B.D. Owens Library
B.D. Owens Library, opened in 1983, is a service-oriented library in a 116,000 square foot facility designed to meet the varied learning and research needs of Northwest students, faculty, and staff. The library collection and services support scholarly research and provide current information that promotes student competencies concerning lifelong learning, critical thinking, communication and research.
The library’s website provides on-campus and remote access to thousands of journal titles and eBooks for currently enrolled students and current faculty. The library’s robust online catalog returns search displays with resource summaries and availability/location of books, eBooks, government documents and audiovisual materials. Course-focused guides and tutorials along with reference and citing assistance are also available. Reference service includes a broad array of delivery methods, including walk-in, by appointment, e-mail and phone. The library’s very popular “Help with Research” program provides learners the opportunity to receive personalized research assistance.
The library building houses over 368,000 books, documents and bound periodicals. Nearly 40,000 periodicals are available in electronic format. Approximately 130,000 eBooks are available through the library catalog with additional access to over 25 million items through the statewide catalog maintained by the Missouri Consortium of Academic Libraries (MOBIUS). MOBIUS items arrive at Owens Library in 2-3 working days. Interlibrary loan service is available for materials not available within the state.
Owens Library is home to several key services widely used by the University community that complement the library’s instructional support mission. The Teaching and Learning Center, which supports faculty professional development, the Talent Development Center, which offers free tutoring and academic support across the curriculum, the Writing Center, which offers writing across the curriculum tutoring, and The Center for Informational Technology in Education (CITE), which administers and supports the University's instructional technology needs, are all housed on the second floor. Information Technology support is also provided on the first floor.
Throughout the library, areas for private study and reading are available along with spaces and resources that invite collaboration and facilitate team project development. Additionally, Novel Grounds, the library's full-service coffee house, provides a relaxing space for quiet conversation and contemplation. Owens Library is fully wireless.