The primary location for all materials is the Library for International & Public Affairs (LIPA). The collection emphasis is on personnel management, organizational theory, public policy, public and non-profit management, and ethics in government. Additional coverage is included for environmental and natural resources management, administrative law, and comparative public administration. There are no geographical limitations, but particular emphasis is placed on European countries in support of the European Union documents collection. With the exception of administrative theory and ideology and classic texts in public administration, only mid- to late twentieth century and current materials are maintained in LIPA.
Holdings consist largely of scholarly journals, monographs [books], newsletters, and collections of essays or conference proceedings. Individual titles of institutionally sponsored research papers may be acquired on a case-by-case basis. Materials in public policy and public administration at a professional and practitioner level are purchased selectively. Collecting efforts in domestic public administration emphasize material either published in or translated into English. Materials in major European languages are purchased highly selectively, except in support of the international documents collection.