Library boosts journal holdings

Nearly 400 new journal titles are significantly expanding library holdings and helping support a university goal of becoming a top national research institution.

Following a series of campus meetings with deans, department heads and faculty members, the library is adding new journals in two phases. In the recently completed first phase, some 397 journals already are ordered in a range of subjects that support the university's teaching and research missions, said Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman.

"We're also adding a significant number of electronic journal titles," she said. "Our plan is to continue to provide resources that help support the teaching needs of faculty and enhance the university's efforts to move into the ranks of the nation's top research universities."

Among priorities outlined by President Malcolm Portera is a ranking among the top 50 public research universities as reported by the National Science Foundation.

The libraries' expanding resources also will help meet requirements for achieving membership in the Association of Research Libraries, Coleman said. Currently, no Mississippi library has ARL status.

"Dr. Portera and the university administration have allocated $1 million annually for three years to enhance library resources," she explained.

New journal titles can be reviewed at <http://nt.library.msstate.edu/new_journals.htm>. For more information about Mississippi State's libraries, visit <http://nt.library.msstate.edu/>.