The Linus A. Sims Memorial Library is the primary repository for the University's learning/information resources. Although a few departments maintain course-specific materials locally (e.g., the Teacher Education Center, the Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, and Nursing Skill Labs and Computer Labs), Sims Memorial Library and its branch, the Baton Rouge Nursing Center Library (see below), maintain the resources to support teaching and learning in all the disciplines. In addition to resources in various physical formats (books, periodicals, documents, microforms, videotapes, films, DVDs, CDs, slides, etc.), the Library controls access to all of the electronic learning/information resources either owned or leased by the University or made available through the Louisiana academic library network consortium (LOUIS).

Sims Memorial Library also provides the many research services that support student and faculty teaching, learning, and research. The facilities, resources, and services of the Library, as outlined in the Sims Memorial Library brochure and that of the Baton Rouge Nursing Center Library are appropriate to support the mission of the University. This is evident in the recognition that the Library and its staff have received; one example, the Library's Ask A Librarian Live service was awarded the 2003-2004 Tutor.com Innovator Award for Most Innovative Virtual Reference Web Site Design, presented at the American Library Association Conference. The excellence of Library resources and services is also confirmed in the various reviews that are done of academic programs, e.g., accreditation reviews, academic programs review, new degree proposals to the Louisiana Board of Regents, etc; in all cases, Library resources have been judged to be appropriate.

Sims Memorial Library prides itself on its excellent service philosophy and its cadre of talented and proactive faculty and support staff, working in a comfortable and inviting environment. The Library, which comprises approximately 138,000 square feet, was constructed in 1985 and opened in 1986, and offers more than adequate space for its students and faculty. Eleven study rooms, 70 faculty and graduate student carrels, 860 seats (not including computer or classroom seating), and 205 computers scattered throughout the Library, including a Computer Lab sponsored and supported by the Student Government Association, ensure that access to print and electronic resources, as well as adequate areas for study, are available. Wireless technology allows students to use laptops anywhere in the Library, and a number of laptops may be borrowed for in-house use. On- and off-campus access to the online catalog, databases, and electronic resources is available through the Library's web page. Web usage statistics demonstrate a steady annual increase in user access. The Reference Department was completely renovated in 1997-98, and a third state-of-the-art classroom was created out of a display area in 2003.

In addition to roomy Reference and Serials Departments, which offer a combined total of 52 computers linking to the online catalog, electronic materials, and the Internet, the Library houses a federal and state government document depository, which receives approximately 40% of available federal publications. Recent evaluations of both the federal and state document collections were highly complimentary of the collection and services. The Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies, housed in the Library but under the administration of the College of Arts and Sciences, includes among its holdings Sims' rare books and special collections, which are included in the online catalog, as well as the University's archives. The Media Department maintains the University's audiovisual collection, and provides listening stations and viewing rooms.

Reference services, in addition to the traditional reference desk, telephone, and e-mail inquiries, include a 24-hour, seven-day a week virtual reference service, provided during fiscal year 2004 in collaboration with Loyola University New Orleans, using Tutor.com software, which enables the librarian to co-browse web sites with the patron. This service began in 2002 as a pilot project with the University of New Orleans, initiated by Sims Library, with limited hours of service. The Library also offers appointment-based reference, with a reference librarian providing more in-depth and personalized service.

Special accommodations for patrons with disabilities include adaptive computer equipment and software, including JAWS screen reader, speech recognition and dictation software, screen text-enlarger, text scanner and reader, and large-print keyboard, which provide access to the Library's resources, the Internet, and office computer software. A magnifying reader is available as well.

Services
Sims Memorial Library provides a wide variety of services that reflect its mission “to support the University community and to promote information literacy and lifelong learning within the region.” General Library information may be found in the Library's informational brochure. Pertinent services and statistics follow:

• Hours of Operation: 87 hours per week; extended hours during examination periods.
• Circulation (2002/2003): 35,742 books; 10,699 media.
• Reserves (2002/2003): 9,392 regular; 28,876 electronic.
• Interlibrary Loan (2002/2003): 4,063 borrowed; 5,618 loaned.
• Reference inquiries (2002/2003): 1,316 per week (average).
• Gate count (2002/2003): 297,152.
• Internet Accessibility: On- and off-campus access to online catalog, databases, and electronic resources. On-campus access is high-speed. Web hits (2003/2003): 3,488,962.
• Information and other presentations to groups (2002/2003): 254 presentations, 5,887 attendees.
• Bibliographic Instruction: Individual, course-specific, and for-credit instruction in bibliographic research. See Comprehensive Standard 3.8.2 for details.
• Depository (Partial) for U.S. and Louisiana State Documents: 211,412 items.
• Virtual Reference Service: 24/7 virtual reference assistance available.
• Appointment-Based Reference Service.

Learning/Information Resources
The learning/information resources of Sims Memorial Library include print and electronic monographs and books, print and electronic journals, federal and state documents, microforms, maps, sound recordings, videos, DVDs, and slides, as well as the equipment for their use. The resources are included in the web-based SIRSI Unicorn system online catalog. As of June 2003, the holdings amounted to 375,450 bound volumes, 2,375 serial subscriptions, 211,411 government documents, 780,495 microform units, and 48,979 audiovisual materials. Last year (2002/2003), Sims Library spent $1,120,355 on resources, and received $89,602 in grant funding for a variety of projects.

The Baton Rouge Nursing Center Library
The Baton Rouge Nursing Center Library, a separate facility located in the Baton Rouge Nursing Center some forty miles to the west of the Hammond campus, primarily supports the research needs of the upper-division Nursing students and faculty, although general reference materials are also housed there. All services available at Sims Library are also available to the Baton Rouge students and faculty, and fax and electronic delivery of journal articles link the two facilities' collections. The Baton Rouge Nursing Center Library is staffed by a Health Sciences Librarian, who spends approximately one day a week in Hammond, and a Library Specialist hired and supervised by the School of Nursing, along with student workers.

The above rationale demonstrates that the learning/information resources owned by Southeastern and housed in Sims Memorial Library and the Baton Rouge Nursing Center Library, combined with other resources available through consortium libraries, interlibrary loan, and document delivery, are appropriate to and adequate for the teaching, research, and service mission of the University.