Tucson Headquarters Library - Collections

The Tucson Headquarters Library has an extensive collection of books, journals, observatory publications, and historical materials, which go back decades. 

Holdings

Library Serial Holdings

Online Library Catalog - Sign in as NOIRLab for Library Name; no password required

Physical Collections

Call Numbers and Subjects

Materials in the Tucson Headquarters Library are arranged according to the Library of Congress classification scheme, which uses a combination of letters and numbers. Here are some guides to the LC classification system:

Main Floor of Tucson Headquarters Library

Basement Floor of Tucson Headquarters Library

• Library Guide to Call Numbers and Subjects
• Library of Congress classification scheme for Q
• Library of Congress classification scheme for T

• Astronomy (QB) Books and Journals
• Reference Materials
• Writing Center (dictionaries, thesauri, writing books, style manuals) - main floor near tables
• Organizational History
• Tohono O'odham History
• NOAO Publications (AURA Engineering Reports; KPNO Contributions (listing of Contributions with links to ADS records); KPNO R&D Technical Memoranda; NOAO Newsletters)

We have several small KPNO instruments on display in our library. They can be located in our online catalog by selecting Collection from the dropdown menu to the left of the search bar and then using the keyword Instruments. Photographs and descriptions of these instruments are available.

• Books and Journals
  • Education (L)
  • Geography (G)
  • History (E and F)
  • Mathematics (QA)
  • Optics (QC)
  • Physics (QC)
  • Psychology (BF)
  • Science, general (Q)
  • Statistics (HA)
  • Technology and Engineering (T)
• Historical  Collection
  We have a collection of historical materials, which are kept in a restricted area of the library. Please see Sharon for access. 
• KPNO Instruments
• Digital Archives 
• Digital materials are listed in the NOIRLab library catalog - Sign in as NOIRLab for library name; no password required; search Collection - NOIRLab Library Digital Archives
  • KPNO Contributions Listing
  • KPNO Contribution 440 - Michie - On the Growth of Condensations in an Expanding Universe
  • KPNO Contribution 45 - Meinel - Final report on the site selection survey for the National Astronomical Observatory
  • AURA: The first twenty-five years
  • The Kitt Peak 150-inch telescope by Crawford
• Observatory Publications
  Publications from observatories throughout the world are classified in the QB4 section. Some of these publications are located in the astronomy section on the main floor; others are in a separate restricted area. See Sharon for access.
  Finding Aid - Observatory Publications