About the Library

The Lewis J. Ort Library, named for its principal benefactor, was opened in 1975. The Library's primary mission is to support the academic programs of Frostburg State University.

The library contains over half a million items including books, periodicals, audio-visual materials, maps, and art prints, US and Maryland government information resources. In addition, the library subscribes to 60 electronic databases providing access to 20,000 full-text electronic journals.

The library offers a program of instruction in which students learn effective research methods in a hands-on environment. The focus of instruction is to teach students how to find and utilize information and evaluate sources for relevance, reliability and objectivity.

Faculty should fill out the online library instruction request form or call x4425 to schedule an instruction session designed for ORIE, a specific discipline or class assignment. Sessions are held in the Library's Instruction Center, equipped with 24 computer workstations.

Locating Library Materials

Quick Floor Guide

Floor 5	You will find: Circulating books that begin with the call letters P-Z that include the following subjects: language and literature, mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, medicine, and technology Older Periodical Indexes such as Dissertation Abstracts This is the GROUP STUDY FLOOR.
Floor 4	You will find: Circulating books that begin with the call letters A-N that include philosophy, religion, psychology, sociology, history, geography, economics, education, art, and music The Special Collections Room, Beall Archives and student lockers This is the QUIET STUDY FLOOR.
Floor 3	You will find: MAIN ENTRANCE The Circulation/Reserve Counter, a photocopier, and librarians' offices Library Instruction Center Public Internet workstations Biological Abstracts
Floor 2	You will find: The Reference Desk and Reference Collection Public Internet workstations with printers Periodicals in print and microfilm Map and atlas collections Periodical indexes Media collection (videos, records, tapes, DVDs, CDs) and listening/viewing booths Federal and state government document collections

Finding Materials

Most library items are shelved using the Library of Congress Classification System. The basic scheme is listed below:

A	General Works
B-BJ	Philosophy, Psychology
BL	Religion
C	History
D	History (Old World)
E-F	American History
G	Geography, Maps, Sports, Recreation
H-HJ	Economics
HM-HX	Sociology
J	Political Science
K	Law
KF	United States Law
KFM	Maryland Law
L	Education
M	Music
N	Fine Arts
P-PA	Linguistics, Classical Languages and Literature
PN	General Literature
PQ	French and Spanish Literature
PS	American Literature
Q	Science
QA	Computer Science
R	Medicine
S	Agriculture
T	Technology
U	Military Science
V	Naval Science
Z	Library Science