International Students : Home

This guide is an introduction to Fondren’s services and organization system. We are here to support you in meeting your academic and research needs. If you have any questions, please reach out to the library through the Fondren website chat service or by booking a consultation. 

Academic Library 

Fondren is an academic library, which means that its primary purpose is to facilitate research and learning for students, faculty, alumni, and local community members. Public and school libraries cater to a range of readers, offering both entertainment and informational resources. However, as Fondren’s main mission is to support the university’s academic community and research goals, the librarians who staff Fondren use their specialized knowledge and subject area expertise to curate books, journals, and other resources relevant to academic pursuits and research at Rice. 

Organization of Fondren 

Like many academic libraries in the U.S., Fondren Library uses Library of Congress Classification (LCC) to organize its stacks. Each book is assigned a unique call number, which starts with either one or two letters. These letters signify the subject matter of the book. The stacks of Fondren are organized by these subjects.

Additionally, Fondren has open stacks rather than closed stacks. A closed-stack library has collections that are not available for browsing or retrieval by students or visitors. Instead, retrieving books is limited to library staff. Libraries with closed stacks typically have delicate, historical, or valuable items that need additional protection. Since Fondren has open stacks, our books are available for browsing by anyone. However, borrowing privileges belong to all Rice ID holders and Friends of Fondren. An exception to this is the archival materials in the Woodson Center, which are considered closed stacks. While Rice librarians are happy to help you find research material, all students are free to browse, select, and check out books at Fondren on their own.