About the Libraries

In 1891 the University of Arizona Libraries opened the door to a single-room library that housed a disorganized collection of less than 500 bound volumes. Today, the four library locations - Main, Science-Engineering, Fine Arts, and the Center for Creative Photography - house the largest collection in the state of Arizona with over five million volumes and one of the finest 20th century photography collections in the world.

In the nearly 120 years since the Libraries first opened, UA librarians and faculty have dedicated their knowledge and expertise to developing a premier research collection that supports education, scholarship, and innovation of UA students, faculty, and researchers. Notable among the comprehensive collections in the Libraries are specializations in the fields of Science and Engineering, Architecture, Art, Music, History, and Languages. In addition, the Libraries' collection covers all areas of contemporary knowledge - from agriculture to zoology and from philosophy to history. The Libraries' Special Collections, with a regional focus on the Southwest, is home to rare books and manuscript collections, photographs and graphics, and an increasing number of digital collections.

The Libraries and CCP are a vital and exciting entry to a world of discovery and creativity for individuals and communities of scholars at the University of Arizona. The Libraries and CCP strive to be at the forefront of providing unlimited access to information in a customer-centered environment where traditional and emerging information services converge.

Your gift to the University of Arizona Libraries directly benefits UA students and faculty by helping the Libraries acquire, organize and make accessible the tremendous amount of information resources, in electronic or print form, that are available today.

• Friends of the Libraries
• Growing Excellence
• Preserving Tucson's History
• Center for Creative Photography Conservation
• Additional Giving Opportunities