About the Library

 

Students studying in Mansueto Library Grand Reading Room

The University of Chicago Library

As a center of intense intellectual inquiry, the University of Chicago Library shares with the University of Chicago the aspiration to be the most dynamic research and learning environment in the world, supporting the University's commitment to research and teaching in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the College and to using its intellectual resources to help solve the world's problems.

By the Numbers, 2011-2012

Size

  • 9th largest research library in North America
  • 10.7 million volumes in print and electronic form
  • 48,252 linear feet of archives and manuscripts
  • 107.6 TB of University electronic archives and research data

Facilities

  • 6 campus libraries with capacity to store approximately 11 million print volumes on campus
  • 205 miles of shelving
  • Average Mansueto book retrieval time: 7.5 minutes

Services

  • 333,630 volumes circulated to 14,414 unique individuals
  • 12,359 Scan & Deliver requests
  • 5,287 UBorrow requests
  • 5.6 million successful responses to full-text article requests
  • 1,131,530 entries into Regenstein and 142,622 entries into Crerar
  • 9,610 visiting researchers unaffiliated with the University
  • 21,248 questions to reference librarians
  • 4,000+ attendees at training sessions

 

See complete fact sheet.