Some Basic Information about the Anthropology Collection at the University of Chicago Library

The University of Chicago Library holds what is probably one of North America's better university anthropology collections. All fields of anthropology and all regions of the world are represented. Areas of particular regional strength include but are not limited to South Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Most of the collection is filed by call number in the stacks at the Joseph Regenstein Library. Certain reference materials can be found in the second-floor reading room ("RR2") of Regenstein. Unbound periodicals are kept in the Current Periodicals Reading Room, at the eastern end of the second floor of Regenstein. Manuscript materials and certain rare books are kept in Special Collections. Some "scientific" materials are shelved in the John Crerar Library.

Virtually all books and serials are listed in the Library's on-line catalog. Be warned that some non-book materials are not cataloged at all. Click here for additional information on doing research in anthropology at the University of Chicago Library.

The Library depends less than many institutions on blanket order plans; most new materials in anthropology are selected. Materials in general anthropology as well as anthropological materials on North America, Western Europe, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Pacific are selected by the Bibliographer for Anthropology. Materials on the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet republics are selected by area-study bibliographers. Material on the classical world and the ancient Near East is selected by the Classics Bibliographer.

Suggestions for new acquisitions are welcome.