The collection contains materials in most formats in support of the history curriculum including books, videos, CD-ROMs and Internet based electronic databases, and subscriptions to journals. The reference collection includes the major dictionaries, encyclopedias, and biographical sources. There is a special emphasis on local materials. Chronological coverage includes all periods of history. Language is primarily English but some foreign language books and journals are included particularly in specialty areas.
Geographical coverage is also worldwide but stronger in areas of specialization.
Many special collections supporting the History programs are available on microform in Ekstrom Library. These are typically primary source materials unavailable in any other format and impossible to research in any other way short of a trip to the holding library. This is the area that would be most wisely expanded and developed to develop strong graduate and particularly research strengths. Another medium which is particularly suited and useful particularly for instruction in the field of history is videotapes. The library collection is quite strong in the history fields with over 375 titles represented in the Ekstrom Collection.