Acquisitions, main floor, is responsible for ordering library materials of all kinds and coordinating collection development.

Cataloging / Technical Processing & Periodicals, main floor, prepares materials for use by cataloging, assigning call numbers, and doing preservation work on items before incorporating them into the collection.  This department also oversees the binding of periodicals, theses, and dissertations.

Circulation, main floor, is responsible for the control of library materials charged out by patrons. The department staff is responsible for maintaining the book, periodical and reference stacks, managing the reserve collection, processing patron holds, receiving payment for lost library materials, searching for lost materials and issuing library cards.  The circulation staff will retrieve materials from the stacks for individuals with disabilities.

Distance Education Services, main floor, serves faculty and students involved in USD off-campus courses only.  Assistance is given in the areas of library instruction, reference, and document delivery.  Bibliographic instruction usually occurs at the site where the class is held, whereas reference service can be provided by phone, fax, email or US mail.  Materials can be requested using the Library Request for Materials form.  Items owned by I.D. Weeks will be provided free of charge; materials not owned will be treated as an interlibrary loan request.  For more information, see the Distance Education Website or call 1-800-299-5448.

Government Documents, main floor, provides collection development and reference assistance in the area of US and South Dakota government publications.  Government documents are located on the Southeast side of the 2nd floor.

Interlibrary Loan, main floor, acquires upon request materials not owned by USD but needed by patrons for research and serious study.  For more information, see the section on Interlibrary Loan.

Learning Resources Laboratory, 2nd floor, provides a multi-media dimension to the library and supports the School of Education through its microform, CD, K-12 textbook, video and youth collections.  For more information, see the section on the Learning Resources Lab.

Library Instruction, main floor, informs and instructs the USD community on available resources and any major changes that affect the research progress. Through the Information Literacy program, library tours and workshops on special resources and the Internet are offered. Additionally, workshops offered by the I.D. Weeks librarians are available through the Communication Center (Room 205).

Reference Department , main floor, is responsible for helping faculty, students and other patrons interpret and use library resources.  For more information, see the section on the Reference Department.See the Subject Guides page for resource assistance in specific areas.

Reserve Collections, main floor, is responsible for maintaining a limited circulation collection of materials selected by faculty for assigned reading in connection with course work.  The circulation department administers the reserve collections.  Borrowing from reserve collections is restricted to USD students and staff. Click here for policies and instructions for placing items on reserve.

Special Collections, 3rd floor, Rm. 305, consists of three different collections: University Archives, Richardson Collection, & Chilson Collection.  Materials must be used in Room 305. It is recommended that those wishing to use the collections contact the Special Collections Librarian (677-5450).  For more information, see the section on Special Collections.