Cook Library’s collection includes more than 460,000 print books and over 970,000 electronic books. Students, faculty, and staff also have access to over 370 electronic databases. We provide full access to 115,000 e-journals, including daily newspapers such as the Baltimore Sun, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.
BHI Joseph Meyerhoff Collection
A specialized collection of Jewish studies that includes material on:
- The Bible and archaeology
- Jewish history, rabbinics
- Jewish philosophy, political science, sociology
- Jewish education, language and literature, and the arts
Government Documents
- Over 100,000 online federal government documents, accessible through the library catalog and via the Government Information Topic Guide
- Includes hearings, legislation, reports, research, maps, websites, and databases in politics, law, business, education, health sciences, the environment, and much more
Books - Call Numbers A-M
- Cook Library’s main collection of circulating books, located on the 5th floor
- Shelved by subject, under Library of Congress call numbers beginning A-M
- Open stacks, intended for patron self-service
- Most books may be checked out by TU and USMAI library users
Books - Call Numbers N-Z
- Cook Library’s main collection of circulating books, located on the 4th floor
- Shelved by subject, under Library of Congress call numbers beginning N-Z
- Open stacks, intended for patron self-service
- Most books may be checked out by TU and USMAI library users
Journals, Bound - Call Numbers A-K
- Bound back issues of journals and other periodicals, located on the 5th floor
- Interfiled with books and shelved under Library of Congress call numbers
- Open stacks, intended for patron self-service
- Non-circulating; for in-library use only
Journals, Bound - Call Numbers L-Z
- Back issues of journals and other periodicals, located on the 4th floor
- Interfiled with books and shelved under Library of Congress call numbers
- Open stacks, intended for patron self-service
- Non-circulating; for in-library use only
Newspapers and unbound journals
- The latest issues of the journals and other periodicals that Cook Library subscribes to in print
- Shelved near the Leisure Reading Collection on Floor 2
- Non-circulating; for in-library use only
Children's Collection
- A collection of about 15,000 books
- Divided into the categories of fiction, short stories, non-fiction and biography
- Shelved according to the Dewey Decimal System
- Most juvenile books may be checked out by TU and USMAI library users
Legacy Collection
- Available for checkout - ask for assistance at the Circulation Desk
- Represents Towson's educational growth from a small teacher-training school into a thriving four-year university
- Also represents the history of public education in Maryland
- Most Legacy Collection books may be checked out by TU and USMAI library users
Leisure Reading Collection
- Constantly changing, titles are refreshed every month
- Includes both fiction and non-fiction
- May be checked out only by TU students, staff and faculty
Media
- A collection of audio and video materials
- Students must view video materials in Cook Library
- CDs and vinyl records can be checked out or used in Cook Library
Microfilm/Microfiche
- Non-circulating; for in-library use only
Reserves
- Closed stacks – ask for assistance at the Circulation Desk
- Intended to supplement course materials
- Available on a first-come, first-served basis
- Have short loan periods and are typically restricted to in-library use
Special Collections & University Archives (Floor 5)
- Special Collections includes original materials related to Jewish Studies, World War II, history of education in Maryland, and the performing arts.
- The University Archives is the institutional memory of TU from 1866 to present, including official records, photographs, artifacts, university publications (ex. yearbooks, Towerlight, etc.), and material related to students, faculty, staff, and alumni.