Library Home Page
The University library system was established in 1904 to serve the needs of the faculty, students and staff. Today it houses over 4 million items, including books, periodicals, microforms, government documents, maps, slides, electronic resources, and other materials.
The library system includes Waldo Library (Main Library) and three branch libraries: Education Library, Music and Dance Library, and Archives and Regional History Collections.
Science Reference Collection (lower level) includes reference and research sources in biology, botany, chemistry, medicine, agriculture, engineering, technology, astronomy, computer science, geology, mathematics, and physics.
Access Services (first floor) is responsible for checking in and out library material. Provides assistance for general library policies and procedures. Helps patrons located reserve materials.
Central Reference Collection (first floor) contains WestCat, the online catalog (terminals are available on each floor of the library), encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, biographical sources, bibliographies, indexes, abstracts, statistical sources, business reference sources and other research materials, primarily in the humanities and social sciences.
Instructional Video Collection (first floor) includes DVDs and videotapes for instruction. This site also serves as the focal point for campus-wide film/video tape rental services.
Copy Center (second floor) is responsible for accepting and recording payments for all library fines and fees. Makes photocopies and acts as the liaison between the Libraries and the outside photocopy company.
Government Documents (second floor) is a depository for U.S. and Michigan government documents. The collection includes publications of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the federal government (census materials, committee reports, the Federal Register, the Congressional Record, and Supreme Court Reports, among many others).
Resource Sharing Center (second floor) Research material not in the libraries’ collections can often be borrowed from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan. Faculty, students, and staff may initiate requests electronically or if using FirstSearch through the ILL icon. Assistance is available at public services desk in each library, or at the Resource Sharing Center, second floor, Waldo Library.
Maps and Atlases (third floor) includes maps from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Defense Mapping Agency, and the Soil Conservation Service, domestic and foreign atlases, gazetteers, and climatological data.
Special Collections (third floor) contains most of the Cistercian studies collection dealing with the history of the Middle Ages, Cistercian monasticism, and contemporary research materials including a collection of medieval manuscrpts, incunabula (books printed before 1501), and other books printed before 1800. Other significant collections include the Lincoln collection of books, pamphlets, off-prints and memorabilia accumulated by the first president of the University, Dwight B. Waldo; an historical collection of juvenile literature; a collection of miniature books; and the Carol Ann Haenicke American Women's Poetry Collection of Books and manuscript material.
Library Operational Services (third floor) performs all financial management and accounting functions for all library departments and serves as the central purchasing office for expenditures on goods and services other than materials acquired for inclusion in the library collections. The department is responsible for personnel administration and management for University Libraries. The Library Operational Services Office maintains a stockroom, which inventories library and office supplies to meet the operating needs of all library department and branches. The Office also operates the loading dock and related shipping and receiving services.
Stacks is responsible for assisting patrons with finding materials in the collection as well as re-shelving materials. Projects include shelf reading, shelf measurement and shelf shifting in Waldo Library and the Branch Libraries.
Education Library (Sangren Hall): includes professional and research material in areas such as physical education ad sports, counseling, educational administration, educational testing, blind rehabilitation, and special education. The library also contains elementary and secondary textbooks and curriculum guides. Microfiche collections include the ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) document and testing service materials.
Music and Dance Library (Dalton Center): contains books and periodicals on music and dance, music scores, sound and video recordings, a collection of vocal and instrumental sheet music, and the WMU School of Music tape archives. The collection also includes many general and specialized bibliographies, indexes, and other reference sources to support research in music and dance.
Archives and Regional History Collections (East Hall): University records are collected, preserved and made accessible through the University Archives. The Regional History Collections contain unique materials on the twelve counties of southwest Michigan, including manuscrpts of early residents of this area. This office is also the Regional Depository of the State Archives for public records.
Waldo Library
Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5353
Phone: 269-387-5202
Fax: 269-387-5077
Recording of current
Hours: 269-387-5155
Information Desk: 269-387-5059
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Government Documents
Western Michigan University
Waldo Library, #2030
1903 W. Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5353
Phone: 269-387-5208
Fax: 269-387-5012
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Special Collections & Rare Book Room
Western Michigan University
Waldo Library, #3016
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5353
Phone: 269-387-5221
Fax: 269-387-5077
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Archives & Regional History Collections
Western Michigan University
East Campus, East Hall, #111
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5307
Phone: 269-387-8490
Fax: 269-387-8484
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Education Library
Sangren Hall, #1300
1903 W. Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5214
Phone: 269-387-5223
Fax: 269-387-5231
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Harper C. Maybee Music & Dance Library
Western Michigan University
Dalton Center, #3006
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5434
Phone: 269-387-5237
Fax: 269-387-0605
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Instructional Video Collection
Waldo Library
Patron Services Window (first floor)
Phone: 269-387-5154
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