Sims Memorial Library

The University Library, named in memory of the institution’s first president, is a modular four-story
building of approximately 138,000 square feet. The building, occupied in 1986, is located near the center
of campus.

The Library contains a collection of more than 1,098,000 print and electronic volumes and streaming
videos, and provides access to over 164,000 print and electronic journals and newspapers. Sims
Memorial is a partial depository for federal government publications. The Library participates in a state-
wide network, LOUIS, providing access to the online catalogs of 34 academic libraries within Louisiana
and to other electronic databases and catalogs. Sims participates in the LOUIS reciprocal borrowing
program, which extends borrowing privileges to Southeastern faculty and students at participating
universities throughout the state.

The Library provides both traditional library services, such as physical resources and in-person reference
services, and state-of-the-art information technology. The information technology includes electronic
resources, accessible to current students and faculty on and off campus, as well as 24/7 virtual reference
and research assistance available to all students, faculty, alumni, and members of the community.
Librarians offer both formal research instruction through the Library Science 1020 credit course and
informal instruction through Bibliographic Instruction and Research Consultation Service.

The Library, open 76 hours a week, seeks to provide a safe environment conducive to research and
study while also providing a culturally-rich environment to enhance the Southeastern experience. Group
and private study areas are available throughout the Library. Exhibits, lectures, readings, and
presentations are regularly scheduled in open areas of the Library. The Library houses a computer lab,
the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, a mathematics lab, the iHub, and a coffee shop.