About the Libraries

Welcome to Ohio University Libraries. The Libraries has a rich history  of creating tailored and dedicated services, unique collections and diverse innovative spaces. With our strong connections to students, faculty, staff and the community, we are a leader and innovator in enabling our users’ success in teaching, learning and research. 

Our most valuable resource in advancing the mission of the University is the Libraries staff, who includes not only staff from libraries on the Athens campus, but also the Regional Campus Libraries and the Ohio University Press . Our  librarians and archivists , energized by the Libraries’ Strategic Plan and its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, partner with faculty and staff in collaborative initiatives that  support research ,  student success and  scholarly communication , as well as provide accessible  research and learning support to students .

Our dedicated staff is committed to excellent customer service and enhancing the discovery and use of our collections. Through continuous engagement with our community, we adapt our  services ,  collections and physical spaces to meet our users’ changing needs.  

Our collections consist of more than 3 million volumes of  books, e–books, e–journals, databases , photographs, maps, DVDs and images. In addition to our general collections, we hold unique materials in our  Archives and Special Collections , the  Fine Arts Library , the  Music & Dance Library  and the  Center for International Collections .

We collaborate with faculty, staff and students in building collections that reflect the needs and interests of the University and our region. We are also leaders in providing students with  affordable access to educational materials .

Our membership in  OhioLINK  provides students, staff and faculty easy access to materials from 91 other academic libraries in the state of Ohio. Materials from libraries around the world are also readily available through  Interlibrary Loan .

Our spaces throughout Ohio University's campuses provide visitors with multiple ways to study, learn, create and collaborate. In Alden Library, we have  quiet, group and silent study areas , as well as numerous  group study rooms  and active learning spaces for collaboration. We have spaces where visitors engage with our collections as well as technology-rich environments where they can  create multimedia  and digital projects.

In addition, Alden Library is home to partners from other campus units that support teaching and learning, including CoLab and the  Academic Achievement Center . We also  offer exhibitions and events  throughout the year to engage with our community and showcase our rich collections.

I invite you to explore all that Ohio University Libraries has to offer. As we continue to help advance the strategic directions of the University, please  let us know  how we can continue to innovate to better serve your information needs.