As an essential partner in the University of Louisville’s mission to become a premier, nationally-recognized, metropolitan university, the Libraries meet the information literacy and research needs of a diverse population.
The University of Louisville Libraries hold membership in the Association of Research Libraries and provide access to collections of over 2.2 million volumes and over 46,000 active serial subscriptions. The University Libraries include five libraries on the Belknap Campus and one library on the Health Sciences Campus. Librarians hold tenure-track faculty status in the University.
Archives and Special Collections collects, organizes, preserves, and makes available for research rare and unique primary and secondary source material, particularly relating to the history and cultural heritage of Louisville, Kentucky and the surrounding region, as well as serving as the official memory of the University of Louisville.
Consisting of Photographic Archives, Rare Books, Digital Initiatives, and the University Archives and Records Center ASC collection highlights include documentary photographs; fine prints; literary manuscripts; rare books relating to the history of science; the world's largest institutional collection of works by Edgar Rice Burroughs; oral histories; materials documenting the history of the University of Louisville; and 19th and 20th century records of Louisville-area businesses, cultural organizations, social service agencies and churches, political figures, and scholars.
Margaret M. Bridwell Art Library provides resources, services and technology for teaching and research in art history, design and studio arts. With more than 90,000 volumes, 300 journal subscriptions and access to major databases, the library provides researchers with extensive information on painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, ceramics, fiber arts, glassmaking, graphic design, art education, interior architecture, and the art and architectural history of all periods. The library also houses a large collection of DVDs and videos, more than 3,000 rare books, archival material, and a substantial collection or artists' books.
William F. Ekstrom Library contains more than 1.5 million volumes and 5,658 journal subscriptions supporting research and teaching in the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, business, education, physical sciences, engineering and technology.
Ekstrom Library provides access to its growing collections with a Robotic Retrieval System (RRS) which holds nearly 600,000 items. Students can request items held in the RRS through the catalog and retrieve the items at the check out desk in minutes.
Facilities in the Ekstrom Library include a 150-seat auditorium and five instructional labs equipped with smartboard technology and audio/visual systems. A 24-hour study area provides UofL students a secure space to work at all hours and Starbucks provides food, coffee, and socializing space.
Our Learning Commons is based on partnerships with several UofL units. It includes a Digital Media Suite which provides instructional assistance for students and the tools they need to create audio/visual materials for class projects. Ekstrom Library also houses the Archives and Special Collections, the Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning, two computer labs, the University Writing Center, the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice, the Anne Braden Institute, the McConnell Center and the McConnell Chao Archives.
Kornhauser Health Sciences Library supports the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Public Health and Information Sciences. With its 250,000 volume collection, it is a significant resource for the medical community extending beyond Louisville to the western half of Kentucky. Kornhauser Library is the largest and oldest health sciences library in Kentucky.
The library provides access to biomedical databases, electronic texts and journals, and other health sciences-related information on and off campus. Kornhauser librarians are directly involved in several clinical departments, where they develop and teach evidence-based practice curricula for medical students and residency programs; participate in morning report, journal club, case conferences and grand rounds; and provide literature searches for faculty in support of patient care and research.
Dwight D. Anderson Memorial Music Library houses the largest academic music collection in Kentucky. It has more than 118,000 volumes, more than 200 domestic and foreign journals subscriptions, and a large collection of sheet music with thousands of Louisville imprints. The library is also home to the Grawemeyer Collection of Contemporary Music, which comprises all submissions to the international competition for the University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition. The library provides user-centered services, including streaming audio, and serves as a center for teaching and learning support for the UofL School of Music.