Phone: 318-357-4477
Phone: 888-540-9657 (toll free)
Fax: 318-357-4470
Text Reference:318-228-5150
Reference Questions: reference@nsula.edu 
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The Research Center is named after Carmelite “Cammie” Garrett Henry (1871-1948) of Melrose, Louisiana who collected Louisiana documents and books of rare fictional and non-fictional works. Here you’ll find Louisiana books, rare books, archival materials, NSU Archives, microfilm, maps, newspapers, and oral history tapes.

Melrose Plantation, the Henry Family home, provided a perfect setting for entertaining guests from diversified intellectual disciplines including literature, art, and the social sciences.

After the sale of Cammie G. Henry’s home, her manuscript collection was donated to Northwestern State University and named the Melrose Collection. This collection, our largest, serves as the core of the Research Center’s holdings. It focuses on the rich cultural, historical, and literary heritage of Louisiana and Natchitoches spanning from French Colonial times through the 1940’s.

Other collections sharing similar strengths include those of James Aswell, the Cloutier Family, Robert DeBlieux, Caroline Dormon, Joe Dellmon, the Egan Family, and the Federal Writers’ Project.  Our resources offer a wealth of opportunities for scholars. Focusing on Louisiana History, documents range in date from the founding of Natchitoches in the early 1700’s to the present.

The Melrose Imaging Project digitizes images from these collections for easier access and preservation.  Electronically imaging the Melrose Collection allows computer access to documents related to the region’s history, and preserves the originals.

To check out interlibrary loan material, you must present a valid ID. Overdue interlibrary loans result in a $1.00 per day charge per item.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) allows NSU students and faculty to obtain books and articles not available locally from other libraries for teaching, learning, research and recreation. Books, photocopies of journal articles, government documents, microfilm copies of newspaper articles, newspapers on microfilm, theses and dissertations can be borrowed. Requests are subject to the policies of the lending library.

Only students, faculty, staff of NSU, BPCC, LSMSA and Friends of the Library may use ILL.  If you are taking or teaching courses at any NSU campus you may use this service. Average time to receive a request is 3-5 business days.

NSU Libraries fill requests on a library-to-library basis; If you are not near one of our campuses, contact your local public or parish library. They can request items held by NSU or any other location and materials will be delivered to that library.

ILL is free to all faculty, staff and students. Friends of the Library pay transport fees at cost.

Procedure:

1. Before requesting a book or article, use the Library Catalog Search to see if NSU owns the book or subscribes to the journal you need. Also, check the Journals Full Text Finder to see if the article is available full-text online.
2. Click on the “Request an Interlibrary Loan” link on this page; you must register as a first time user.
3. Fill out a separate form for each item and include a complete citation. Incomplete information makes it impossible to locate the book or article you need. See the ILLiad FAQ for additional information, or contact Jackie Hawkins.

We’ll notify you by email or phone when your materials arrive. Please check the space on the request form to tell us your preference.

Pick up materials at the Watson Library ILL office on the second floor, Room 201-B during normal working hours. During extended hours, go to the Serials & Media desk on the 3rd floor of Watson Library. All materials must be returned to the interlibrary loan office, or serials desk. We can deliver photocopies of journal articles electronically to a valid e-mail address.

One renewal may be allowed at the discretion of the lending library.  If the item is already overdue, no renewals are allowed. Loan items must be returned to the interlibrary loan office on or before the due date. If you wish to renew an Interlibrary Loan book you may do so through your ILLiad account, or by contacting the ILL Office at (318) 357-5465 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30p.m., Monday through Friday.

Watson Library provides ILL services in compliance with United States Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Please observe the Copyright Restriction on the request form when submitting requests for journal articles.

Please read this carefully:

Northwestern faculty, staff and students who need to borrow nursing, allied health, or related materials should use the Nursing Interlibrary Loan form.

1. Before requesting a book or article, use the Library Catalog Search to determine if Northwestern owns the book or subscribes to the journal needed. Also, check the online Journals Full Text Finder to see if the article is available full-text.
2. Fill out a separate form for each item requested and include a complete citation. Incomplete information makes it difficult to locate the book or article requested.  

Anna T. MacDonald, Library Manager
Heather Ritter
Phone: (337) 392-3126

Diane Jones, Library Associate
Phone: (318) 357-5475

Phone: (318) 677-3007 · Text: 318-210-7036 · Ask a Librarian!