About the IRC

Welcome! The Instructional Resource Center is a self-service work area for Ashland University students, faculty, and staff. We are the second floor of Archer Library, offering collections, equipment, technology, and resources to the AU community.

Our resources support the teaching programs and curriculum of the Dwight Schar College of Education. Explore our extensive juvenile collection featuring picture books, juvenile fiction and non-fiction, big books, chapter books, graphic novels and young adult fiction and non-fiction. Take time to browse our new books area for titles recently added to the juvenile collection.

IRC circulating collections include K-12 curriculum textbooks, activity books, and materials kits (realia). Our collection is available in AU Library's catalog; tips for locating specific collection items may be found in our Library Guides and IRC FAQs pages.

IRC technology includes computers, scanners, access to a campus print quota printer, and a poster printer. Equipment resources include a sheet and roll laminator, binding, button makers, and Ellison Die Cut Machines with an extensive library of dies.

Interested in what Ellison dies are available? Visit our Pinterest site(link is external).

Working in the IRC? A selection of materials & supplies are available for purchase.

Need help? IRC staff are available to help, in-person and online. Use the chat widget on this page.

What's new?The IRC is now on Instagram(link is external)!

Connect with us on social media

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Contact Information

Instructional Resource Center
Archer Library, 2nd Floor
Phone: 419-289-5406
Text: 419-938-4134
Email: irc-aulib@ashland.edu(link sends email)

IRC Hours

Monday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday:  8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday: Online (chat)
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

IRC is closed Tuesday and Thursday from 1 – 2 p.m. for lunch.

IRC hours are subject to change; hours and updates are available on the main library calendar(link is external).

Services & Pricing

The Instructional Resource Center is open to Ashland University students, faculty and staff. We provide resources such as laminating, Ellison Machines, color printing, button makers, and binding. Additionally, a small selection of materials and supplies are available on-site for purchase.

Payment for any IRC purchase, including account numbers for department transfer of funds, is required at point-of-sale.

We are unable to accept bills larger than $20 for payment of IRC services.

Binding 75¢ - Includes cover sheet(s)
Binding - comb only 50¢ each
Bulletin Board Paper 15¢ per foot - all colors
Button maker: 1 ⅝ inch button 20¢ per button, 5¢ per additional plastic cover
Button maker: 2 ⅓ inch button 25¢ per button, 5¢ per additional plastic cover
Button maker: 3 ⅛ inch button 30¢ per button, 5¢ per additional plastic cover
Construction paper 5¢ per sheet
Ellison Die Cuts- our paper 1¢ per cut = any of our paper
Ellison Die Cuts- own paper Use own paper = free
Ellison Die Cuts - our poster board $1 per board = use to cut
Laminating $1 per sheet, sheet laminator
Laminating $1 per foot, roll-top laminator
Poster & Tag board $1 per sheet
Sentence Strips 5¢ for two

Ask the IRC

The Instructional Resource Center provides chat and text service to students, faculty, and staff at Ashland University. Questions? Ask the IRC is staffed by the curriculum librarian and Instructional Resource Center (IRC) student workers.

Why chat?

Sometimes questions arise when you are working online in your dorm, somewhere on campus, or even off campus. Chat provides opportunity to connect with the IRC quickly and easily.

Review the following policy statements as they pertain to Ask the IRC chat and text:

  • Ask the IRC can help with questions about Instructional Resource Center collections including children’s books, K-12 curriculum textbooks and activity books, IRC circulating items such as materials kits.
  • Ask the IRC will be able to provide basic information about available IRC equipment, laminators and Ellison Machines and die collections, and technology resources.
  • Ask the IRC chat requests users provide a name to begin a chat session; nicknames may be used and anonymous chat sessions are available. When anonymous, users will be given a general “Guest” distinction during the chat session.
  • Ask the IRC can help with general library reference questions. If the question involves research, including database searching and ILL, users may be directed to make an appointment with an AU Librarian.
  • Ask the IRC will not conduct research for users. We will try to provide suggestions to begin the process directing users to databases, LibGuides, AU Library and IRC FAQs pages, and the AU Library and IRC web site.
  • Ask the IRC can help with general library questions. If the inquiry involves circulation or reserves, users may be directed to the main library information desk.
  • Ask the IRC is not able to renew books, recall or retrieve library materials, or place OhioLINK requests. We will be able to direct users (phone, email, reference forms) to library faculty and staff that will be able to help.
  • Ask the IRC chat transcripts are available at the end of every session, users will need to provide a valid email address to receive the transcript.

Ashland University students using Ask the IRC chat are expected to adhere to Ashland University Student Conduct guidelines detailed in the student handbook.

Ask the IRC chat will not tolerate inappropriate behavior including, but not limited to, actions that are threatening, obscene, objectionable, bullying, or illegal. Chats deemed inappropriate will be immediately terminated by the chat operator. Any failure to comply with this policy may result in users being blocked from chat.

Ask the IRC reserves the right to not answer questions that do not follow our policy guidelines.