Ask a Librarian

The Center for Dubuque History is located in the Academic Resource Center/Library, on the lowest level. Hours are somewhat irregular; for best results, email archivist Mike Gibson for an appointment.

The book Luxembourgers in the New World Vol. 2 contains the only index to surnames to the Luxemburger Gazette newspaper. The Loras Library has 2 sets of the microfilm.  We loan out one set via inter-library loan and the other set is kept in the microfiche cabinets for use here at Loras.  If a patron wants a scan or photocopy of a certain page of surnames the Loras College archivist Mike Gibson can oblige, but is unable to look up the actual citations in the newspapers and print/scan a certain page(s). To borrow the microfilm, contact the interlibrary loan department of your local library.

Note: The Luxembourg government is considering scanning the microfilm of the newspaper which would either be available on-line or put on a site where there would be a fee to access it. Stay tuned.

Yes. The Library has the New York Times from 1851–2008 on microfilm. Dubuque newspapers (including the Telegraph-Herald) dating from 1836–present are also on microfilm, as are a few old newspapers from the Iowa towns of Cascade, Dyersville, and Farley, and the Illinois town of Galena.

For more information, see the list of titles posted on the microfilm cabinets.

Yes and no.

The library's catalog is available from on and off campus.

Other library databases, such as those linking to articles and ebooks, are available in the library building only, per our licenses with the database vendors. You may visit the Loras College Library and access the databases by using our public desktop computer stations near the check-out desk.

For a description of other library services for alumni, go the the Alumni Services Info Guide.

Old yearbooks (The Purgold) and student newspapers (The Lorian) are kept in the Loras College Archives on first floor. There are also copies of yearbooks and student newspapers in the main stacks.

The Purgold is located on second floor at call number 378.777P C723P. The Lorian is located in the Oversize area on first floor at call number 378.777q C723C Lo.

Yes, the federal government is going online in a big way. Check out FDsys (which stands for Federal Digital System) for material from all three branches of government. For details, go to the library's tutorial to FDsys.

Perhaps. We have developed research guides for several courses. If your course is not on the list, check the subject guides for a research guide for the major.

This collection, located on the third floor, contains the literary materials of the late Rev. Raymond Roseliep, Professor of English at Loras College who served in the Department between 1946 to 1982. Roseliep was an established poet who gained a reputation as a haikuist, and was the winner of the prestigious Henderson Award. He tied for first place in 1977, received an honorable mention in 1979, and won the first place award in 1982.

The Roseliep Collection contains the books from the poet's personal library, his literary correspondence, his own published books, and drafts of published and unpublished work in progress. The collection is available to researchers by appointment. Contact: Heidi Pettitt, (563) 588-7873 heidi.pettitt@loras.edu or Joyce Meldrem, (563) 588-7164 joyce.meldrem@loras.edu.

Great! Take a look at our guide to staff services. Hope to see you in the library soon!

The Special Collections and Rare Book Room is located on the third floor of the Library. Items located in this collection include those which are very old, difficult or impossible to replace, limited and first editions, signed copies, unique manuscript materials, books by Dubuque authors, and Loras faculty publications. The Special Collections and Rare Book Room also includes folios by Shakespeare and incunabula (books published before 1501).

Most of the items in this room are in the online catalog.The room is open on Tuesdays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. during the school year, and at other times by appointment. Contact: Heidi Pettitt, (563) 588-7873 heidi.pettitt@loras.edu or Joyce Meldrem, (563) 588-7164 joyce.meldrem@loras.edu.

"Business Source Premier" provides full text for more than 2,300 journals, including full text for more than 1,100 peer-reviewed titles. All disciplines of business, including marketing, management, MIS, POM, accounting, finance and economics are included. For more details, go to the library's tutorial for Business Source Premier.

"ARTStor" is a great source for images of subjects in the arts, architecture, humanities, and social sciences. Check out the ARTStor tutorial for details.

Yes. We have “Free Magazine” shelves located in the Reading Room on the third floor of the Library. Just bring the magazines you’d like to donate to the Check Out Desk. Each week, new free magazines are added.

If you're a least a sophomore, and have declared a major, you have a "personal librarian" here at Loras College Library. Which librarian is your Personal librarian is determined by your major. Visit "Your Personal Librarian" to learn more about the program, and to determine yours!

The Center for Dubuque History, located on first floor, maintains the largest collection of local history resources in the tri-state region, featuring a large photograph collection, maps, art work, local business and organizational records, letters, manuscripts, diaries, post cards, oral histories, government records, and published books related to the Dubuque area and the Upper Mississippi River lead mining region.

Also included are numerous reference materials useful to genealogical researchers including state and federal census data, plat books, old newspapers, obituary files, city directories, individual family histories, etc.

Please make an appointment in advance to use the collection. Contact: Michael Gibson, Center for Dubuque History Director (563) 588-7163 michael.gibson@loras.edu

We have a great database for finding information on Beethoven and other musicians or music topics. It’s called Grove Music Online.

"GreenFILE" offers well-researched information covering all aspects of human impact to the environment. For details, go to the library's tutorial on GreenFILE.

"Grove Music Online" is a great database for all sorts of information about music and musicians. For detailed information, go to the Grove Music Online tutorial.

Yes! Start with American FactFinder, from the U. S. Bureau of the Census, which provides access to data about the United States, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. It is an important source for population, housing, economic and geographic information. The data in American FactFinder come from several government-sponsored censuses and surveys. For details on how to use American Factfinder, go to the library's tutorial on American Factfinder.

A "Lost & Found" is maintained at the Library Check-out desk. However, these items are regularly transferred to the Campus Safety & Security Office.