Atlas Collection
McCain Library maintains a collection of oversized atlases located in atlas cases on the library mezzanine. Atlases do not circulate, and their call numbers begin with the prefix ATLAS.
Audiobook / Audiocassette Collection
The library provides a small collection of books on tape and other audiocassettes. These items are located at the front of the reference area and may be checked out for a seven-day period. The call number for books on tape, or audiobooks, begins with the prefix BK-TAPE. Other audiocassettes have the prefix CASS.
Circulating Collection
The collection of books that makes up the majority of the library’s items is the circulating collection. This collection contains nearly 150,000 volumes and is arranged using the Library of Congress (LC) classification system. Students, staff, and Special Patrons of the library may check out books from the circulating collection for 30 days. Faculty, Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) students, and Masters of Theology (Th.M.) students may check out books for 120 days. The collection is located on all three levels of the library, beginning on the lower level (call numbers A-E), continuing on the main level (call numbers E-PT), and ending on the upper level (call numbers Q-Z). Some older, low-usage circulating books are housed in remote storage in Reid Hall. These are noted in SCOTTY.
Course Reserves
The materials placed on reserve by course instructors are kept behind the circulation desk. Typically, these items are available to students in the respective courses for a three-hour period within the library only. At the discretion of the instructor, however, some course reserve items may be checked out of the library for a period of seven days. You may browse the course reserve items currently available by clicking on “Course Reserves” in SCOTTY, the library’s online catalog.
Dewey Decimal Classified Book Collection
The primary classification system used by McCain Library is the Library of Congress (LC) classification system. However, approximately 10,000 books remain to be reclassified from Dewey Decimal call numbers to LC call numbers. Until this ongoing project is completed, this relatively small and temporary collection of books will be kept separate on the upper level of the library. The only access point to this collection is the traditional card catalog located on the main level. These books are being added to the online catalog, SCOTTY, as they are reclassified. Books in this collection circulate the same as books from the circulating collection.
Folio Collection
The Folio Collection consists of large, oversized books and is housed as a separate collection on the library mezzanine. Some folio books may be checked out, while others are reference books that cannot be checked out. Circulating folio books have the prefix FOLIO in front of the call number, and reference books in the folio collection have the prefix FOLIO REF in front of the call number.
Genealogical Collection
The McCain Library genealogical collection, housed with the library’s Department of Archives and Special Collections located in Reid Hall, contains information on persons having connections to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Erskine College, Erskine Theological Seminary, and/or Abbeville County, South Carolina. This collection also contains general reference sources useful to genealogical researchers, including the Baldwin Reading Room Reference Collection and resources from the Miller Family History Center. For more information on how McCain Library’s genealogical collection can assist you in your family history research, contact the archivist.
Government Documents
McCain Library is a selective depository for government documents published by the federal government. We receive print, microfiche, audiovisual, and electronic publications from many governmental divisions, including the U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, Department of Education, Commerce Department, and many other agencies. The government documents collection is located on the library mezzanine and is arranged using the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) classification system. Contact the Reference/Government Documents Librarian for assistance with these materials.
Juvenile Collection
The Juvenile Collection is composed of children’s and young adult literature. Used widely by students in the Education department as well as individuals from the community, the collection includes Newberry and Caldecott award-winning titles. Call numbers on juvenile books begin with the JUV prefix. Books in this collection may be checked out from the library. The Juvenile Collection is located on the library mezzanine.
Microfilm / Microfiche Collections
The library provides both microfilm and microfiche collections. Both collections are located on the main level near the microform reader/printer. The microfilm collection is composed primarily of journal, magazine, and newspaper titles. Some of the library’s special collection items are available on microfilm as well. Government documents, such as U.S. House and Senate hearings, make up the vast majority of the microfiche collection. The library also has a small number of dissertations (primarily from seminaries) on microfiche.
Music CD / Compact Disc Collection
A collection of music CDs and other audio CDs is available for use by library patrons. The collection, primarily composed of classical music recordings, is housed in the reference area next to the reference desk and is accessible through SCOTTY, the online catalog. Audio CDs may be checked out for a seven-day period.
Newspaper Collection
McCain Library subscribes to a dozen national, regional, and local newspapers. The current newspapers are kept on the main level in the current periodicals area. Back issues (approx. 3 months) are kept on the upper level. In addition to the print newspaper subscriptions, the library also provides access to the electronic versions of several newspapers, including the New York Times. The Abbeville Press and Banner and the New York Times are also available on microfilm as the local and national papers of record. These are located with the microfilm collection.
Onward and Upward Collection
The OAU Collection contains books related to the purpose and interests of Erskine College’s outdoor recreation organization, Onward and Upward. Subjects include camping, rock climbing, caving, rafting, and rappelling. These books may be checked out for 30 days. This collection is located on the library mezzanine.
Periodical Collection
McCain Library maintains subscriptions to over 1,000 general and discipline-specific periodicals in print, electronic, and microfilm formats. Periodicals do not circulate. The current issue of the print journals and magazines are located in the current periodicals area on the main level. Bound back issues are shelved on the upper level. Some older print back issues are housed in remote storage in Reid Hall. These are noted on the bound back issue shelves on the upper level of McCain Library. See a library staff member for assistance retrieving issues located in remote storage. Microfilm periodicals are located with the microfilm collection. For a listing of print and microfilm periodical titles available, go to the Periodical Holdings List. For a list of available electronic titles, go to the Electronic Journal Finder. Electronic journals are provided both on and off campus to current Erskine students, faculty, and staff via the library’s website.
Phonograph Collection
The library has a collection of over 450 phonograph records. The records are primarily composed of spoken recordings (literary readings, drama, etc.) and classical music. The only access point to the phonograph collection is the traditional card catalog located on the main level. This collection is housed in remote storage in Reid Hall. Phonographs circulate for seven days. Ask for phonographs at the circulation desk. A library staff member will retrieve the item(s) from remote storage for you.
Popular Fiction and Non-Fiction Collection
The Popular Fiction and Non-Fiction Collection contains current and recent books from the New York Times Bestsellers List and other high-demand titles. The collection includes both fiction and non-fiction titles, though it is primarily composed of fiction titles. These books may be checked out for 30 days. This collection is located at the back of the reference area.
Print Indexes
The library’s print indexes are located on the library mezzanine. Here you will find the print version of indexes such as Book Review Digest, Essay and General Literature Index, Humanities Index, MLA Bibliography, New York Times Index, Physical Education Index, Reader’s Guide, and more. For most of the indexes to which McCain Library provides access to the electronic version, the print index stops where the electronic version starts. Print indexes may not be checked out of the library.
Reference Collection
The Reference Collection is housed in the main reference area adjacent to the circulation desk. This collection is composed of non-circulating items that provide quick access to factual information, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, indexes, handbooks, style guides, statistical sources, and biographical sources. Call numbers for reference books begin with the prefix REF. Some reference items are in electronic format, such as the numerous electronic databases. Some older, low-usage reference books are housed in remote storage in Reid Hall. These are noted in SCOTTY.
For assistance with the reference collection, visit the reference desk or contact a reference librarian.
Archives and Special Collections
The McCain Library Archives and Special Collections consists of over 15,000 items that are deemed unique, rare, or otherwise significant to the mission and history of Erskine. The Department of Archives and Special Collections (located in Reid Hall) serves as a central location for the preservation of and access to the intertwined histories of Erskine College, Erskine Theological Seminary, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and Abbeville County, South Carolina. Items from special collections and the archives are available for use upon request. For assistance with this collection, contact the archivist.
Student Christian Association Collection
This small collection of Christian non-fiction, devotional literature, and fiction is sponsored by the Erskine Student Christian Association (SCA) and located in the reference area. SCA books are available for thirty-day checkout.
Video Collection
McCain Library’s video collection (DVD and VHS) is located on shelves at the front of the reference area. Videos may be checked out for a seven-day period or viewed in the McCain Library Media Room. The collection includes educational videos in a number of disciplines as well as classic and modern films.