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 Journal Finder lists in one place every print and electronic journal, magazine, and newspaper available through both paid subscriptions and reputable open access platforms. Use the Journal Finder to see if Oberlin subscribes to these publications, to see if they're available online, or to compare coverage dates 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 search by publication title (e.g. Nature or The New York Times) and then navigate through the volume and issue and year provided by the citation. If you want to search by article title, search for the article from Summon.

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

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.

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.

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.

News

Here are the latest news items from the Oberlin College Libraries. Also watch our social media channels for updates about our resources, services and programs.

Arm holding balloons shaped like womb chairs

May 20, 2024

Please join us on Friday, May 24 from 4:00-5:00 for a Toast to Mudd Center on its 50th birthday. Dr. Robert Fuller, who was president when the building was erected and dedicated, will be on hand to raise the toast at 4:30pm sharp. The event takes place in the Contemplation Garden under the ramp at Mudd. All are... Continue Reading

A display case with books, a typewriter, a camera, photos, and information about the display.

April 17, 2024

The Oberlin Review Turns 150 Exhibition

Exhibition display case The Oberlin Review Turns 150 is now on display. Visit the 1st Floor Gallery in Terrell Main Library to learn about the history of the College newspaper and its 150 years of existence. Exhibition Information When: April 12-27, 2024 Where: 1st Floor Gallery, Terrell Main Library, 148 W College St.... Continue Reading

Pop-up design of an illustrated colorful beetle on a page of a book discussing its anatomy.

April 04, 2024

Check It Out: Young Naturalist's Pop-Up Handbooks: Beetles and Butterflies

Pop-up mechanism in Young Naturalist's Pop-Up Handbook: Beetles Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart are two renowned creators of elaborate pop-up books. The Clarence Ward Art Library has two of Sabuda and Reinhart’s collaborations in our collection of pop-up books: Young Naturalist’s Pop-Up Handbook: Beetles and... Continue Reading

Crowd of workers gathered on train tracks in front of building, black and white photo.

April 01, 2024

Check It Out: "T" Call Numbers In the Art Library

Image from Sandstone Center of the World by James A. Hieb In Library of Congress classification, the T section, which is divided into 16 subclasses, is where materials about technology are classed. Many of those familiar with the Art Library will know that the TR section is where you will find books on photography, but did you... Continue Reading

March 20, 2024

Terrell Main Library Closed During Spring Break

Due to spring break and ongoing work related to Oberlin’s Sustainable Infrastructure Program, Mudd Center will be closed from 8 p.m. on Friday, March 22 through Saturday, March 30. We will reopen on Sunday, March 31 at 7 p.m. Please pick up all OhioLINK/interlibrary loan items from the circulation desk and check out any... Continue Reading

Red cover picturing various heels being worn with white text in the foreground.

March 07, 2024

Check It Out: Fashion Books In the Art Library

Cover of Shoes In Vogue Since 1910 by Christina Probert Fashion Materials A less visited area of the Clarence Ward Art Library is the large section of fashion books, located between GT 510 to around GT 2400. Ranging from vintage and antique styles, such as Baroque and Victorian, to contemporary fashion, these books explore... Continue Reading

Fork sticking out of multicolored stack of books.

February 23, 2024

First Annual Edible Book Festival to Kick Off

Edible Book Festival logo The Oberlin College Libraries and the Oberlin Public Library are joining forces to inaugurate the first annual Oberlin Edible Book Festival on Monday, April 1, 2024. Sponsored by each libraries’ Friends group, the event brings the community together through creative—and... Continue Reading

Oberlin students seated with penny farthing bicycle, black and white photo.

February 23, 2024

Azariah’s Café Gets a Facelift

Oberlin students with penny farthing bicycle Library staff, craftsmen, and even florists were hard at work over Winter Break to bring some much needed updating to Azariah’s Café in Terrell Library. The café is in the Library’s Periodical and New Book Room. Over the break, we had all the booths... Continue Reading

Page spread of Robert Hooke's Micrographia picturing a flea.

February 23, 2024

Friends Support Library Acquisitions

Spread of Robert Hooke's Micrographia A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed—and we are indeed grateful for the generous support that the Friends of Oberlin College Libraries provides for library acquisitions each year. This year we were able to purchase electronic access to: Klassiki, a streaming video platform focusing on... Continue Reading

Student sitting at table paging through a book with various books off to the side.

February 23, 2024

Libraries’ Winter Term Courses – Teaching and Partnering

Student working on Winter Term project The College’s 2024 Winter Term included seven courses taught or supported by Library experts, many of which fulfill the practicum requirement for the Book Studies minor. Terrell Library Special Collections offered its Letterpress Intensive, experience-based instruction for students... Continue Reading

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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.

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.

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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.

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.