The J. Murrey Atkins Library, the largest academic research library in the Southern Piedmont region and a member of ASERL (the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries), is the center of intellectual life at UNC Charlotte. The Library’s mission is to advance the scholarly and creative endeavors of the University and the greater Charlotte community by providing exceptional collections, spaces, services, and technologies. It inspires innovation, supports research, and cultivates scholarship.
Research
In addition to holding over 3.8 million physical items, including almost 13,000 rare books, the Library continuously develops its digital collections and currently provides access to over 85,000 electronic journals, 600 databases, and 1.2 million electronic books. Expert subject/liaison librarians offer a variety of research services: course assignment, project, and research paper help; citation management assistance; information literacy classes; support within Canvas courses, and much more. Students get assistance from a subject librarian through live chat, email, phone, in person at the desk on the 1st floor, and one-on-one consultations for deeper, subject-related research guidance. Students and classes conduct research with rare materials and archives in Special Collections and University Archives on the 10th floor.
Services
Ask Atkins assists students, faculty, and staff at three service desks and via live chat, email, phone, and text. Atkins peer assistants offer point-of-need help with equipment, printing, and using library spaces and resources. The Circulation Desk on the 1st floor is the main service point for locating, lending, renewing, and returning library material including laptops, Interlibrary Loan items, and Course Reserves material. Document delivery, book retrieval, and Interlibrary Loan are available to students, faculty, and staff to facilitate access to library collections and research material. Research services include face-to-face and online assistance with all stages of the research process, research instruction sessions and workshops, and data research services. “Atkins kiosks” throughout the building enable users to check out their own library materials, chat with staff, and schedule/check-in for study rooms. The Office of OneIT maintains its walk-up help desk in Room 140C, while the University Speaking Center advises students in Room G33, and the Writing Resources Center offers some of its hours in G31. Tutorial Services conducts some tutoring sessions on the ground floor.
Facilities
The Library features study and collaboration spaces for all needs including 57 reservable group study rooms, Graduate and Silent Study rooms, and collaborative tables, seating areas, and enclosures throughout the building. The entire building features wireless access as well as more than 400 computers (Macs and PCs). Library computers feature a variety of adaptive software supplemented by a dedicated room with assistive technologies next to the Circulation Desk. Students check out calculators, chargers, and laptops for 24 hours from the Circulation Desk. Atkins offers 137 loaner laptops, both PCs and Macs, at the Circulation Desk and another 30 in a laptop vending machine at the College of Health and Human Services building. Students can experiment with new technologies (3D printers, cameras, etc.) from the Technology Support Desk, which supports the Visualization Lab, MakerSpace, Gaming Lab, EZ Video Studio, and other specialized spaces on the 2nd floor. A Photogrammetry Lab was recently added on the 1st Floor near the Circulation Desk. Other features include device-charging stations and fit/alternative study equipment. Vending machines offer office supplies, coffee/beverages, and other food to supplement the offerings of the Library Café on the ground floor. Students may bring their own beverages and food; microwaves are available.
The Charles C. Hight Architecture Library is located on the 2nd Floor of the Storrs building, which houses the College of Arts + Architecture. The Hight Library collection includes: books, audiovisuals, periodicals, graduate thesis documents, drawings, and plans.
Atkins Library is open 24/5 (Sunday from 11 a.m. until Friday at 10 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) during the regular semester, and 24/7 during finals. For more information, visit library.uncc.edu.
