FACTS ABOUT THE ONLINE CATALOG
What can I find at the Robert L Parkinson library and Research Center?
The library houses approximately 3,500 books, hundreds of serial/magazine publications, 2500 cubic feet of archival manuscript material, 300,000 photographs,10,000 posters/lithographs, thousands of advertisement materials, 920 reels of film, and hundreds of thousands of artifacts.
What can I find using the online catalog?
The online catalog contains catalog entries for book, manuscript (archival papers), photographs and artifact records. The catalog also contains a limited amount of film records. Please keep in mind the online catalog was created in the summer of 2011 and only reflects a small fraction of our holdings. New records and images are uploaded on a monthly basis.
Can I search for a family name?
The online catalog is not a database of genealogical records. Although names may be found as a part of the catalog records the catalog is primarily set up to search subjects.
Can I search for photos?
Yes! The catalog contains thousands of historical photgraphs.
Can I buy copies of the images I see through the online catalog?
Yes! If there is a "Buy this image" button on the catalog record page you can purchase a copy through our online store. If you do not see this button the image may still be available. Contact library staff for further details regarding the purchase and use of our images at [email protected].
Can I search for artifacts?
Yes-although only a limited number of artifact records have been placed online the catalog currently contains a small amount of records with accompanying photogrpahs of a limted amount of artifacts.
When I search the catalog I cannot find what I am looking for.
This tutorial will help you learn how to effectively search the online catalog. However, keep in mind, the catalog
was created in the summer of 2011. Although library staff is adding new items on a regular basis the catalog only contains a fraction of the library holdings. If you can not find what you are looking for online contact the
library staff at [email protected].
What is a manuscript collection?
Manuscript collections normally consist of letters, documents, diaries, business records, research subject files, advertisement material and any other paper based documentation.
What is a Finding Aid and why do I not see them with every archival collection?
A Finding aid is a detailed catalog of an individual mansuscript collection. A finding Aid normaly contains a history or biography of the subject or person associated with the collection, a scope and content note providing a description of the kinds of things found in the collection and highlighting the notable items in the collection, and a container list-a complete listing of every folder in the collection. A finding aid will provide date ranges and the
most detailed overview of the collection available. The finding aid will also provide box and folder numbers for each file allowing for easy location of a given record.
Collections that do not have more than two folders do not recieve a finding aid. These small collections recieve a detailed descriptive paragraph and subject list and are cataloged only through the main online catalog. Other larger manuscript collections which have only been briefly cataloged and fully cataloged may also appear in the online catalog but do not have a full finding aid at the present time because it has not recieved detailed
cataloging yet.
What can I find at the Robert L Parkinson library and Research Center?
The library houses approximately 3,500 books, hundreds of serial/magazine publications, 2500 cubic feet of archival manuscript material, 300,000 photographs,10,000 posters/lithographs, thousands of advertisement materials, 920 reels of film, and hundreds of thousands of artifacts.
What can I find using the online catalog?
The online catalog contains catalog entries for book, manuscript (archival papers), photographs and artifact records. The catalog also contains a limited amount of film records. Please keep in mind the online catalog was created in the summer of 2011 and only reflects a small fraction of our holdings. New records and images are uploaded on a monthly basis.
Can I search for a family name?
The online catalog is not a database of genealogical records. Although names may be found as a part of the catalog records the catalog is primarily set up to search subjects.
Can I search for photos?
Yes! The catalog contains thousands of historical photgraphs.
Can I buy copies of the images I see through the online catalog?
Yes! If there is a "Buy this image" button on the catalog record page you can purchase a copy through our online store. If you do not see this button the image may still be available. Contact library staff for further details regarding the purchase and use of our images at [email protected].
Can I search for artifacts?
Yes-although only a limited number of artifact records have been placed online the catalog currently contains a small amount of records with accompanying photogrpahs of a limted amount of artifacts.
When I search the catalog I cannot find what I am looking for.
This tutorial will help you learn how to effectively search the online catalog. However, keep in mind, the catalog
was created in the summer of 2011. Although library staff is adding new items on a regular basis the catalog only contains a fraction of the library holdings. If you can not find what you are looking for online contact the
library staff at [email protected].
What is a manuscript collection?
Manuscript collections normally consist of letters, documents, diaries, business records, research subject files, advertisement material and any other paper based documentation.
What is a Finding Aid and why do I not see them with every archival collection?
A Finding aid is a detailed catalog of an individual mansuscript collection. A finding Aid normaly contains a history or biography of the subject or person associated with the collection, a scope and content note providing a description of the kinds of things found in the collection and highlighting the notable items in the collection, and a container list-a complete listing of every folder in the collection. A finding aid will provide date ranges and the
most detailed overview of the collection available. The finding aid will also provide box and folder numbers for each file allowing for easy location of a given record.
Collections that do not have more than two folders do not recieve a finding aid. These small collections recieve a detailed descriptive paragraph and subject list and are cataloged only through the main online catalog. Other larger manuscript collections which have only been briefly cataloged and fully cataloged may also appear in the online catalog but do not have a full finding aid at the present time because it has not recieved detailed
cataloging yet.