Goldthwait Polar Library | Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center

A side view from left of a full length built in display case outside of the Goldthwait Polar Library including a ship's large white anchor, a ship's steering wheel in dark wood and a large framed fabric shredded flag and 2 side images on a blue background behind a glass display

image taken from inside the Goldthwait Polar Library with white table and rolling chairs around it in the middle of the room with blue walls and a vinyl wall length drape image and a large monitor on rolling wheels and a display case next to it on light wooden base with light wood floors and light book shelve and white portable dry erase board in center behind table and white tile drop ceilings with with some squares containing florescent light fixtures that are on

image taken from inside the Goldthwait Polar Library in the far back 2 glass enclosed quiet rooms with a wall length vinyl drape of images on the back wall with some chairs and desk inside and gray carpet, white walls and a light wood table and 2 lounge chairs with red fabric in foreground on bottom right and book shelve and white portable erase board on left side and white tile drop ceilings with with squares and come containing florescent light fixtures

inside the Goldthwait Polar Library with white table and rolling chairs in the center with white walls and a vinyl wall length drape image on right with a large lit glob on a black stand next to glass wall and a large monitor next to a glass display case on light wooden base to the left with light wood floors and light book shelve and white portable dry erase board behind table and white tile drop ceilings with with some squares containing florescent light fixtures that are on

inside the Goldthwait Polar Library taken at angle with a large lit blue globe on a black pedestal and a bar table and 2 chairs at the far wall with a white table and rolling chairs to the right with light blue walls with vinyl wall length drape of images and a large monitor on stand next to a glass display case on light wooden base with light wood floors and light book shelve with white tile drop ceilings with some squares containing florescent lights

The Goldthwait Polar Library

The library provides an information technology-enabled, collaborative space for research, workshops and other events. The library space is available for immediate use and the library collection can be accessed by appointment. Please contact cook.942@osu.edu for more information.

About

The Goldthwait Polar Library, established in 1969, contains materials relevant to the polar and alpine regions of the world. The library is named after Dr. Richard Parker Goldthwait, the founder and first director of the Institute of the Polar Studies, now the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center. Dr. Goldthwait donated his personal collection of reprints, journals and books to the Institute and that became the nucleus of the library.

The primary mission of the library is to support the informational needs of the research scientists and graduate students of the Center. Subject areas covered include: glaciology, Antarctic geology, global climate change, polar ecology, polar meteorology and the history of polar exploration.

In 2013 the library completed the digitization of BPCRC publications. They are now available in Ohio State's institutional repository, The Knowledge Bank. Future publications will be added as they are published. Reports in the Knowledge Bank are open access.
The library is not officially a department library of The Ohio State University Libraries, but the monographic holdings are available in their online catalog. The library follows their circulation policies and procedures; most of the material circulates. The Goldthwait Polar Library is the designation for the library in the online catalog.
Rare historical volumes in the library include Sir Ernest Shackleton’s The Heart of the Antarctic and The British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1909, signed by Shackleton and Sir Douglas Mawson, and signed copies of Admiral Byrd’s books, Little America, Discovery, Skyward and Alone.

Location

Goldthwait Polar Library
Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center
176 Scott Hall
1090 Carmack Road
Columbus, OH 43210-1002

Contact Us to Request to Use the Space

Email: cook.942@osu.edu
Phone: 614-292-6531
Fax: 614-292-4697
Hours: Open limited hours; please call before visiting.

The library rooms, the main room number 176, and the two smaller meeting room numbers 176a and 176b can be requested and reserved through Microsoft Outlook.

Online Frequently Used Resources:

Engineer Research and Development Center online collection Knowledge Core to access copies of Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory: https://erdc-library.erdc.dren.mil/xmlui/

Visit the University Libraries website