1. K-State home
  2. »Office of the Provost
  3. »University Handbook
  4. »University Handbook, Section J: Major University Resources and Educational Services

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

University Handbook, Section J:
Major University Resources and Educational Services

(July 2006 and 2/22/18, revisions)

Library Resources - University Libraries:

Organization and Holdings

J1 Hale Library is the central unit of the university library system. It is supplemented by four branch libraries on campus:

Fiedler Engineering Library

Weigel Library of Architecture and Design
Physics and Mathematics
Veterinary Medicine

In addition, faculty, staff, and students at Kansas State University Polytechnic are supported by a library on that campus.

J2 The Libraries house close to 2.5 million volumes with an increasingly electronic collection. In addition to the general collections, the Libraries contain a federal government depository collection, curriculum materials and juvenile literature collection; an extensive microforms collection; and a media collection of records, tapes, and slides. Hale Library subscribes to a current list of approximately 12,000 journals. The Morse Department of Special Collections houses rare books, manuscripts, and the University Archives. Strengths of the collection include cookery, milling and grain science, military history, state and university history, and the Consumer Movement Archives.

J3 Except for the Reserves and Morse Department of Special Collections, Hale Library is entirely open stacks. Major departments and services include:

General Information Services

Government Documents/Maps

Multicultural Resource Center

Love Science Library

Anita Lehner 24-Hour Study Center

(See Library holdings, J27.)

J4 With its land-grant background, Kansas State University has always had in its libraries a strong science collection. To meet its multi-purpose university responsibility, Hale Library has added significantly to the collections in the humanities and the social sciences. Much of this material is increasingly available in electronic format via the Libaries' web site, www.lib.k-state.edu.

J5 Research and study spaces. Several hundred study spaces are available to graduate and undergraduate students as well as others in the university community. Hale Library houses the Infocommons, the largest computer lab on campus with over 200 state-of-the-art workstations.

Presidential Libraries

J6 The resources of two presidential libraries are within easy driving distance for faculty and other scholars at Kansas State University. Both the Truman Library and the Eisenhower Library are reached by Interstate Highway 70.

J7 The Truman Library (Independence, Missouri) contains more than four million papers including material on public opinion, labor, agricultural policy, business and industrial problems, and foreign relations. Special collections focus on the history of the American presidency since 1789 and the history of foreign policy during the 20th century.

J8 The Eisenhower Library (Abilene, Kansas) contains a complete documentary collection of the Eisenhower administration, with subsidiary collections that relate to public policy and opinion. Emphasis on documents relating to military history of the United States adds to the value of the collection for research in that field.

Linda Hall Library

J9 The Linda Hall Library in Kansas City, Missouri, is one of the principal centers of important scientific documents and writings in the United States. The library acquired the bulk of the book collection of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and its holdings include the works of Hook, Kepler, Archimedes, Galileo, Copernicus, and other renowned scientists. Also on file are several thousand U.S. patents as well as government documents relating to American and European engineering.

Kansas State Historical Library

J10 The library of the Kansas State Historical Society in Topeka has long served as an important source of research material for graduate students and faculty. This library is about an hour's drive from the campus.

J11 The holdings of the society include a large number of public documents and state records of Kansas. Also included is a large collection of manuscripts relating to prominent papers of missionaries, judges, state officials, military officers, editors, and American Indian agents. The library also houses an excellent newspaper collection, which emphasizes regional publishing.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Central Plains Region

J12 One of the 14 NARA facilities in the United States is in Kansas City, Missouri. Significant materials in the Kansas City center focus on records of the Plains states that are of regional, genealogical or general historic interest. http://www.archieves.gov/central-plains/kansas-city/index.html

Document Delivery and Consortial Agreements

J13 To take advantage of the library resources around the globe, access to items not owned by the Libraries is provided by Interlibrary Services. They obtain books, conference papers, dissertations/thesis, and periodical articles from libraries or other suppliers. Most items may be obtained at no cost.

The Libraries also participate in several consortial agreements that expand our access to collections, including the Greater Western Library Alliance and the Center for Research Libraries.

J14 The six state-supported universities in Kansas permit direct borrowing by students and faculty from other Kansas Board of Regents institutions and the Libraries has reciprocal borrowing agreements with other institutions including the Big 12 libraries.

Publishing and Printing Sources and Services

J20 University Publications. The university issues many publications, some regularly and some only occasionally. They are classified as:

Academic-including the General, Student, and Summer School
Bulletins and special brochures
Extension
Internal (InView)
Official reports of the university
Research
Special areas

J21 Also included are:

Campus maps
Landon Lecture Series speeches
Career publications for prospective students
Dedication brochures and other special publications

J22 The Office of University Publications, 5 Anderson Hall, is the originating source of all publications bearing the university's name except for those produced by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the K-State Research and Extension Service, the Engineering Experiment Station, Student Publications, Inc., and for such publications as the Kansas State Engineer, Journal of the West, and the Kansas Quarterly, which have professional editors or advisors.

(Agricultural Experiment Station publications are discussed in G37-38; K-State Research and Extension Service publications in H4.)

J23 K-State Printing Services. The services of the university printing facility, located at off-campus location with an office in the Union, include printing and paper cover binding.

J24 Individuals may not purchase these services, because payment must be made by the university unit requesting the service. In addition, K-State Printing Services is responsible for the central handling of second-and third-class bulk mailings.

J25 Printing and binding. State law requires that printing and binding paid from university funds shall be done in state-owned plants except for binding services listed in state purchasing contracts. Therefore, unless specific exceptions are approved in advance, all university work must be done by the K-State Printing Services or at the state printing plant in Topeka. Departments may not have printing or binding done by commercial concerns (except vendors listed in state contracts), unless permission is obtained from the state printer.

J26 Departments wishing binding of publications, journals, or other items should request the university librarian to arrange for this service from the state printer or state contract vendors. Unless other arrangements are made in advance, private papers bound at the expense of the university become the property of the university.

J27 Library holdings of university publications. Printing Services transmits to Hale Library two copies of all material it prints. The library files all printed programs or events sponsored by the university or any of its colleges or other units, and any other matter of historic interest. Deans' offices are responsible for collecting and transmitting to the library all other printed matter in this classification. The State Library in Topeka also is a depository for material published by Kansas State University.

J28 The Regents Press of Kansas. The Regents Press of Kansas represents the six state institutions of higher learning: Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University, Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, and the Wichita State University. The Regents Press was founded July 1, 1976, through an enabling resolution passed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The University Press of Kansas, which had existed since 1967, was absorbed into the new organization.

J29 Administrative control of the Regents Press rests with the Board of Trustees, which is composed of the academic vice presidents of the sponsoring institutions. The Press's chief executive officer is the director, who is assisted in editorial decisions by a 12-member editorial committee. Two faculty members from each of the universities serve on the committee; in addition, two alternate members from each campus are chosen. The press offices are located on the campus of the University of Kansas, Watson Library, Lawrence, Kansas 66045.

J30 The Press welcomes submission of manuscripts by members of the Kansas State University faculty, as well as by other scholars and individuals.

Communication and Information Services

Division of Communications and Marketing

J40 The Division of Communications and Marketing in 128 Dole Hall is responsible for preparing and distributing information on activities of the university. The office coordinates communications between the university and the public through these offices:

J41 Extension Information (Umberger Hall) (See H4.) 

Extension Radio-Television-Film, including radio station KKSU, and the
Wichita Extension Television Project (McCain Auditorium and Dole Hall) 
Sports Information (Bramlage Coliseum)
Photographic Services (Power Plant)
Printing Services (Off-campus location and office in the Union)
KSDB-FM Radio
The Public Information Office, Planning and Resource Development Section, 
Global Campus (College Court Building) (09-08-14, revision)

J42 Use of the appropriate news office is encouraged for the release of news to the public. Faculty members are urged to consult News and Communication Services for assistance on matters related to the dissemination of information through the use of mass media. Many university projects have important news value, which can be realized through stories prepared for and appearing in the print media or through radio and television programs. The university radio station, KKSU, provides an outlet for the immediate release of information, as well as a means of bringing educational or cultural programs to the attention of the public.

J43 Division of News and Communications is the official outlet for stories related to policy and administration, as well as the principal outlet for general news items and features on university activities. Faculty members may not release items upon which official approval by the Kansas Board of Regents is still pending. News releases of Faculty Senate actions are made through its officers after consultation with the president of the senate and the president of the university.

J44 K-Statement, an all-university newsletter, is published by Division of News and Communications biweekly during the regular school year. This newsletter reports the activities of the university of special interest to the faculty, unclassified professionals, and all other staff.

Sports Information

J45 The Sports Information Office is responsible for releasing to the public, through the press and other communication media, news on Kansas State University sports events and related activities, and coordinates the media coverage at Kansas State University's home sports events.

Photographic Services

J46 Faculty and unclassified professionals and students have access to photographic services for camera work, photo processing, slides, thesis prints, photography-on-location, and similar photographic needs related to university-sponsored projects. Also available for purchase by interdepartmental requisition are color slide and color print films, black and white films, photographic print papers, and chemicals for black and white processing and printing.

Educational Resources (See Planning and Analysis, F25.)

University Affiliated Service Organizations

Kansas State University Foundation

J50 The Kansas State University Foundation (formerly the Endowment Association) was chartered as a nonprofit corporation for the purpose of receiving and holding in trust any property given to Kansas State University or its students. The resources so acquired are used in keeping with the desires of donors as expressed or understood.

J51 Scholarships and loans. A primary service has been assisting students through scholarships and loans, using endowed scholarship funds, alumni gifts, and earnings on specified loan funds and unassigned assets.

J52 The foundation advances loans to faculty and unclassified professionals in amounts equal to travel allowances approved for later reimbursement under university provisions for professional travel. These loans are extended without interest but for a fee of $1.00 per $100.00 or portion thereof for periods up to 60 days. The foundation further serves the faculty and unclassified professionals in the capacity of an investor in or a grantor of resources for research.

Credit Union

J53 The K-State  Federal Credit Union is a nonprofit organization chartered by the National Credit Union Administration. All full-time faculty and unclassified professionals, graduate assistants working four-tenths or more time, and classified employees of the university are eligible for membership.

Child Care Cooperative

J54 The K-State Child Care Cooperative is a nonprofit corporation organized as a cooperative to provide child care on campus. It is administered by the university through the Department of Housing. Members are eligible to enroll children in the child care programs of the cooperative, to elect the board of directors, and to participate in determining the policies of the organization.

Child care programs of the cooperative are located in L Building, Jardine Terrace, and are staffed by professionals in early childhood and elementary education. Programs include services for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school age children on a full and part-time basis. Additional information may be obtained from the director, L Building, Jardine Terrace.

J55 Association of Big Twelve Universities In 1989 the universities comprising the Big Twelve formed a consortium designed to stimulate cooperative efforts making use of the academic resources of its members. ABEU's agenda includes the development of joint research programs and facilities, the conduct of international programs, furthering recruitment of minorities and women, sharing of major resources such as library collections, and helping to shape national policy for research and higher education. At present, several constituent groups meet on a regular basis to coordinate activities in library operation, public information, and overall university administration.

The association is incorporated, with officers including a president and board of directors. The president and staff are responsible for operations, and the board meets several times a year to decide on policy and budget. Current and prospective projects deal with such areas as food aid and the environment in Eastern Europe, the Far East, and Latin America.