University Library

Summary

The University Library at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign amplifies the impact Illinois has on the world. Our library fuels the dreamers; gives hope and knowledge to the intellectually hungry; and stokes the inquiry that made our University what it is today. We serve as the “scholarly commons” to the campus and the community as well as the platform for the University as it takes on finding solutions to the world’s challenges. Those who use the library are empowered by its world-renowned virtual and physical collections and an environment infused with technology and innovation. Our librarians are key partners in the scholarship of faculty and students. They are area experts on a vast range of fields and their role in the curation of information and dissemination of faculty research truly amplifies the impact of the University on the world. The University Library is our most precious resource and an institution we should all take pride in, fight to preserve, and prepare for the future. In an age of new technology within a rapidly-changing global world, we must take new measures to advance the impact of the traditional library as it enters a new century. Only a library with our size, innovation, and expertise is prepared to take on the information challenges our next century will present. With Illinois, and your help, we are equipped to take these challenges and succeed.

Priorities

Renovating and Maintaining our Facilities

A culture of excellence depends, in part, on an excellent infrastructure. An investment in the library’s renovation and maintenance ensures our ability to meet the changing needs of faculty and students, creating supportive spaces for our students and faculty to work, create, invent, and learn.

Supporting Our Collections

With your support, we will acquire, preserve, and make accessible library materials in all formats. Our goal is to show and preserve exceptional collections as well as digitally conserve and archive invaluable information so that it is forever accessible to students, faculty, and the community as a whole.

Supporting Our Students

At Illinois, we attract smart, strong, and accomplished students who go on to make us proud long after they graduate. They are leaders when they arrive at Illinois, and, upon graduation, they continue to be leaders in their chosen professions and communities. We support our student body by hiring undergraduate and graduate student workers who remember their time working in the Library among their most important transformative experiences.

Archiving Faculty Papers

Nobel winners, MacArthur Geniuses, Academy members – at Illinois, we are surrounded by scholars who are preeminent in their fields. An endowment will support the preservation of faculty papers for future generations of scholars and students. Donor support will allow for the collection, processing, preservation and access in all archives.

Developing Our Professionals and Supporting Research

Our faculty and staff are prolific scholars, creative thinkers, and fearless intellectual pioneers. We aim to support the development of all Library staff and the research of Library faculty, with the goal of attracting and retaining the most promising scholars to our University.