Main Library Collections
The Library holds over 500,000+ print volumes. The collection supports all areas of research and teaching at AUC, but is particularly strong in topics relevant to the Middle East and Arabic and Islamic studies. The collection is being developed actively, and grows every year. Subject librarians select new books, and AUC faculty and students are also encouraged to suggest purchases.
How to Search?
Library OneSearch (use the filters to select ‘books’)
How to Access?
When you find a book in the catalog, verify that the item is available (status = “check shelf”). Then, make a note of its location and call number.
Print books are shelved in open stacks on the 1st and 2nd floors. The Library uses the Library of Congress classification scheme which ensures that books are shelved by subject. If you need to learn how to read LC call numbers, refer to one of the many short videos on Youtube.
In each bookcase, the call number sequence starts at the top left of each shelving unit, and increases as one moves from top to bottom, and from left to right. If you need help finding a book, please talk to a member of the Library staff.
The Library’s collection of e-Books currently provides access to around 700,000 titles and is growing steadily. The Library has defined the e-Book format as its preferred format, though print formats are still acquired. We welcome suggestions for e-Book purchases, which can often be processed within a few working days.
How to Search?
Library OneSearch (use the filters to select ‘books’, and check the “Full Text Online” option)
Library Catalog (e-Books have “electronic resource” after the title)
How to Access?
When you find an e-Book, click on the link provided to access the full text. You may need to authenticate with your AUC username and password to access the book.
If you encounter any technical difficulties, please contact our support team at [email protected].
AUC Libraries provide subscription access to over 100,000 academic journals with millions of articles. These scholarly journals cover all disciplines and fields currently studied and researched at AUC.
How to Search?
Library OneSearch (search for journals AND the articles contained in them)
Journal Finder (search for journal titles only, NOT the articles they contain)
Databases (search for articles in scholarly journals within a particular discipline or major)
How to Access?
When you find a journal or article, click on the link provided to access the full text. You may need to authenticate with your AUC username and password to access the resource.
If you encounter any technical difficulties, please contact our support team at [email protected].
A small number of journals are only available in print. These are located in the periodicals stacks on the Garden Level and cannot be checked out.
Some journals are not available at AUC. You can still request articles from these journals through our Article/Chapter Delivery service.
The Library subscribes to a range of current newspapers in print and electronic formats. We also provide access to historical newspapers.
How to Search?
Current Issues:
- For international titles, search our online news databases:
- For Egyptian titles, consult hard copies:
Historical Titles/Back Issues:
- Online:
- Al-Ahram, 1875-2004
- The Economist, 1843-2015
- Illustrated London News, 1842-2003
- New York Times, 1851-2016
- The Times, 1785-2014
- The Washington Post, 1877-1991
- Many Arabic titles are online, and listed in our dedicated guide.
- Print/microforms:
How to Access?
Online Access:
- Click on the link provided to access the full text.
- You may need to authenticate with your AUC username and password to access the resource.
- If you encounter any technical difficulties, please contact our support team at [email protected].
Hard Copies:
- Located on the Garden Level
- Current issues (the most recent three months) are kept loose in a metal cabinet.
- Back issues (older than three months) are bound and shelved in the newspaper stacks.
Microforms:
- Historical newspapers are very brittle, and access is therefore provided through microfilms or microfiche. Please request access at the help desk.
Newspaper content can be difficult to navigate. If you need assistance, please talk to a member of the library staff or email [email protected].
The video and audio collections include over 70,000 items in all subject areas. They include documentary films on Quantum computing, partial differential equations, as well as blockbusters and independent movies.
How to Search?
- Library OneSearch (use filters to select “Streaming Video”, “Video recording” or “Audio recording”)
- Streaming Video collections
- Library Catalog
How to Access?
Online Access:
- Click on the link provided to access the full text.
- You may need to authenticate with your AUC username and password to access the resource.
- If you encounter any technical difficulties, please contact our support team at [email protected].
DVD/VHS:
Recordings are kept in the media room behind the help desk. Please talk to a member of the library staff to request access.
‘Grey literature’ is information that is produced outside of traditional publishing and distribution channels, such as annual reports, white papers, policy briefs, and so on.
The library hosts a large collection of grey literature assembled by the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies. It includes 1800+ items of correspondence, reports, memoranda, and/or other forms of documentation pertaining to grants from the Ford and Mellon Foundations, the International Development Research Center, and the International Organization for Migration.
How to Search?
All items in this collection are cataloged, and can be found under the title “MRC Grey Files Collection”. Please click here for a canned search in the Library Catalog.
How to Access?
The migration and refugee studies collection is located in closed stacks. Please make a note of the call number, and contact the help desk to request items in the collection.
Theses and dissertations are the product of guided research at the MA/MSc and PhD level, respectively. Theses often include important findings derived from fieldwork.
AUC Theses and Dissertations
All students at AUC are required to submit a copy of their thesis to the Library.
How to Search?
- FOUNT (full text online for theses since 2009)
- Library Catalog
How to Access?
- Theses and dissertations on FOUNT can be accessed online by clicking the “Download” link. Please note that access to some documents may be restricted.
- Documents which are only available in print are kept in closed stacks. Please make a note of the call number, and contact the help desk.
Non-AUC Theses and Dissertations can be searched and accessed through:
Our subject librarians select novels and other titles of current interest from our main collection, and display them on the popular reading shelves on the plaza level, next to the scanning stations. Users are invited to browse the shelves for a good read!
The main Library subscribes to 150+ databases serving all academic programs. Databases provide premium access to a wealth of useful research materials--from primary resources, academic journals, business data, and newspapers to video streaming and ebooks essential for learning and research. By license agreement, the library is permitted to provide full access to certain categories of users though limited access to others.
How to Search?
Full access to subscribed titles can be found via the A-Z Database list.
How to Access?
When you find a database, click on the link provided to access the online resource. You may need to authenticate with your AUC username and password for access.
If you encounter any technical difficulties, please contact our support team at [email protected].
The AUC Library is a partner in the Arabic Collections Online project. Led by NYU Abu Dhabi, Arabic Collections Online (ACO) is a publicly available digital library of public-domain Arabic language content. It currently provides digital access to 14,183 volumes across 8,675 subjects.