Welcome from the Dean

A message from Steven Smith.

The University of Tennessee Libraries serves the flagship campus of Tennessee’s premier public research university. The University of Tennessee holds the Carnegie Foundation Research 1 designation, granted to doctoral universities with very high research activity.

The UT Libraries supports the teaching, research, and service mission of the university and enhances the academic experience of each student at the Knoxville campus – through outstanding print and electronic collections, reference and instructional services, and top-notch facilities and technological resources.

The John C. Hodges Library in the heart of campus houses the majority of the UT Libraries’ collections and many unique services. Research assistance and technology services are available almost all hours of the week in the student-centric Commons – a popular venue for both studying and socializing. Technology-rich facilities and services include a multimedia digital production Studio and ever-expanding virtual resources that are easily discoverable. Unique historical documents and images from the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives are available as digital collections. Two branch libraries offer specialized collections and services: the Webster C. Pendergrass Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Library, and George F. DeVine Music Library.

The UT Libraries is a national leader in digital collections; in support of open access through our digital repository, Trace; and through a rich history of designing innovative spaces and building key partnerships that enhance the teaching/learning enterprise. The UT Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, HathiTrust, the Library Publishing Coalition, LYRASIS, and the Center for Research Libraries. The UT Libraries collaborates actively at the state level with the other University of Tennessee System libraries as well as the libraries in the Tennessee Board of Regents system.

The University of Tennessee is committed to creating a welcoming environment and the UT Libraries champions diversity in collections and staffing. More information about how we put our principles of civility and community into action is available on the Belonging and Engagement webpage. Also find more information on the UT Libraries’ Belonging and Engagement Committee’s Lunch and Learn discussion series to facilitate comfortable dialog about diversity and inclusion.