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

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.

Photo of sculpture by Cameron Armstrong commemorating Oberlin participation in the Underground Railr

September 27, 2022

Freedom's Friends History Walk

September 29, 6:00 PMFirst Church in Oberlin, 106 N. Main St., Oberlin, OH 44074Hear stories about Oberlin’s most famous freedom seekers and people known to have helped them make their way to freedom on this 90-minute neighborhood walking tour. Led by Oberlin Heritage Center. Tour repeats at this location on Saturday... Continue Reading

Photo of historical reenactor at Sara Lucy Bagby's gravesite

September 26, 2022

Sara Lucy Bagby Historical Reenactment

This live, historical re-enactment will portray Sara Lucy Bagby, the last slave to be prosecuted as a runaway after the Fugitive Slave Act. She made it all the way to Cleveland, Ohio, before being sent back into slavery. Meet Sara Lucy Bagby Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 4:30 PM. Oberlin Public Library, 65 S. Main St., Oberlin, OH... Continue Reading

September 25, 2022

From the College Librarian: New Perspectives

Welcome to a new perspective on Library Perspectives, the newsletter of the Oberlin College Libraries. We have redesigned the 31-year-old newsletter, moved it to an e-format, and increased its frequency from biennial to triennial. Otherwise, it remains a trusted source for news and updates from the Oberlin College Libraries... Continue Reading

Jeremy Denk portrait and Every Good Boy Does Fine Book Cover

September 25, 2022

Jeremy Denk ‘90 to Speak at Annual Friends Dinner

World-renowned concert pianist Jeremy Denk will speak at the 2022 Annual Friends of the Oberlin College Libraries Dinner and Meeting. Mr. Denk, a proud and pride-inspiring alumnus of the Oberlin Conservatory, is also the author of a New York Times best-selling memoir, Every Good Boy Does Fine: A Love Story, in Music... Continue Reading

September 25, 2022

Graduate Library School Scholarship Winners

Alex Kohn '19 and Gena Reynolds '15 are winners of the 2022 Friends of the Oberlin College Libraries Graduate Library School Scholarship. Each scholarship winner receives a $3,500 award. Alex Kohn was born and raised in New York City, where they spent their entire life before attending Oberlin College. While at Oberlin, Alex... Continue Reading

September 25, 2022

Events and Exhibits

Events Check the new Events calendar for upcoming events from all four branches, including: Book Arts Learning Labs, Workshops, and Classes The Big Read Library Tours Explore Events Exhibits Check the exhibitions page for current and upcoming exhibitions at the libraries, including "Overseas to Oberlin: A Global... Continue Reading

September 25, 2022

“Welcome to Aegina” Exhibit

Wishing you had traveled more this summer? Perhaps you need to take a moment to escape to the Mediterranean. If so, the Terrell Library has the perfect solution for you! "Welcome to Aegina," a collaborative, multimedia, and interactive exhibit will be on display in Terrell Library's First Floor Gallery from September 1 -... Continue Reading

September 25, 2022

New Library Catalog for Oberlin and OhioLink

OhioLINK announced in June that the consortium is beginning the process of replacing the integrated library system (ILS) used by its 117 members after receiving funding through the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE). An ILS serves as the nerve center for many essential functions of the Libraries, such as circulation... Continue Reading

September 25, 2022

New Hires & Staff Changes

Acting Head of the Oberlin Conservatory Library Kathleen Abromeit, former Music Reference and Information Literacy Librarian, has been appointed the Acting Head of the Oberlin Conservatory Library with the retirement of Deborah Campana earlier this summer. Music Reference and Information Literacy Librarian in the Conservatory... Continue Reading

September 25, 2022

Debbie Campana Retires

Deborah A. Campana, Head of the Conservatory Library at Oberlin College & Conservatory for the past 24 years, retired in June 2022. During her tenure at Oberlin, Campana championed the development of the Conservatory Library’s world-class collection and spaces, maintaining the Library’s excellence and bringing... Continue Reading

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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.

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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.