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Information Centers and Scholarly Resources

The University of Pittsburgh Libraries
The University of Pittsburgh Libraries, Pittsburgh Campus, maintain collections totaling more than 5,964,691 volumes, including microtext. The system is centered in the Hillman Library, which houses the major collections for most of the disciplines of the Humanities and Social Sciences. The research collections of the Departments of Economics, Fine Arts, Music, and all of the departments of the Natural Sciences are housed in branch libraries located in the individual departments. Many of the professional schools maintain libraries useful to Arts and Sciences faculty and students, such as the Falk Library of the Health Sciences; the libraries of the Schools of Engineering, Law, and Library and Information Science; the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business; the Graduate Schools of Public Health and Public and International Affairs; and the library of the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. A student with a validated identification card is entitled to privileges at all libraries.

Information about books and serials available at the University of Pittsburgh libraries can be found in two places: PITTCAT PLUS, the on-line catalog, and the card catalog. PITTCAT PLUS currently contains bibliographic information for over 1.3 million book and periodical titles. Approximately 8,500 titles per month will be added to the PITTCAT PLUS database. PITTCAT PLUS terminals are located in all libraries. PITTCAT PLUS may also be accessed from computers on or off campus.

Hillman Library. The Hillman Library has been designated a depository of US government publications, as well as documents from Pennsylvania and Canada. It also receives most of the publications of the United Nations and associated international agencies. These are housed in the Documents Room on the ground floor. Access to an ever-increasing number of databases is available in most libraries in the system. The Reference Librarian in each library should be contacted for information.

On the ground floor are located most of the general service departments such as Reference and Lending Services, Documents, Maps, and the Reserve Book Collection. The first floor houses the African-American Library; the Alldred Browsing Room, which contains a collection to serve the extracurricular reading interests of the entire University community; the Buhl Social Work Library; the Stark Listening Center with recordings and tapes of the spoken word and selected music; and one of the largest computer labs on campus.

The second floor includes the microtext facilities including the complete microfilm series of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) and all University theses. Also on the second floor is the East Asian Library that supports chiefly the area studies on China and Japan.

The third and fourth floors contain the major research collections in the social sciences and humanities. Carrels are provided here for graduate students and may be reserved each term at the ground-floor lending desk. The Special Collections Department and Archival Services Center are also located on the third floor. The fourth floor houses the current periodical collection.

Library Resources. In addition to Hillman Library, departmental and associated libraries at the University serve the various professional schools and their departments. The Allegheny Observatory Library concentrates on astronomy and astrometry; it contains an outstanding collection of star photographs. The Chemistry/Computer Science Library in Alumni Hall reflects the research interests of those departments. The Economics Library contains published and unpublished data in regional and urban economics and demography. The Darlington Memorial Library is largely devoted to the Colonial period in America through the Revolution and the War of 1812, with emphasis on Western Pennsylvania. Many rare books and fine atlases from the 15th century through the 20th are here. The Henry Clay Frick Fine Arts Library collections in art, architecture, and sculpture support research in art history. Of particular interest are Oriental books and replicas of scrolls and materials covering the Byzantine, early Christian, Medieval, and Renaissance periods. Langley Biological Sciences/Psychology Library serves those departments. The Mathematics Library is primarily a graduate study and research collection for advanced mathematics. The Theodore M. Finney Music Library is a research facility containing reference works, printed music, manuscripts, periodicals, microfilm, and recordings. The Physics Library contains books and journals in physics, astrophysics, and earth and planetary sciences.

Besides the preceding facilities, the following professional schools and groups maintain libraries: Engineering, Business, Library and Information Science, Public and International Affairs, Law, the Nursing Learning Resources Center, and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

Library Resources outside the University. In general, the University has sufficient resources to satisfy the needs of graduate students and faculty. However, if needed material cannot be found, the Interlibrary Loan Services, located at G-27, ground floor of Hillman, assists students and faculty in obtaining it from other libraries. The University is a member of the Center for Research Libraries that makes available uncommon materials on many subjects. Through membership in the Pittsburgh Regional Library Center, cooperative arrangements have been developed between the University and neighboring academic institutions such as Carnegie Mellon, including Mellon Institute, Duquesne University, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, to provide supplementary borrowing and research privileges. Many Pittsburgh area libraries are open to scholars, including those of the Allegheny County (Law), Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Bureau of Mines.

Computing and Information Systems (CIS)

Computing and Information Services (CIS) provides support for instruction and research, delivers services that meet the University of Pittsburgh's computer, information processing and telecommunications needs, provides leadership and assistance in developing policy and planning for the effective use of technology, and offers limited public computing services.

Academic and research computing is performed via Digital Equipment Corporation's VAXcluster, which consists of a VAX 9000, a VAX 6520 and a VAX 8820, all running VMS version 5.5-2 operating system. CIS' UNIX Timesharing Service consists of four DECsystem 5000s running Ultrix 4.2A and a SUN UNIX service consisting of a SPARCserver 10 running SUN OS 4.1.3.

Administrative data processing is performed on an IBM 3090-500E processor running MVS/XA version 2.2.

Computing Labs. CIS operates seven computing labs on the Pittsburgh campus. These facilities offer access to over 600 computing devices, including Macintosh personal computers, DOS-based personal computers, UNIX-based workstations, and X-terminals as well as advanced graphics facilities. The computing devices in the labs are linked to the VMS and UNIX Timesharing Services via PittNet, the University's campus-wide data network.

All computing labs are equipped for wheelchair access; several labs feature adaptive computing stations for visually and physically challenged users. Call (412) 624-5061 for a recorded message of current lab hours.

The Technology Evaluation and Consulting (TEC) Lab is located in B-3 Engineering Hall. Designed for students, faculty, and staff with high-end computing technology needs, the lab offers an assortment of advanced workstation facilities, including color printing, multimedia devices, CD-ROMs, and a color scanner for microscopic slides. Consultants are available.

Three computing labs are equipped to double as computing classrooms. Faculty can reserve these rooms to provide hands-on instruction to complement their sections. Call (412) 624-9330.

Computer Sales and Maintenance. The University community is entitled to educational discounts of up to 50 percent off retail prices on products purchased through the Personal Computer Support and Service Center (PC Center). Product lines include Apple Macintosh, Dell and IBM personal computers; Apple and Hewlett-Packard printers; and software from Microsoft, Borland, Claris, Lotus, Symantec, and other popular vendors. Price lists are available on-line. Consultants are available at the PC Center to assist purchasers. The PC Center sponsors a Truckload Sale every September, offering even greater discounts on a limited selection of hardware and software products. All computer purchases include a one-to-one hardware orientation session and assistance with warranty and service agreements. The PC Center is located in 204 Bellefield Hall, (412) 624-1380, and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Computer Consultation. Consulting is available through several groups within CIS:

Personal Computers: Answers to PC hardware and software questions and assistance with PC purchases are available through the PC Support and Service Center, 204 Bellefield Hall, (412) 624-1380, open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

UNIX-based Workstations: Assistance with UNIX-based hardware, software, and network issues is provided in 728 Cathedral of Learning.

Research Computing Support: CIS' research computing support group assists graduate students, faculty, and researchers with the effective integration of computing technology as it applies to research and instruction at Pitt. Computing platforms include PCs, workstations, timesharing services, and the PSC's Cray-MP C90 supercomputer. 2R03 Forbes Quadrangle, (412) 648-7834, open Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

General Consultation: An Academic Computing consultant is available in G-25 Cathedral of Learning, (412) 624-9356, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Consultants are also available in each lab during regular lab hours to assist with using the lab facilities.

Computer Training. CIS offers free informal courses and software workshops for University students, faculty, and staff, covering a wide range of software applications and computing platforms; courses for both novice and experienced users are offered. For more information, call (412) 624-6355.

Network Services.Electronic mail (e-mail) services are available on both the VMS and UNIX Timesharing Services. E-mail options include POP services for both DOS-based and Macintosh platforms, PINE, and VMS mail.

Other communications alternatives include access to electronic bulletin boards and conferences; USENET, a decentralized news service that allows participants to subscribe to ÒnewsgroupsÓ that can be used as open forums for discussion; and VAX NOTES, a VMS computer conferencing system.

Students, faculty, and staff also have access to the Internet, PREPnet, and other national and international computer networks through PittNet, the University-wide network. Network access is provided to over 2,000 databases covering the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and statistical data. Some popular databases supported by CIS include PITTCAT Plus, the University's on-line library catalog; Books in Print Plus; the Oxford English Dictionary; Current Contents; and BESTPITT. For more information about network services, please call (412) 624-6355.

The University Center for International Studies (UCIS)

The University Center for International Studies is the central coordinating and support mechanism for the international activities of the University of Pittsburgh. As a University-wide center, UCIS supports multidisciplinary programs of research and instruction in international and area studies, linking departments and schools of the University. It connects the University and private and public sector institutions, other universities, and institutions in other countries to strengthen the University's international dimension of teaching, research, and public service. It aids students in their acquisition of international knowledge through certificate programs, study abroad, curriculum development, and seminars; assists faculty in their international research, teaching, and service; and develops and manages international programs and projects.

The area studies programs in Asian, Latin American, Russian and East European, and West European Studies provide frameworks for the systematic and comprehensive study of their respective regions. In addition to the study of the history, culture, society, economy, and politics of these regions, there are opportunities for the study of business and science and technology in these world areas. Certificate programs are available in each of the programs as described in Interdisciplinary Programs, and a new joint MBA/MA in area studies has been developed in cooperation with the Katz Graduate School of Business. All four area studies programs receive foreign language and area studies fellowships for students from the U.S. Department of Education. The Centers for Latin American Studies, Russian and East European Studies, and East Asian Studies in the Asian Studies Program have been designated national resource centers by the US Department of Education.

Other programs focus on themes cutting across all world regions and are sponsored by UCIS in collaboration with a professional school, another center, or the state government. The International Business Center (IBC), also a national resource center, is a joint venture of the Katz Graduate School of Business and UCIS. The Matthew B. Ridgway Center for International Security Studies links the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and UCIS. Certificate programs are offered by both IBC and the Ridgway Center. The International Science and Technology Program brings together UCIS, the School of Engineering, and departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The program on Regional Structural Change in International Perspective is a joint effort of the University Center for Social and Urban Research and UCIS and establishes linkages and comparisons between Pittsburgh and other mature industrial regions in Europe, the former Soviet Union, China, and Japan. The Pennsylvania Ethnic Heritage Studies Center, supported by the Pennsylvania State Government, increasingly emphasizes the international context in its work on Pennsylvania's multicultural heritage.

UCIS houses the University's Study Abroad Program and is the home of the Pennsylvania Governor's School for International Studies. It is also the point of affiliation for four organizations whose international work is linked with the University: the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, Semester at Sea, the European Community Studies Association, and the Latin American Studies Association. UCIS public service programs link the international resources of the University to the various public constituencies at the national, regional, and local levels, including the educational system, government, the business community, labor unions, the media, and community groups.

Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC)

A unique building climbing a steep hillside symbolizes the experimental environment within this center whose central mission is research on learning and cognition, instruction, and schooling. The center has a scientific faculty and staff of 94 plus 49 graduate research assistants, as well as numerous visiting scholars. Although LRDC is most directly associated with the Department of Psychology in FAS and the School of Education, it reaches out to faculty and students in computer science, linguistics, physics, English, and history and philosophy of science as well. The activities and interests of the center range from theoretical psychological research to applied work in the school system. Excitement in searching for knowledge that can support the education profession dominates the atmosphere.

Other University Centers

Other centers exist in several areas of the University to serve as focal points for faculty and graduate student interactions. The University Center for Social and Urban Research, started in 1972, is designed to serve the research needs of faculty with an interest in urban phenomena. The Philosophy of Science Center is intimately linked with the Departments of Philosophy and History and Philosophy of Science, but it also draws on the expertise of faculty from a large variety of disciplines, including medicine. The Space Research Coordination Center houses the research laboratories of faculty and graduate students from the departments of Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, and Geology and Planetary Science. The research ranges from studies of atomic reaction processes, to the study of the aurora borealis, to meteor finds in Antarctica. The Materials Research Center comprises faculty, staff, and students engaged in interdisciplinary research on the structure, properties, processing, and performance of materials such as advanced structural, optoelectronic, catalytic, and biomedical materials. The Pittsburgh Cancer Institute is an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center for treatment, research, and education that fosters multidisciplinary collaborations among scientists and clinicians to develop more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

Other Scholarly Resources

The graduate programs of Arts and Sciences are greatly enriched by close faculty ties with the various professional schools. The School of Medicine, with its biomedical research departments and its clinical areas, stimulates fruitful interactions for graduate students and faculty in departments such as Neuroscience, Biological Sciences, Psychology, Communication, and History and Philosophy of Science. The School of Education faculty work with psychologists and English composition faculty; the Graduate School of Public Health with anthropologists, economists, and statisticians; the School of Engineering with physicists, chemists, computer scientists, applied mathematicians, and sociologists, to name only some of the links.

Resources of individual departments are described briefly under the departmental sections, and more completely in the departmental brochures. Many departments sponsor joint seminars and lecture series or share research equipment and libraries.



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