Computing Facilities
724-738-4480

The university provides extensive computing facilities for use by all students, regardless of their academic majors. There is no charge for the use of these resources, and there is no limit on the amount of usage. All students are encouraged to utilize the computers to facilitate their studies. The computing facilities that are available include several microcomputer laboratories with over 500 IBM-compatible and Apple Macintosh computers. Small computer laboratories are also provided in several academic departments, and in each of the residence halls. All of these computers are attached to the campus computer network and the university’s mainframe computer system. This attachment provides access to the library’s on-line card catalog, The Search Bank (for full text of journals), and several reference indices, the campus e-mail system, and connections to the Internet global network. Network connections are available in all residence hall rooms. Students interested in connecting personally-owned computers to the campus network from a university residence hall room are to contact the Office of Housing in Rhoads Hall for current information.

Library
724-738-2058

Bailey Library a member of the Keystone Library Network (KLN), which was developed by the State System of Higher Education to help meet the information and learning needs of its students and the citizens of the Commonwealth. KLN provides an easy to use database for the 14 State System universities allowing access to full-text journal and periodical articles. Students, faculty, or staff at any of the 14 System Universities, or any citizen of the Commonwealth, can initiate a search of the KLN catalog.

Bailey Library offers a full range of resources and services. There are formal and informal study areas for serious scholarship and recreational reading. Information Services Librarians are available to assist with any kind of reference inquiry and for group instruction. Through online databases, interlibrary loan and document delivery services, Bailey Library serves as a gateway to many other information providers.

With total collections of more than two million items, Bailey Library ranks as one of the larger libraries in western Pennsylvania and in the entire Commonwealth. Print collections include approximately 600,000 books, plus thousands of bound periodicals. As a government documents partial depository the library houses over 370,000 U.S. and state documents. Supplementing the print collections are thousands of microfilm and fiche as well as 90,000 audio-visual items in the Instructional Materials Center, including video cassettes, CDs, slides, kits, and computer software. The library subscribes to over 525 print periodicals and newspapers from around the world.

The newest version of the library online system allows simultaneous searching of the library catalog, any or all of 11,000 full text journals, online indexes and citation databases, and the internet. All online resources are available from the library’s 100 public access computers, campus computer labs, dorm rooms, and offices. Students may borrow one of 36 laptop computers for use on the library wireless network.

Technology Support
724-738-2054

The User Services Department provides support services to the university through the provision of personal computer support with training, service and repair. There is also multimedia support for cable television, video, graphics and photography.

Writing Center
724-738-2654

The university’s Writing Center, located on the third floor of Spotts World Culture Building, is an integral part of the academic resources at Slippery Rock University. Under the direction of the Department of English, the Writing Center offers full tutorial services for all students of the university. Department of English graduate students, who staff the center, offer students the opportunity for tutorial instruction with any aspect of the writing process from generating ideas, to organizing information, to refining sentence structure, to editing techniques. Diagnostic services are also available for students who want to discover and remedy their writing weaknesses.

The Writing Center is also equipped with personal computers and printers. In addition to selected writing instruction taught in this facility, tutorial instruction on word processors is available. From freshman to graduate student, the university’s Writing Center provides a full range of individualized services without charge.