Welcome from the University Librarians
Welcome to Lehigh Libraries! We care.
We live in a time of constant distraction and misinformation. We wonder what truthful and constructive information is and how well-equipped we are to identify it as such. We Librarians teach and instruct, provide reference support, and access to trustworthy primary and secondary resources to enable Lehigh learners to navigate multiple demands. We strive to assist you where you are and in a way that you will find genuinely welcoming and respectful. We are on the lookout for partners to co-develop programs and share perspectives and experiences about what it means to be uniquely human in this and other areas of the world.
Library and Collections Overview
Lehigh University has two major library facilities, Linderman Library and Fairchild-Martindale Library, plus a Library Materials Center (LMC) on Mountaintop Campus.
The historic Linderman Library is a showcase for Lehigh’s history and heritage and includes much of our Humanities and Arts collections. Its world-renowned 1878 high Victorian rotunda and 1929 grand reading room have long conveyed magnificence. A major renovation in 2005 and more recent updates in 2022 provide additional seminar rooms, research spaces, group study rooms, high-speed wireless throughout the building, and the popular Lucy’s Cafe.
Linderman Library houses Lehigh Libraries’ Special Collections with an extensive collection of rare books, including significant works in the history of science and technology and American and English literature as well as manuscript collections. Also held are deep heritage collections which represent the intellectual, cultural, and administrative life of the Lehigh campus from its foundation. Classes and individual researchers can have hands-on experience with these materials by appointment. Lehigh Libraries has an extensive digitization program and supports an open access repository, readily available for faculty, student, and community-based research.
In addition to immersive and collaborative learning spaces for individual or group work or study and The Grind@FML cafe, the Fairchild-Martindale Library holds print books and journals in all branches of science, engineering, mathematics, the social sciences, business, and education. In 2023 the library opened the LTS CIRCLE (Community & Inclusion Resource Center: A Library for Everyone), a space to support inclusivity and diversity across the campus and as a bridge to connect people and ideas with resources in a shared, community-centered space. This library also includes a recently renovated gallery that hosts a dynamic array of art exhibitions.
Complementary to our comprehensive print holdings, Lehigh Libraries offer students, faculty, and staff deep and broad digital libraries that include a full range of journals, databases, ebooks, news, streaming video, primary sources, data, government documents, and research tools, all accessible from on and off campus. Research librarians provide personalized consultations in person and virtually. Consortial partnerships allow the Libraries rapid and easy borrowing from collections located in other libraries in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia, as well as nationally and internationally.
Library Teams
The Lehigh University Library is administered by the University Librarian and the Library Leadership Group (LLG) which is in charge of setting a strategic direction to the library in alignment with LTS, as well as managing operations in Access Services, Instruction and Outreach, Library Technology, and Special Collections. The University Librarian and LLG are advised by the LTS Faculty Advisory Group and the Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB).
The Library Access Services Teams consist of Technical Services and Lending Services and provide key library services such as acquisitions, metadata and cataloging, circulation and interlibrary loan, and electronic resources management.
To get in touch with the Access Services team, contact:
Vanessa French, Associate University Librarian for Library Access and Collection Management, vaf224@lehigh.edu | 610-758-3046
The Instruction and Outreach Librarians provide comprehensive research and learning support across academic departments and co- and extra-curricular programs through class instruction, development of library collections, research lifecycle assistance, events and programs, and consultations. We think expansively about the role and possibilities of university libraries and work collaboratively to foster a spirit of inquiry, equity, and discovery in our communities.
To get in touch with the Instruction and Outreach team, contact:
Jasmine Woodson, Assistant University Librarian for Instruction and Outreach, jaw515@lehigh.edu | 610-758-4889
The Library Technology Team provides a broad range of library technology solutions and services to library staff and is responsible for planning, implementing, and maintaining the systems and applications that enable Lehigh faculty, staff, and students to discover, access, and use the Libraries’ resources. We also collaborate with other LTS teams to provide support for data management, access, sharing, and preservation related to research and scholarship for the University community.
To get in touch with the Library Technology team, contact:
Chulin Meng, Director of Library technology, chm213@gmail.com | 610-758-4998
The Lehigh Libraries Special Collections is the home of the university’s archives, local history, manuscript and rare book collections, and is open to the Lehigh community and the public. The collections preserve and provide access to thousands of linear feet of archival materials and over 40,000 rare books.
But there’s more to Special Collections than just our collections! We answer hundreds of reference questions every year and offer class instruction and research assistance for Lehigh faculty and students. We are also open to scholars and community researchers. We host events, open houses, and exhibitions throughout the year.
To get in touch with the Special Collections team, contact:
Lois Black, Director of Library Special Collections, lob206@lehigh.edu | 610-758-5185
Connect with Us on Social Media
In fulfilling the mission of making our collections widely and easily accessible, Lehigh Libraries has embraced various social media platforms. These accounts are updated on a regular basis, so subscribe to keep up to date on items of special interest, newly acquired material, and reports on recent events.
- Blogs: The South Mountaineer features longer form original written work by Special Collections staff and student workers. It highlights different areas of research that are possible using Library and Special Collections materials. In On The Subject, Lehigh's subject librarians write periodically about research and scholarship.
- Tumblr: The Special Collections Tumblr features primarily visual content, including pictures of books, illustrations, classes, or artifacts. This account will include links to blog posts as well as other unique content.
- Instagram: The Special Collections Instagram is focused on sharing items of visual interest. These images could be snippets of larger digitized works or snapshots of work. The Lehigh Libraries Instagram highlights the day-to-day happenings in the Libraries. Follow LTS for events, announcements, new tools and services, and more for the libraries, information technology, and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.
- Facebook: Follow LTS and Special Collections on Facebook to get updates on library events and services as well as albums of images from these events.
Join the Friends of the Libraries
Visit the Friends of the Lehigh University Libraries page to learn more about the membership benefits and how you can help foster appreciation for Lehigh University Libraries and Special Collections.
Contact Us
Get in touch with Lehigh University Libraries
University Librarian: Boaz Nadav Manes
Administrative Coordinator: Jen McEvoy
Your Subject Librarians
Finding what you need either online or in print can be quite a challenge. It is important that you know who the subject librarians are because they are your best resource in finding the most useful information for your project or homework.