Richard G. Trefry Library | American Public University System (APUS)

Library Mission

The mission of the Richard G. Trefry Library is to provide quality resources to support learning across all disciplines. Our goal is to assist students in the development of information literacy skills relevant to the digital era in order to promote research, discovery, and critical thinking. We offer research and reference guidance, using methods of communication that fit the lifestyle of today’s students. We support the university’s mission by providing virtual access to American Public University System students and faculty worldwide.

Library Vision

The Richard G. Trefry Library strives to promote academic excellence and professional leadership by providing quality and relevant resources. We seek to build strong partnerships with students and faculty, to promote a cohesive learning experience in support of student success and life-long learning. We endeavor to proactively promote and display the university's unique perspectives and research contributions.

Resources

Library resources are available to students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be easily accessed through the “Everything” search box on the homepage. The Trefry librarians are standing by to answer your questions every single day (including weekends and holidays). The librarian team has a range of graduate degrees spanning a dozen different disciplines, including history, business administration, education, biology, and more.

Collections & Research Tools

Articles & Databases: Over 154,700 unique periodicals and scholarly journals.
Books: Over 525,000 electronic books.
Streaming Media: Thousands of hours of streaming audio and video.
Research Guides: Librarian created guides, designed to launch scholarly research in the library’s licensed and open access content.
Tutorial Videos: Demonstration of search techniques and strategies for using the library more efficiently.
University Archives: Richard G. Trefry Online Archives consists of electronic records created by AMU/APU, including documents on the history of the university, university catalogs, commencement programs, oral histories, scholarly publications, and more.

Resources & Services

Ask a Librarian: The Trefry librarians are available 365 days a year to provide you with reference and research support through email, live chat, and research consultations over Zoom.
Interlibrary Loan: Items not found through the Trefry Library’s collection can be requested via Interlibrary Loan. Once placed, our library loan team will search, request, and follow up as soon as possible.
Writing@APUS: This resource has been designed to supplement and complement writing instruction delivered in American Public University System courses, as well as provide a writing reference resource for APUS writers across disciplines.