Location
The Von KleinSmid Center
University of Southern California
3518 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0048
Phone: (213)-740-1769
Email: vkc@usc.edu
Campus map code: VKC
Overview
The Von KleinSmid Center Library is a graduate-level learning center that supports the current and anticipated instructional, research, and service needs of students, faculty, staff, and alumni in political science, international relations, public administration, and urban and regional planning. The Library houses approximately 185,000 books, subscribes to more than 500 journals and other serial publications, and provides electronic access to a variety of scholarly resources. The VKC Library houses a substantial collection of international documents and serves as the regional depository in Southern California for all publications of the European Union. The faculty and staff of the VKC Library are committed to providing excellent service and maintaining collections that promote a diversity of worldviews and encourage the free exchange of information and ideas guided by the principles of Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The VKC Library abides by all of the USC Libraries' policies on access and borrowing privileges for students, faculty, staff, visiting scholars, alumni, and non-USC borrowers.
Directions
We invite anyone to visit our library and utilize its resources and services. The Von KleinSmid Center Library is located on the northeast corner of campus near the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Figueroa Street (see interactive map and directions to the campus). The closest campus entrance to the VKC Library is Gate #3 [213-740-3848], located at the intersection of West 35th Street and Figueroa Street. It is open 24 hours a day. Public parking in Parking Structure X is available for $8.00 Monday through Friday. Note that parking availability may change due to special events. For more information about parking on campus, visit the USC Parking Services web site.
The VKC Library is located in the basement of the Von KleinSmid building and can be reached by using the northeast corner stairwell or the elevator. Entrances into the building and to the Library are wheelchair accessible with automated door openers.
Collection Development
Faculty within the Von KleinSmid Center Library actively select print and online materials based on the research and curricular needs of the disciplines we serve. In addition, we also rely on the suggestions from our users to help build our collections. Requests to purchase books, subscribe to new journals, or obtain access to electronic resources can be done online using the USC Libraries' Recommend-A-Book service. If there is an urgent need for an item [e.g., course reserves], you can use the Library's Library Expedited Acquisitions Program (LEAP) service.
Reference Services
During the academic year, library faculty are available for in-person research consultation at the VKC Library reference desk from 1:00pm - 4:00pm Monday - Thursday or anytime by appointment. Use the Ask-A-Librarian service for general telephone, email and live, 24/7 chat reference assistance and to find information about reference services available at other libraries on campus.
Tutorials and Instructional Services
The USC Libraries Tutorials page includes interactive tutorials on how to use the HOMER online catalog, many of our most-used research databases, and a variety of specialized collections available throughout the USC Libraries. The Research 101 tutorial features six modules on different steps of the research process, including identifying a topic, identifying potential sources, and searching for, locating, and evaluating information.
The Von KleinSmid Center Library offers tours of the library and specialized research methods instruction in our Multimedia Room for graduate and undergraduate students in political science, international relations, public administration, and urban planning. To request an instruction session, use the online Request-A-Class service or contact any of the following faculty in the VKC Library: Linda Weber, Robert V. Labaree, Anthony Anderson, Katharin Peter.