appointment.

OBIS Catalog

OBIS provides access to print and digital books, databases, audiovisual materials, journals, and course reserves. It is the best place to look up books, recordings, journals and films by title to determine if you can access an item through Oberlin. To see if Oberlin has access to an individual article, use the journal list. OBIS makes it easier to search by subject heading than Summon does, but it does not index the full-text of any books.

In addition to books available at Oberlin through OBIS, patrons also have access to collections from a number of public, university, and college libraries in the state of Ohio through Oberlin College’s partnership with the OhioLink consortium and SearchOhio.

Journal Finder

The Oberlin College Libraries subscribe to many journals, newspapers, and magazines directly, and have access to many more through database platforms from providers including EBSCO, ProQuest, JSTOR, and many others.

The Journal Finder lists in one place every print and e-journal available through both paid subscriptions and reputable open access platforms. Use the Journal Finder to track down a journal, to see if it’s available online, or to compare access across databases or subscription services.

The Journal Finder will not allow you to search by article title to determine if Oberlin owns an item - you must use the full citation, including journal, magazine, or newspaper title and publication date to determine if Oberlin has access to an article.

OhioLINK Catalog

A virtual statewide library that displays information for items owned by OhioLINK libraries, a consortium of over 100 college, university and research libraries in Ohio. Items described include books, journals and periodicals, audiovisual materials, sound recordings, electronic resources, government documents, archives and manuscripts, maps and music scores.

The catalog provides bibliographic descriptions and indicates where copies are located and whether or not copies are available. The OhioLINK Central Catalog allows for delivery of requested items to a member library of your choice. Terrell Main Library is Oberlin’s pickup location for OhioLINK items. OhioLINK's design allows you to transfer a search from our local library catalog, OBIS, to the OhioLINK combined catalog with the touch of a button. Likewise, a search can just as easily transfer from OhioLINK or OBIS to the public library network Search Ohio.

WorldCat

WorldCat contains more than 43 million records describing books and other items owned by libraries around the world. You can search for popular books, music CDs and videos—all of the physical items you're used to getting from libraries. You can also discover digital content, such as downloadable audiobooks. Use InterLibrary Loan to order materials that you locate on Worldcat.

Research Guides

Subject Guides

Research guides are the gateway to library collections and resources. Created and maintained by Oberlin College & Conservatory reference and subject librarians, Guides by Subject are organized by their relevant subject areas to provide a detailed list of recommended scholarly sources, including: databases; internet and digital resources; and the libraries’ collections of books, journals, magazines, music, art, DVDs, etc.

Guides also help you develop search strategies, cite sources and manage bibliographic references, and lead to a librarian who can provide further assistance. Subject guides are displayed alphabetically.

Source Type Guides

Oberlin College librarians have identified the best platforms for finding resources by source type, including newspapers, magazines, dissertations and theses, books, music, primary sources and more. Some guides also provide search tips and techniques.

Course Guides

Course Guides are organized collections of resources created for the research and information needs of students in specific courses. Research strategies and library services are also included.

News

Photo of Reverend Betty Howard of Rust United Methodist Church singing at the dedication of the Unde

June 19, 2022

Celebrations supporting the rights of black people have been central to the Oberlin community since its founding. In January 1849, the Black Laws of 1807 discouraging the migration of black people to Ohio were largely repealed. These laws included requiring black people to have proof that they were indeed free and needed two... Continue Reading

Photo of 2nd floor cushion pit taken from above

June 03, 2022

2022 Virginia Proctor Powell Florence Friends of the Oberlin College Libraries Scholarship

The Virginia Proctor Powell Florence Class of 1919 Friends of the Oberlin College Libraries Graduate Library School Scholarship was established in 2019 for Oberlin graduates who are people of color and are interested in pursuing graduate studies in librarianship or archives. The scholarship recipient is selected by a committee... Continue Reading

Photo of red Aarnio Ball Chairs (Womb Chairs) and a plant

May 31, 2022

Friends of the Oberlin College Libraries Graduate Library School Scholarship 2022

The Friends of the Oberlin College Libraries provide a graduate library school scholarship awarded to an Oberlin College graduate who has been accepted at an accredited school of library and information science. The scholarship recipient is selected by a committee composed of members of the Friends of the Libraries... Continue Reading

Wood engraving of Keyes D. Metcalf by Eric May

May 24, 2022

Celebrating Our 2022 Graduating Student Employees

Above image: Wood engraving of Keyes D. Metcalf by Eric May The end of the spring semester is approaching, which sadly means we will soon have to say goodbye to our graduating student employees. The support these hard-working students provide helps us maintain our outstanding services for the Oberlin Community. Today we will... Continue Reading

April 15, 2022

Library Tours

Have questions about the library? Feel like you don't understand our services or collections? Take a library tour, offered monthly at each branch (Terrell, Art, Conservatory, Science, Archives & Special Collections. Register Continue Reading

March 15, 2022

The Oberlin College Archives are Hiring!

The Oberlin College Archives are excited to announce the opening of the 2022 Weidenthal Undergraduate Summer Internship.This internship is 10 weeks long and open to any undergraduate (not just Oberlin College students) as long as they have completed two semesters at their institution. The applicants should be pursuing a... Continue Reading

February 17, 2022

Love Week in the Libraries

Valentine's Day has come and gone but it's always a good time to celebrate love in all of its many forms. The Libraries have a great lineup of fun activities and displays next week (February 21-25) to help you show yourself (and others) a little bit of love this season. Check Campus Digest and our social media to find out more! Continue Reading

February 11, 2022

Celebrating Women in Science: Althea Sherman

On today's International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we would like to highlight a fascinating Oberlin College alumna. Althea Rosina Sherman received the A.B. degree in 1875 and the A.M. degree in 1882 from Oberlin College, both degrees in art. She went on to teach art at Carleton College and was later supervisor of art... Continue Reading

October 28, 2021

This Week in Oberlin History: The Dedication of Second Congregational Church

Many people know of First Congregational Church, but did you know there was a Second Church as well? In May of 1860, over 100 members of First Congregational Church split off to form Second Congregational Church. The Oberlin College Trustees agreed for the Church to be placed on College property on West College Street in... Continue Reading

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Learn More About Our Libraries

Source Type Guides ? Oberlin College librarians have identified the best platforms for finding resources by source type, including newspapers, magazines, dissertations and theses, books, music, primary sources and more. Some guides also provide search tips and techniques.

Course Guides ? Course Guides are organized collections of resources created for the research and information needs of students in specific courses. Research strategies and library services are also included.

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Source Type Guides

Oberlin College librarians have identified the best platforms for finding resources by source type, including newspapers, magazines, dissertations and theses, books, music, primary sources and more. Some guides also provide search tips and techniques.

Course Guides

Course Guides are organized collections of resources created for the research and information needs of students in specific courses. Research strategies and library services are also included.