Science Libraries Today: An Update on ARL Institutions

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/istl2883

Keywords:

Science libraries, Science & technology libraries, ARL Libraries, Academic library, Engineering library

Abstract

 The goal of our study is to update the data on the state of science libraries at Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions and compare our data to previous studies. In 2023, 67% of the 120 ARL libraries had a science library. 152 science libraries remain open at ARL member institutions in Canada and the United States. Our findings show libraries are continuing to consolidate into multidisciplinary science libraries. Along with providing the highlights from our study, we also provide an updated dataset in Dataverse for other libraries to use in their own benchmarking studies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Chris Doty, Emory University

Science librarian, Woodruff Library

Kristan Majors, Emory University

Science librarian, Woodruff Library

References

Association of College and Research Libraries. (1991). ACRL guidelines for branch libraries in colleges and universities. College and Research Libraries News, 52(3), 171–174.

Association of Research Libraries, Office of Management Studies. (1983). Branch libraries in ARL institutions. Systems and Procedures Exchange Center, Association of Research Libraries, Office of Management Studies. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015010563040&seq=13

Boutwell, S. J. (2021, February 16). Paddock and Kresge Libraries to close. Dartmouth News. https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2021/02/paddock-and-kresge-libraries-close

Carlson, S. (2021). Academic libraries led universities into the socially distant era. Now they’re planning for what’s next. Chronicle of Higher Education, 67(18), 1–1.

Cerf, E. (2022, November 17). Science & Engineering Library renovation honors leaders, aims to build community among students in STEM. UC Santa Cruz News. https://news.ucsc.edu/2022/11/se-library-renovation.html

Croneis, K., & Short, B. H. (1999). Branch libraries and discrete collections: A SPEC kit. Association of Research Libraries. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015051288317

Diller, K. R., & Wallin, S. B. (2023). Place attachment, libraries, and student preferences. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 23(4), 683–715. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2023.a908698

Dionne, R. J. (1988). Science libraries at a crossroads. American Scientist, 76(3), 268–272. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27855184

Doty, C., & Majors, K. (2019). Science library trends at ARL institutions. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, 92. https://doi.org/10.29173/istl8

Doty, C., & Majors, K. (2024). Science library trends at ARL institutions (Version 3) [Dataset]. UNC Dataverse. https://doi.org/10.15139/S3/BWX81E

Gardner, L. (2022, February 11). The overbuilt campus. Chronicle of Higher Education, 68(12). https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-overbuilt-campus

Hiller, S. (2004). Measure by measure: Assessing the viability of the physical library. The Bottom Line, 17(4), 126–131. https://doi.org/10.1108/08880450410567400

Laherty, J. (2019, November 13). Life Sciences Library closes Dec. 20, 2019. Indiana University Libraries. https://wayback.archive-it.org/org-72/20191214171334/https://libraries.indiana.edu/life-sciences-library-closes-dec-20-2019

Morgan, K., & Cabada, E. (2023, June 25). Board 93: Collection management in preparation for building restoration: University of Illinois Mathematics Library [Paper presentation]. ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore MD, United States. https://peer.asee.org/board-93-collection-management-in-preparation-for-building-restoration-university-of-illinois-mathematics-library

Radecki, J., & Springer, R. (2020). Research data services in US higher education: A web-based inventory. Ithaka S+R. https://doi.org/10.18665/sr.314397

Shaw, J. (2021, January-February). “A 500-year building”: Harvard’s new science and engineering complex. Harvard Magazine. https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2020/12/jhj-new-harvard-seas-center

Zdravkovska, N. (2011). Types of branch libraries. In Academic branch libraries in changing times (pp. 25-54). Chandos Publishing.

Downloads

Published

2025-05-30

How to Cite

Doty, C., & Majors, K. (2025). Science Libraries Today: An Update on ARL Institutions. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, (110). https://doi.org/10.29173/istl2883

Issue

Section

Short Communications
Share |