The Library…

The James M. Milne Library's collection of over 550,000 volumes is the second largest within the 13 SUNY colleges of arts and sciences. In addition to its rich and varied general collection, the library includes U.S. government documents, maps, children's books, audiovisual materials (videos, CDs, tapes, and teaching aid units), nineteenth-century textbooks, and College archival materials. The spacious facility accommodates both individual and group study and includes a 40-station computer lab. Laptops are available for use within the library, which is networked for wireless access.

Serving as a gateway to resources beyond the library's walls, the library offers access to a wide variety of electronic reference sources, including OSCAR (the library's on-line catalog), encyclopedias and periodical indexes, many of which contain the full text of magazine, journal, and newspaper articles. The web site links users to the online catalogs of other libraries, to their digitized collections (where available), and to the world of information on the Internet. These resources may be accessed through more than 20 workstations in the Reference area. Students are able to borrow from the library at Hartwick College as well as from any library in the SUNY system. Materials in other library collections can be requested through interlibrary loan.

Library staff guide students individually at the reference desk, offer credit courses, and instruct classes in methods of research at the request of teaching faculty. An electronic classroom adjacent to the Reference Area allows hands-on learning at 18 work-stations for the library instruction program.

Biological Field Station…

The Biological Field Station is a facility of the State University College at Oneonta. The main laboratory is located on Otsego Lake just north of the Farmer's Museum in Cooperstown. It is uniquely situated to provide excellent opportunities for field studies by advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The lab serves as a focus for analytical procedures essential for research activities in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. It houses collections of local flora and fauna acquired during research activities. There is a large aquarium room, a unique multipurpose laboratory, three analytical laboratories and a library creating a compact and versatile research complex. There are over 10 boats ranging from 14-foot aluminum "john boats" to the specially fitted 45-foot research vessel, Anodontoides.

The Lake and more than 2,500 acres of woodlands, bogs, marshes and ponds provide resources for research experiences in field biology to students in our academic programs.

Cooperstown Graduate Program…

The Cooperstown Graduate Program is located a mile outside the Village of Cooperstown, adjacent to the New York State Historical Association (NYSHA). The CGP building, overlooking Lake Otsego, houses classrooms, faculty offices, graphics and computer work space, wood shop, photo suite, and a student lounge.

Our co-sponsor institution NYSHA, provides both spaces for learning laboratories as well as staff who serve as adjunct professors. NYSHA's research library is a repository of over 80,000 volumes specializing in American history, art, material culture, museum studies and 19th-century traditional craft processes and agriculture. CGP students use this library for directed reading and research purposes.

At the State University in Oneonta, students have access to a 525,000-volume library, an extensive on-line computer network, and numerous lectures and special programs.

Fenimore Art Museum houses a collection of fine, decorative, folk and Native American art.

The Farmers' Museum, a living history site, captures life in upstate New York in the mid-nineteenth century. Both of these institutions provide opportunities for students to work in all areas of the museum field, including: curatorial, conservation, education, public programming, and administration.

Other facilities used by students at the program include the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Hyde Hall Historic Site, Hanford Mills Museum, as well as nearby institutions such as the Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute in Utica and Historic Deerfield. Students choosing internships or independent study courses at these institutions can put to use ideas and theories learned in areas of collections care and management, exhibit development, public programming and administration.

While relationships have been formed with numerous local and regional institutions, students are also encouraged to find other organizations that would provide an opportunity for a valuable museum experience.