The Main Library's collection consists primarily of print and electronic resources. For borrowing information and procedures please refer to our access and circulation policy. For statistical data on the collection see Collection Statistics. Law material is located at the Law Library, and most of Cave Hill's audio-visual material is located at the Learning Resource Centre.

Suggestions for Purchase

Any member of the UWI community may recommend items for purchase by the Library. Suggestion cards are available at the circulation desk and from the Acquisitions Department, or you may complete and submit an Acquisitions Suggestion Form online. While the Library reserves the right to make all decisions on what will be purchased, it will try to acquire all appropriate material, budget permitting. New purchases normally require approval by the appropriate departmental head, or the library representative for the faculty or subject.

Gifts and Donations

The Main Library welcomes gifts and donations of items which strengthen its collection and support the University's research and teaching programmes. Gifts are reviewed by the Acquisitions Librarian, or nominee, for addition to the collection. Disposition of gifts not added to the collection is at the discretion of the Library. For large collections we would be happy to vet a list of the items on offer. Gifts are presumed to be given without conditions. Any conditions placed on material offered to the Library must be negotiated before transfer to the Library. To make a donation to the Library please contact the Acquisitions Librarian.

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Main Collection

The Main Collection, located on level two, is the Library's general lending collection. It is designed to support research and teaching in the various disciplines offered at the Cave Hill Campus.
For additional information please contact the Readers' Services Librarian.

Reference Collection

The Reference Collection is located on level one of the Library in the closed stack area. The collection includes general and subject specific encyclopaedias and dictionaries, quick reference material such as biographical data, compendia of statistics, gazetters, and directories of international organizations. There is a good collection of material in the area of languages and linguistics, including dictionaries of several African languages. Reference books on music, art and drama are also well represented. Current information on universities and other educational institutions is also available in this collection.
For additional information please contact the Readers' Services Librarian.

Periodicals Collection

Periodicals are located on level one of the Library. Only bound copies of back issues are available for loan. Current periodicals may on no account be removed from the Library. Older issues of periodicals are sent to storage. Users may request these issues from the Periodicals Office on level one.
For additional information please contact the Periodicals Unit.

West Indies Collection

The West Indies Collection (WIC) is located in a closed stack area on level one of the Library. This collection includes works authored by Caribbean nationals, and other works of Caribbean interest. In many cases, open shelf copies of works in WIC are available from the Library's Main Collection. WIC copies of these works will not then be loaned to readers. Material from WIC is available for reading room loan only, and items from this collection are not normally allowed outside of the West Indies Collection Reading Room. On no account may WIC material be removed from the library. The loan period for WIC material is short, and the fines are high.
For additional information please contact the West Indies Collection Service Area.

Reserve and Overnight Collections

The Reserve Collection is located on level one of the Library. Material is placed in the Reserve Collection by lecturers for use in their courses. Some of the material in the Reserve Collection may be borrowed overnight or for weekends. Because of the high demand for material from this collection, the loan period is short, and fines are high.
For additional information please contact the Circulation Desk.

The Nita Barrow Collection

The Nita Barrow Collection (NBC) is located on level one of the Library, close to the elevator. The collection is named in honour of the late Nita Barrow. Her personal papers, documents, selected journals and books form the core of this collection. The papers of the late Eugenia Charles of Dominica are also housed in this collection. The papers of other notable Caribbean women will be added to the collection in the future. Material from this collection is available for reading room loan only, and items are not normally allowed outside of the NBC Reading Room. On no account may NBC material be removed from the library.
For additional information please contact the Special Collections Librarian.

Microform Collection

The Main Library has a small microform collection housed in the West Indies Collection Room on level one. The major items in this collection are regional newspapers, and selected journals and theses of West Indian interest. The list of titles available in microform is currently being updated.
For additional information please contact the West Indies Collection Service Area.