Apply Now! Archer Library Research Award

Archer Library Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award

Archer Library and the Instructional Resource Center are sponsoring a $500 Research Award for undergraduate students. This award is in recognition of excellence in research for a student project presented during the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Symposium and will be presented during National Library Week. The award winner will be announced April 22, 2026.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students must present their project at the 2026 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Symposium. The Archer Library Research Award is for an individual project or presentation. Applicants who fail to submit required award application documents will not be considered for the research award.

About the Research Award

The research award application process requires submission of:

• Research Process Essay: A 250-word (or more) essay describing your research process and use of library tools.
• Bibliography/Works cited paper for your final project.

Documents must be submitted via the Archer Library Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award form; only digital applications will be accepted.

The Archer Library Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award will be given based on the research process essay. The submitted essay should help the judges understand your research process and what you learned while writing this research paper. Interested in learning more? Click the button below to view the judging rubric.

Application Deadline

All documents must be submitted via the application form by midnight, April 1, 2026. We encourage you to apply for the Archer Library Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award.

Archer Library Online

Archer Library Quick Links
Access to library resources remains available! We have created a simple Library Guide with quick access to OneSearch, A to Z Databases, Library Guides, Chat, and more. Scan the QR code or go directly to the guide using the link provided below.

Archer Library • Quick Links
https://libguides.ashland.edu/quick

Instructional Resource Center Library Guides
https://libguides.ashland.edu/irc

Education Library Guides
https://libguides.ashland.edu/education

Please feel free to email us if you need additional help at irc-aulib@ashland.edu.

It's back! New Books Display

New Juvenile Books 

We enjoyed sharing timely and seasonal juvenile collection displays, but are more excited to announce the return of our new books area on the second floor. Located outside of the Instructional Resource Center, the new books shelf features titles recently added to the juvenile collection. Once shelf ready, titles are placed here and remain until they are checked out - or the end of a term - whichever comes first. 

Feel free to browse the new titles. We have fiction and nonfiction, picture books through young adults.  Many of the new titles are award winners, all were reviewed and selected to support teaching and learning. New books are also posted to this blog, catalog links are included. Stay tuned for more arrivals!

IRC News: We're Hiring!

Interested in the IRC?
Visit our web site to learn more about the Instructional Resource Center at Archer Library.

Interested in applying?
Scan the QR code to access the online job application, or visit the form here. A copy of your fall class schedule is required with the application for scheduling purposes.

 

AU Campus Mask Mandates

Archer Library and the Instructional Resource Center follow Ashland University mandates and procedures for a safe return to campus. Visitors are required to wear masks indoors. 

Interested in learning more? Visit AU's COVID Response page.
 

Infographic: Faculty Resources

View a printable copy of this Infographic.

AU Library Faculty Resource Guide

AU Faculty ➤ Faculty Resource Guide 

Welcome to the faculty resource library guide. Ashland University library continues to offer online and digital services to the campus community during AU's online only spring 2020 semester.

AU classes are online, and so are we. 

This guide is a starting place for library information and resources available to AU faculty teaching online. Navigate this guide using the left menu. Included here is information concerning general library help, instruction and library guide details, directions for locating our Blackboard Learn organization sites, and a library guide request form. You will also find direct links to the library A to Z database list and our Library Guide portal.

Whether a seasoned pro or online novice, we are here to support you and your students. The guide infographic features an overview of ways AU Librarians can help. A printable version (PDF) is available. Bookmark the resource guide, we will be adding new resources throughout the term. Take a few minutes for yourself, explore our wellness resources; listen to a podcast (or two) or take a virtual tour.

Library Resources & Help

The AU Library building is closed to the public.
Classes are online, and so are we: M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Looking for Library Resources & Help? 

Start Here ➤ AU Library Online

AU Library faculty and staff are working remotely from home. Some staff members are assigned on a rotating schedule to report and manage daily in-office required responsibilities.

• Online help, including email, chat, text, and phone, are available during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact the library at 419.289.5400. 
• Library databases and e-books remain available to the AU community 24/7, please contact us if you experience log in problems. 
• Library guides, electronic reserves, and the AU Library FAQs knowledgebase are available 24/7. 
• Contact our reference and instruction team by email, library@ashland.edu, to schedule online instruction sessions via Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate. 
• Contact the Instructional Resource Center by email, irc-aulib@ashland.edu, to request a Library Guide for your course. 
• AU Library Student Orientation and AU Library Faculty Resources in Blackboard Learn continue to be available to students, faculty, and staff. Access these resources from the Institution home page in Blackboard.

Returning Library & IRC Materials

Remember to return all borrowed library, IRC, and OhioLINK materials, prior to leaving campus for summer break.

Returning after hours? Use the book drop located on the library ground floor, across from the Chapel, near the UPS pick up.

Returning IRC items? IRC materials may NOT fit in the book drop; return them at the main desk. AU Library is open until 2 am daily through Wednesday (5/3).

Library Update: Main Floor

The outside of AU Library is not the only place where work was done to improve the building this summer. Early this week, a month long comprehensive main floor reorganization project was completed.

We now have a spacious, bright work area on the library main floor with comfortable seating, cafe tables, and group tables.

Where is this located? Enter AU Library through the main doors and turn right; you will see our computer and print stations, copy machines, and the faculty publication display. The area adjacent is our new work / study/ lounge area. We have great green views of Founders Hall and the sunlight pouring into the library is simply amazing.

Print Journals:
Recent issues of print journal collection are located on the east side of the main floor (facing Founders).  Print journal stacks have been moved to the sixth floor.

Library 6th floor:
Student work areas remain on available on the 6th floor. Study areas are located on the north side of the building (facing College Avenue).

Ohio & Government Documents:
AU Library is a Federal Depository for government documents. Our Ohio and Government docs have been moved to the west side of the main floor, adjacent to the reference collection.

Welcome back to AU Library!

Questions? Ask the IRC

It's baaaaack! Chat is returning to the Instructional Resource Center as Questions? Ask the IRC.  In addition to locating quick answers about the IRC using our searchable IRC FAQs page, you will now be able to ask questions live. Ask the IRC chat is staffed by the curriculum librarian and Instructional Resource Center student workers.

Chat hours for Spring 2016
Monday - Thursday: 10 am to 10 pm
Sunday: 2 pm to 6 pm


Why chat? Sometimes you have questions while working online in your dorm, somewhere on campus, or even off campus. Chat provides opportunity to connect with the IRC quickly and easily while remaining at your current location.

What Questions? Ask the IRC can help with basic questions, such as general information about the IRC, collections, juvenile books, equipment, and hours.

Where can I chat?  Ask the IRC chat widgets are available on the IRC main page, as well as on the IRC Services and Pricing and IRC Chat policy pages.  You will also find chat widgets on the IRC FAQs page and several IRC Course LibGuides. How does it work? Easy as 1, 2, 3. 1. Visit one of the pages with a chat widget, click to open chat box, or - 2. Wait. The chat widget will open in 30 seconds. Choose to chat now or click no thanks to close the box. 3. Enter your name, type in a question, and start chat.

But wait ... there's more! Chat will also work on your mobile device

Take time to visit the IRC Chat policy page. It details information about question types, acceptable use of the chat service, and availability of chat transcripts sent via email.

Juvenile Books: New Book Shelves

Looking for one (or more) of the new children's books recently posted to the IRC blog?

All new titles added to the juvenile collection, both fiction and non-fiction, are initially shelved in the new book area on the second floor.

Can't find that new book?
Ask in the Instructional Resource Center for help locating a new book, or any other IRC and juvenile collection item.

IRC News: Updated Computers

Just in time for midterms, the Instructional Resource Center and library second floor have eight updated computers available for use. We have replaced three PCs inside the IRC (near the bulletin boards), three PCs on the study room side of the second floor (pictured above), and two PCs on the restroom side of the second floor. Access to scanners for these systems remains the same.

Remember, IRC and library second floor computers print to our print quota printer / copy machine and have access to the IRC color printer.

New Ellison Die Alphabet(s)

Two new alphabets have been added to the Instructional Resource Center Ellison die collection:

• Fruit Smoothie (uppercase), 4 inches
• Fruit Smoothie (lowercase), 4 inches
• Fruit Smoothie dies ? ! , ( ), 4 inches

The new alphabets, and additional dies, are located in the spinner rack adjacent to the roll laminator. View our complete collection of Ellison Die alphabets on the IRC Pinterest site.

Follow IRC's board Ellison Dies: Alphabet on Pinterest.

IRC: Bulletin Board Paper

We have several new colors of bulletin board paper available for purchase in the IRC. In addition to purple (2 shades), yellow, red, blue, orange, turquoise, black, brown, green, and pink, we now have autumn gold and gray.

Bulletin board paper is three foot (36 inches) wide and sold by length, 15 cents per foot. Not sure what size your bulletin board may be? We have yard sticks; borrow one to measure your board. A complete list of materials and supplies offered in the IRC is located on the IRC web site.

New Ellison Dies

The following new Ellison dies have been added to the IRC collection:

• Tractor
• Pail & Shovel
• Angel #1

Explore the IRC Pinterest site for a complete listing of our Ellison Die collection. New dies have been added to the following boards:

Follow IRC's board Ellison Dies: Community on Pinterest.

Follow IRC's board Ellison Dies: Holiday on Pinterest.

Follow IRC's board Ellison Dies: Seasons on Pinterest.

What's New? Instant Answers

It's time for finals ... and we know you're crazy busy.

Here's a quick new way to get extended hours and phone information from AU Library and the Instructional Resource Center. Instant Answers provides opportunity for you to text* specific key words and have automatic answers sent directly to your phone, tablet, or other mobile device.

Choose from the following sets of key words:

• extended hours - receive the library extended hours schedule
• library phone - receive the library main and reference phone numbers
• IRC hours - receive IRC finals week & summer hours schedule
• IRC phone - receive the IRC phone number

Stay tuned. We will be adding more options during the summer months.

*Key words are not case sensitive. Standard messaging rates may apply for each text.

Now Available: Updated PCs

Just in time for finals, the library second floor and IRC have several updated computer systems now available for use. We have replaced the two PCs near the elevator (no worries, Boardmaker software remains), the PC next to the rest room, and two PCs inside the IRC.  Remember, all second floor and IRC computers print to the second floor print quota printer and have access to the IRC color printer.

Holiday Buttons During Finals

Did you know the IRC has a button maker?

Button, button, who has the button maker? We do!

Need a break from studying for finals? Come to the Instructional Resource Center, library second floor, and make a small holiday button for free. Starting Wednesday, December 3rd and continuing through Monday, December 8th, choose one of six available designs and make your own button during regular IRC hours. Offer is limited to one button per person while supplies last. We’re excited to button up for finals!

Pardon our dust ...

Last spring the curriculum textbooks, big books, book kits, and award titles (Caldecott & Newbery) on the second floor were shifted in preparation for expansion of the juvenile collection. The collection shift project began last week and is planned through the fall 2014 and spring 2015 term. Children's books will remain on the second floor; the collection footprint will be expanded into the empty stacks directly behind big books, book kits, and award books.

During this project, juvenile books will be evaluated and a variety of dated, damaged, and titles that are no longer relevant will be withdrawn. Doing so, especially within the non-fiction portion of the collection, will help focus resources and provide updated titles for classroom use.  Some withdrawn titles will be moved to the special books collection (as warranted), most will be made available to students on the free book carts located on the library main floor.

New books, fiction and non-fiction, continue to be added to the juvenile collection; new items are placed on the second floor new book shelves when shelf ready and corresponding blog posts published here. If you need help locating a book, be sure to stop in the IRC for assistance.

Thanks for your patience during this project.  And please, pardon our dust (we will keep the noise down).