UBC Libraries: Overview

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Library is one of the largest academic libraries in Canada. It comprises 12 branch libraries, including the Main Library, Rare Books, and Special Collections Library. With over 7 million items in its collection, the Library offers a wide range of materials to support the research needs of UBC faculty and students. In addition to print collections, the Library provides access to digital resources, such as e-journals and e-books. The Library also offers various services, such as reference assistance, research consultations, and workshops on citation management and information literacy. Whether you need help finding resources for your assignments or just looking for a quiet place to study, the UBC Library is a perfect place to support your learning.

What Does the UBC Library have to offer?

UBC Library is recognized as one of the top 3 research libraries in North America. It has over 7 million volumes and 150,000 journal subscriptions. The library also provides access to digital resources, such as e-journals, e-books, and databases. In addition, the Library offers a wide range of services, including research support, workshops and courses, and space for individual and group study. The Library also has an extensive collection of materials in various formats, including print, audio, video, and online resources. Whether a UBC faculty member or a student, the library is an excellent resource for your research needs.

What UBC Library Branches Exist?

UBC Library comprises 12 branches across the Vancouver campus, namely: the Koerner Library, the Asian Library, the education library, the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, the Life Sciences Centre Library, the Law Library, the Sauder School of Business Vancouver Campus Library, the Music Library, the Neville Scarfe Education Library at the Vancouver School of Education and the Robson Square Downtown Vancouver. Each library has a different function to serve students’ needs and research purposes. 

UBC Koerner Library is the main branch on campus and houses the majority of collections and services. It supports research and teaching for all disciplines at UBC. The collections include 1.5 million volumes of print and digital books, 3 million microforms, and over 500,000 government documents. Patrons can also access over 700 computers and 2,000 study spaces spread out over 11 floors. Services provided include interlibrary loan (ILL), document delivery & scanning services, research consultations, and more. 

The Asian Library is a subject specialist library that collects materials published in or about regions including East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.

Similarities Between Libraries

UBC Library is the second-largest academic library in Canada, with over 7 million volumes and more than 60,000 serial subscriptions. It has the fourth largest collection of electronic resources in North America, after Harvard, Yale, and the University of Toronto. UBC Library is also a member of the Association of Research Libraries and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries. All locations are open to UBC students, faculty, and staff, as well as the general public. The libraries offer a wide range of services and resources, including research support, information literacy instruction, interlibrary loan and document delivery, scholarly communications and copyright advice, a data management consulting, and more. UBCLibrary also provides access to a variety of digital collections, including ebooks, journals, databases, and more.

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