Mission
To provide the collections, services, and environments to support and strengthen the teaching, learning, mentoring and research mission of Wilkes University.
Vision
To offer a friendly, comfortable, information rich, high tech/multimedia, and service oriented environment that cultivates a lifelong commitment to learning, ethics, civic responsibility, and openness to cultural diversity.
As one of the largest resource libraries in the region, the Eugene S. Farley Library continues to upgrade its available services, holdings and facilities to better serve our students.
We recently replaced our existing databases with ProQuest Central, a collection of databases that contains journals, newspapers, dissertations and other research materials. This new collection puts more information at your fingertips, particularly in the areas of nursing, health science, business and social sciences.
The library also acquired Summon, a service that simultaneously searches all library materials, both print and online, ranking the results by relevance to the search terms. Summon streamlines the search process, allowing you to do a single search for all available resources rather than search multiple subject databases.
In addition, the library is home to the university archives, four special collections rooms, a smart classroom and a computer-equipped classroom reserved for library instruction.
The Eugene S. Farley library features:
- more than 170,000 volumes of books and bound journals;
- more than 53,000 journals and newspapers in 123 databases;
- over 1,800 daily newspapers from the U.S. and around the world;
- a collection of classic films on DVD;
- fine collections in English and American literature, history, the sciences and mathematics;
- sizable collections in other academic disciplines reflected in the University curriculum.
In 1968, the Eugene S. Farley Library was built on the corner of South Franklin and South streets. The library was named in honor of the University’s first president.
In 1972, the library sustained extensive damage during the Agnes Flood that left most of downtown Wilkes-Barre under several feet of water. The library basement was submerged and the first floor was under more than 2 feet of water for several weeks.
In 1988, 20 years after the construction, the library was rededicated.
In 2004, we created the University archives.
In 2010, Wilkes renovated the library’s lower level, transforming it into the Alden Learning Commons. It includes group study rooms equipped with the latest technology, the Writing Center, and the IT Help Desk.
In 2012, the University renovated the front entrance of the library, making it more accessible to all.
In 2013, we opened the Alden Learning Commons as a 24/7 study environment. Ongoing renovations to the remaining three floors will focus on continuous improvement of study areas and new archival space.
In 2015, we completely replaced the library’s elevator and heating/cooling systems. Additionally, we unified the IT help desk and IT desktop services groups in a remodeled space on the main floor near the circulation desk. These renovations help us provide better service to the Wilkes community.
- Administration
- Phone: x4255 | Fax: x7823
- Circulation
- Phone: x4250
- Interlibrary Loan
- Phone: x4256
- Reference Desk
- Phone: x3215 | Email: ask.librarian@wilkes.edu
- Serials/Electronic Resources
- Phone: x3209
- Technical Services
- Phone: x4258