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.

Centrally located on the CBU campus, the current library building opened March 20, 1969, after students helped move most of the Library's 54,000 books. The Library was dedicated in memory of prominent Memphis businessman and philanthropist Abe Plough in 1980.

As of November 2011, our collection includes over 97,000 volumes, 300+ print periodical subscriptions, over 70,000 e-Books, 1800+ media items (DVD's, CDs, and videotapes), and 55,000+ fulltext journals through licensed databases. We share cooperative borrowing privileges with Memphis-area academic libraries (see participating institutions).  In addition, we can borrow material unavailable in Memphis 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, New Book Shelf, Current Periodicals, Course Reserves, Staff Offices/Workroom, Interlibrary Loan, 7 Public Computers, Scanner, Printer, and Photocopier.
• Third Level: Circulating Collection, Private Study Rooms, and Special Needs Computer.

CBU is a private institution and its students, faculty, and staff have priority use of Plough Library's facilities and resources. Alumni and special friends of CBU may obtain borrowing privileges with proper identification.

As a member of the Memphis Consortium of Colleges, we allow limited borrowing privileges to faculty and currently-enrolled students of participating institutions with whom we have signed agreements.

Plough Library admits the general adult public and various groups using CBU's facilities who abide by regulations of the Library and the University. Only browsing privileges are offered the general public; check-out is not allowed.