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Overview
The Ralph M. Besse Library seeks to provide intellectual nourishment for students, faculty, staff, and friends of the community.
Opened in 1985 and named for a trustee and cherished friend of the College, the Ralph M. Besse Library provides a welcoming space to learn, study, research, and collaborate.
An enormously successful businessman, Besse was also strong believer in the value of higher education. His fierce commitment to Ursuline College began in the early 1960s, when he helped raise the necessary funds to make Ursuline’s then-new Pepper Pike campus a reality, and it lasted through his many years on the college’s Board of Trustees, all the way up until his death 2002.
In countless ways, Besse’s essence is stamped into the very fabric of the library, but that is far from the only thing that makes Ursuline’s library unique.
The Ursuline College Library is open 7 days per week, with special hours during exam weeks and breaks.
Have a research question? Not sure where to start? We're here to help!
Article Request is a service to access articles that are not available through the Ursuline College Library.
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Students, the library has extended hours for your studying needs. Check the daily hours on our website. Also the coffee and snack table is back to help keep you fed and caffeinated during this time.
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The Ralph M. Besse Library will be closed Monday, March 9th and Tuesday, March 10th due to maintenance work being done in the building. Library Learning Commons and IT staff will be virtual on these days. You can reach us, in the NEED HELP section of our website. Visit the library's website for more information about our hours over the break.
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Thank you to all that came to visit with our therapy dogs today. There are two more visits scheduled this week. We hope to see you in the library.
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It's cold and snowy outside, but the library is cozy and warm, with students hard at work—just like this group of PA students!
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Today, let your heart burst with joy as you celebrate your unwavering passion for coffee. Savor every sip, feel every warm embrace, and cherish the fiery love you have for that perfect brew!
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We hope you enjoyed the visits from Lily, Billie, Pippa, Manny, Demian, Pal, Benzie, Atticus, Molly, and Ashley and their handlers. Therapy dogs will return for future visits. Share your favorite photos-Tag the library with your photos
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Happy Halloween Arrows!
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When using URsearch here's a hot tip...
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Besse Library will be closed on Sunday and Monday, January 18-19, 2026, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, an official day of service that celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, January 20.
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