2026-2027 Academic Catalog

Library Services

Phone: 708-209-3050
Email: Library@cuchicago.edu
Located: Klinck Memorial Library
Website: https://www.cuchicago.edu/library

The Klinck Memorial Library collaborates with the Concordia-Chicago community to provide exceptional service and meaningful research through access to an evolving library collection, in addition to academic, public, and special library resources throughout the country. The library is a growing organism where students have access to millions of digital resources, including ebooks, databases, and streaming videos, anywhere on and off campus.

The library has three floors of research space for individual and group work, in addition to a collection containing thousands of books, a Library of Things, journals, and more. The upper level of the library includes: a group study lounge, several group and private study locations, the Center for Church Music and CougarNet. The main floor includes the circulation desk, reference support, the Trailblazer Library Center with curated materials for first-generation students, a study table check-in station for athletes, a Story Time Zone for our onsite daycare and future educators, a Maker Space, and the Lib Café. The lower level of the library houses the instruction classroom, the University Archives, four group study rooms, several group and private study areas, and the Cougar Cavern, a space for student clubs to meet anytime the library is open. There are dozens of computer stations throughout the library with wi-fi and printing availability.

The Klinck Memorial Library homepage allows students to access to millions of online resources using their Concordia Connect login. The library homepage provides hyperlinks to the library’s resources and allows CUC users to utilize the catalog. Shortcuts to the library’s homepage and popular resources are located within Concordia Connect in two areas: under Quick Links on the Home tab and within the library box on the Resources tab. The library is a member of I-Share, a consortium of numerous Illinois colleges and universities and allows CUC users to borrow materials from other I-Share libraries at no cost. The library is also a member of other powerful Illinois-based consortia: RAILS, LIBRAS, and CARLI.

In addition to providing research workshops offered every semester for students and personalized one-on-one research appointments, the library team is proactive in supporting the curriculum with live instruction sessions and recorded tutorials for research-based online and in-person classes. Furthermore, the library updates the eTextbook Initiative every semester, where the library purchases as many unlimited user ebooks as fiscally possible for required textbooks to decrease student college costs and increase student retention and satisfaction scores for undergraduate and graduate students.

Requesting articles, books, and other materials through interlibrary loan is a service provided free of charge (except in unusual circumstances) to all CUC users. Interlibrary loan request forms are embedded in the library catalog, in EBSCO, and on the homepage: Interlibrary Loan Request Form. Digital copies of articles and book chapters are usually received in three or four business days. Physical items, such as books, may take longer. Books requested from other I-Share libraries can be picked up on campus or mailed to students who reside in the United States. The Cougar Card is required to borrow materials from the library in-person.

For questions or research appointments: email the library team, or download Navigate (and select Library) to schedule a Teams appointment, or call (708) 209-3050. Wireless internet, printing, and Microsoft Office Suite products are available throughout the library. Contact CougarNet at (708) 209-3131, submit a ticket, or visit the Help Desk on the second floor of the library to resolve connection or program issues.