Folsom Facts
The Building
The Richard G. Folsom Library opened in 1976, making it the 6th library location since the Institute's founding in 1824. It was designed by architects Quinlivan, Pierik and Krause. The total cost was $6.9 million. It is named for Richard Gilman Folsom, then president of Rensselaer.
Metrics
- Over 385,000 bound volumes (books/journals)
- Aproximately 225 print journal subscriptions
- Over 34,000 electronic journals
- Over 50,000 electronic books
- Seating for 1,000 patrons
Something for Everyone...
- DVDs on 2nd floor/north
- Travel books and current popular books on 2nd floor/west
- New Books on 2nd floor/east
- Library Cafe on 2nd floor/southeast
- Outside balcony on 2nd floor/west
- CDs on 3rd floor/southwest
- Spectacular view of downtown Troy on 4th floor/west
- Wireless Internet access on all floors
If We Don't Have It, You Can Still Get It
Document
Delivery/Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
If you have found a citation for a book or a journal article,
conference
paper, technical report or patent that we don't have, we will
virtually
scour the globe to find it
for you. Just register
as an ILLIAD user by clicking on the ILLIAD link on under
Services on RensSearch.
CaDiLAC
Through the Capital District Library Access Catalog, available
on CD and online, you can get information about the holdings of
more than 50 area libraries within driving distance of Troy.
These include academic, public, law, medical and technical
libraries, jointly holding more than 8 million book and
35,000
periodical titles. You can borrow books directly from these
libraries, with a Direct
Access Card (DAP) available at the Folsom or Architecture
Service Desk.
ConnectNY
ConnectNY is a combined catalog of 14 cooperating academic
libraries, with over 5 million titles, that allows you to
borrow materials from other ConnectNY libraries if we do not
own the book or if our copy is unavailable.
RensSearch: Rensselaer Libraries' Information Gateway
RensSearch uses Web-based technology to provide you with a variety of services including:
- Online Catalog
- Databases
- Electronic Full-Text Journals
- Online Interlibrary & ConnectNY Requests
For more information, contact the Folsom Library Reference
Desk staff (276-8320) or lib-support@rpi.edu
All This and a Great View Too!
Folsom Library is perfectly situated to provide a tremendous
viw of the Hudson Valley and
the Capital region. Visit the Class of '96 Reading Room on
the west side of second floor to enjoy a good book or current
magazine, a comfortable chair, and wonderful scenery. The view
only gets better on the upper floors. So, for a study break,
revive your circulation by climbing the stairs to the 4th floor
and stretch your eyes by looking as far into the distance as
you can.
Maintained by Bob Mayo.
Photography by Matt Benzing.
