Specialty programs are offered to meet the unique needs of students living off campus in Ames and surrounding communities. Internationals attend orientation and other intercultural programs organized by OISS staff, receive advice on personal concerns, information on financial aid, U.S. visa regulations, university policies, and community resources. The International Resource Center develops and distributes cultural items from 190 countries to over 200,000 Iowans annually. The Study Abroad Center informs 2,000 plus Americans yearly on foreign study and work opportunities through individual advising, group orientation meetings, and other programs with recently returned students. Staff assist faculty interested in developing new study abroad opportunities for ISU students.
OISS programs contribute to intercultural learning and understanding on campus and throughout Iowa.
The Parks Library collections total more than 5.1 million items, including more than 2 million books and bound materials, 2.5 million microforms, and thousands of audio-video materials, manuscripts, films, maps, and archival photographs. The library is nationally recognized for its holdings in the basic and applied fields of the biological and physical sciences, and has a long-range program for strengthening collections in the humanities and social sciences. The library encourages use of its collections, services, and study facilities. Instruction in the use of library resources is offered to graduate and undergraduate students. The library provides access to local and national resources in several ways.