American Studies

KBR has an extensive collection of paper and electronic sources, which makes it the perfect base for anyone who is doing research in social sciences or humanities in the United States. You can consult this collection in the General Reading Room.

The Center for American Studies was founded in 1965. It was set up to manage and expand the limited collection of American Studies which the Fulbright Commission had entrusted to the library and which contained, at the time, around 1,000 volumes.

The collection

On paper: The Library of American Studies

This collection comprises some 30,000 titles on social sciences and humanities including publications on literature, history, (international) politics, arts, film, music, law, religious studies, gender studies, popular culture, etc. Since 2019, this systematically arranged collection has been closed. Americana are now inscribed in the general collection of printed works.

On ultracard: Library of American Civilization

This collection contains 14,000 titles, books, journals and magazines, pamphlets and correspondence on ultrafiche, dating from before 1914; most are no longer commercially available. The collection covers all aspects of American culture from before the American Revolution to the beginning of World War I. You can find the documents in the online catalogue, but the printed catalogues will produce the best search results.

KBR is the only library in Belgium holding this unique research tool.

Consult the collection in the general reading room

Electronic resources

KBR offers access to a number of electronic resources related to American Studies. The electronic resources are available in-house and via your free MyKBR account.

E-resources on American Studies

On microfilm

The New York Times and The Washington Post are partly available on microfilm, as well as a number of journals, magazines and series.

Publications by the Center

  • List of American Studies periodicals available in Belgian libraries. Please ask for this list in the reading room.
  • The Center also published a number of publications; a list is available in the reading room.

Contact

pbagrzcbenelobbxf@xoe.or