For the first time, books from the Center of Western Studies' (CWS) archive collection are available for checkout by students.

CWS Executive Director Harry Thompson hopes the action will invite students to become more involved with the Center.

"I want to demonstrate in a visible way the collection is open to students and faculty," Thompson said.

The collection is housed on the second floor of the Center above the gallery, and contains more than 40,000 volumes of books, manuscripts and institutional records for Augustana College. Its particular strengths are the American West, the Great Plains, the Civil War, the age of Lincoln and World War II.

Many books were donated 40 years ago by Herbert Krause, founder of the CWS. The collection has grown over the years through book donations and purchases.

Some of the books are rare or expensive. Because of this, the library was previously a "closed collection," meaning books had to be requested by readers, and could not be checked out of the building.

However, Thompson has changed that policy.

"Students are busy, they only have so much time to spend," he said. "They can't necessarily take a half hour and use the book here. Now, students have the chance to use it at night, or on weekends."

Thompson also hopes to boost student involvement with the CWS.

The change came as a surprise to some students.

"I didn't even know there were books there, much less that we could check them out," junior Amanda Buhl said.

The procedure for checking out books is the same as the library's.

 "All you need is your student ID," collections assistant Amanda Jenson said.

However, some books are not available for checkout, because they are first editions, signed, or out of print.

Opening the collection for checkout on Aug. 25 was only one of many changes with the center. Thompson is also employing other means to promote the Center's involvement with campus life, including holding classes, selling Boe Forum tickets and displaying unique exhibits in the building.