Mission | Basic Information | Building Arrangement | Usage

MISSION

To support the teaching, learning, and research needs of the University community by developing collections in all formats, providing access to electronic resources, offering individualized research assistance, and supporting the incorporation of information literacy skills and multimedia resources into the curriculum.

Plough Memorial Library is housed in a three-story building centrally located on the CBU campus. The current library building opened March 20, 1969. Students helped by moving most of the Library's 54,000 books to the new location. Prior to the move, the Library's collections had been housed in the basement of Barry Hall since 1945. The Library was dedicated in memory of prominent Memphis businessman and philanthropist Abe Plough in 1980.

As of November 2008, our collection includes over 97,000 volumes, 300+ print periodical subscriptions, over 60,000 e-Books, 1800+ media items (DVD's, CDs, and videotapes), and 27,000+ fulltext journals through licensed databases. To increase the range of resources available, Plough Library cooperates with Memphis-area academic libraries (see participating institutions).  In addition, materials may be borrowed from libraries around the country through Interlibrary Loan.

Additional collections are available in the Brother I. Leo O'Donnell Archives.

The Beverly & Sam Ross Gallery, on the Library's lower level, offers regularly-scheduled art exhibits.

• Lower Level: Periodicals Stacks, Video/DVD Collection, BucCup, Infolab, Beverly & Sam Ross Gallery, Writing Center, Curriculum Library, Microfilm/Microfiche Viewer, and Viewing Rooms.
• Main Level: Circulation Desk, Reference Desk, Reference Collection, Current Periodicals, Course Reserves Room, Staff Offices/Workroom, Interlibrary Loan, InfoSearch Computers (six reserved for research use), Scanner, Printer, and Photocopier.
• Third Level: Circulating Collection, Private Study Rooms, and Special Needs Computer.

As Christian Brothers University is a private institution, Plough Library is dedicated to providing services for our students, faculty, and staff. That group will always have priority use of facilities. The Library, as a member of the Memphis Consortium of Colleges, also allows limited borrowing privileges to faculty and currently enrolled students of participating institutions with whom we have a signed agreement.

Alumni and special friends of CBU may obtain borrowing privileges with proper identification.

Plough Library is open to the general adult public and various groups using CBU's facilities who abide by regulations of the Library and the University. This group has only browsing privileges and may not check out library materials.