Mission Statement
The Eva B. Dykes Library supports the curricula by providing access to scholarly resources and services to Oakwood University students, faculty, staff, and constituents in order to facilitate excellence in teaching, learning and research, informed by a Biblical worldview.
Services
The Eva B. Dykes Library is the university’s information gateway that connects learners with information and enables the creation and communication of knowledge. It offers a variety of print, digital, archival, and multimedia materials and services to meet your information and research needs. Your current Oakwood University ID card is your library card. Services include access to more than 40 networked computers in the Computer Lab and throughout the library; wireless internet connection; interlibrary loans from libraries worldwide, printing, varied study spaces, and class or individual instruction. Librarians and staff are ready to assist you in identifying, locating, evaluating, and using resources effectively and ethically.
Resources
In addition to the print book and periodical collections, resources include thousands of e-books, academic databases and streaming media that are accessible on and off campus. Media Resources makes available to library users thousands of DVDs, audiobooks, laptops, easels, and other multi-media equipment. The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) augments library e-resources with over 40 databases for Alabama students and residents. The Eva B. Dykes Library is also the home of the University Archives, a unique research collection of historical monographs, documents, photographs, objects, digital and media materials about the history of Oakwood University and Black Seventh-day Adventism. The Clara Peterson-Rock Museum offers a visual story of Oakwood University and Black Seventh-day Adventism in the context of American and Adventist history.
Partnerships
Oakwood University students, faculty, and staff may also borrow books directly from the Learning Resource Center at Alabama A&M University, from Athens State University Library and the library at J.F. Drake Community and Technical College. Simply present your OU ID prior to checking out items. You are responsible for all items borrowed. The library partners with campus entities to present programs and workshops throughout the year.
The Library is an affiliate member of the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL), a member of the Adventist Libraries Cooperative (ALICE), the Christian Library Network and LYRASIS. These consortia offer resources at reduced cost and provide on-going professional development and training for library faculty and staff. The Library holds professional memberships in the HBCU Library Alliance, the American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, Association of Seventh-day Adventist Librarians, and the Association of Christian Librarians