Collections

Article Databases
Article databases contain thousands of articles, often from peer-reviewed journals. These databases allow you to search for articles for your research purposes to find meaningful and relevant information. Some databases are more general in nature, featuring articles from many disciplines, while others are focused on specific subjects and interests. You can find databases alphabetically or by subject. You can also do a quick search that searches the most popular databases.
Current Periodicals
We maintain a large collection of current magazines, newspapers, and on-line journals.
DigitalCommons@CalPoly
The Digital Commons is the university's institutional repository, collecting, preserving, and providing online access to full-text scholarly work created by students, faculty, and administrators at Cal Poly. The repository also provides online access to relevant full-text documents created by research centers, conferences, and institutes at Cal Poly. Members of the Cal Poly academic community are invited to contribute completed scholarship for long-term preservation and worldwide electronic accessibility through the DigitalCommons.
GIS and Maps
We have a comprehensive collection of GIS and mapping resources which can be of use to any major.
Reference Collection
The reference collection consists of handbooks, encyclopedias, indexes, and other resources that can help answer factual questions or provide you with references for further reading. Many reference materials are now available online. For suggested resources, try our research guides.
Senior Projects and Master's Theses
Senior projects and master's theses created by Cal Poly students are submitted to the Kennedy Library from each academic department and become part of our collection.
Special Collections
The Special Collections Department contains primary source collections in disciplines taught at Cal Poly, including architecture and the built environment of California; fine printing and graphic arts; and local, regional and California history, with a special emphasis on ethnic studies and environmental history.
Teachers' Resource Collection
The Teachers' Resource Collection (TRC, formerly Learning Resource Collection) on the second floor of the Kennedy Library, provides access to contemporary educational resources that support the curriculum in the College of Education and associated colleges, contribute to research in education theory, curriculum design and assessment, and foster innovation and change in the field of education.
University Archives
The University Archives contains original archival materials documenting the history, growth and development of Cal Poly from its founding in 1901 to the present day, including vintage photographs, campus newspapers, course catalogs, yearbooks, and other archival materials. Located in the Special Collections department, University Archives web pages will debut Fall 2008.