Virginia Tech University Libraries: Resources and Services for Faculty, Graduate Students, Undergraduates, and Community Members

Updated

Virginia Tech University Libraries (lib.vt.edu) organizes its services around distinct user groups: faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and community members each have a dedicated quicklink on the homepage. Beyond those audience-specific entry points, the site offers shared services including research guides, interlibrary loan, off-campus access, equipment and space reservations, course reserves, databases, and journals. Special Collections and University Archives, along with the Digital Imaging Lab in Newman Library, support research and preservation work. The sections below describe what each group can expect to find and how the main services work.

Audience-Specific Quicklinks

The homepage lists four resource quicklinks, each pointing to a page tailored to that group:

User Group Quicklink What it covers
Faculty Faculty Resources Teaching, research, and scholarly communication support
Graduate students Grad Student Resources Research support, thesis/dissertation help, and graduate-level services
Undergraduates Undergrad Resources Core library services for coursework and study
Community members Community Resources Access and services for users outside the university

If you are unsure which category applies to you, start with the quicklink that matches your primary role. Community members who also hold a Virginia Tech affiliation should check both the community and their affiliated group's page, since borrowing and access privileges can differ.

Core Services Available to All Users

Finding Materials

The library search box on the homepage supports several search types: Everything, Title, Author, Subject, Call number, ISBN, and ISSN, plus an Advanced Search option. Two dedicated entry points sit alongside the main search:

  • Databases — subject-specific collections for locating articles and data.
  • Journals — search or browse by journal title.
  • Course Reserves — materials your instructor has set aside for a specific course.

Access and Borrowing

  • Off Campus Access — log in to reach licensed databases and journals from outside the network.
  • Interlibrary Loan — request materials the libraries do not own.
  • My Library Account — renew loans, track requests, and manage your record.

Spaces and Equipment

  • Reserve a Space — book study rooms and other library spaces.
  • Reserve Equipment — request laptops, cameras, and other loanable equipment.
  • Ebooks — access the digital book collection.

Research Support and Guides

Research Guides are curated starting points for specific subjects, courses, or tasks. They are typically the fastest route when you are new to a discipline or need to know which databases matter for your field. Faculty and graduate students will find them useful for directing students to vetted sources; undergraduates can use them to move past general web searching.

For hands-on help with digital projects, the Digital Imaging Lab in Newman Library creates high-quality digital copies of rare and precious materials — relevant if you need to digitize archival items, artwork, or other physical objects for research or teaching.

Special Collections and University Archives

Special Collections and University Archives holds rare and unique materials and produces research based on them. One example from the site: a project examining the Virginia Tech–VMI football rivalry, which dates to 1894, drawing on artifacts, stories, and traditions connected to the Military Classic of the South. If your work involves primary sources, historical records, or university history, this is the department to contact.

Initiatives: Access, Digital Literacy, and Global Engagement

The libraries frame several efforts as institution-wide initiatives:

  • Access Matters — a commitment to sharing ideas, research, and scholarship, including support for creating and publishing scholarship that is freely accessible regardless of geographical location.
  • Global Engagement — tied to Virginia Tech's role as a global land-grant institution serving faculty, students, and societies worldwide.
  • Digital Literacy — support for learning, creating, and collaborating with digital content.

These initiatives matter most if you are publishing open-access work, collaborating internationally, or building digital skills into a course or research project.

Hours and Locations

Today's hours are listed on the homepage for each location:

  • Carol M. Newman Library
  • Art & Architecture Library
  • Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
  • Health Sciences & Technology Library
  • Academic Building One, Alexandria
  • Special Collections
  • Veterinary Medicine Library
  • Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Library

A "View all Library Hours" link leads to the full schedule. Note that hours change — the site displays closure notices, such as the Labor Day closure on Monday, September 2nd. Check the current listing before traveling to a specific branch.

Where to Start

  • Faculty → Faculty Resources, then Research Guides and Interlibrary Loan.
  • Graduate students → Grad Student Resources, then Research Guides and Reserve a Space.
  • Undergraduates → Undergrad Resources, then Course Reserves and Reserve Equipment.
  • Community members → Community Resources, then check borrowing eligibility and Off Campus Access limits.

For anything not covered by a quicklink, use the main search (Everything or Advanced Search) or contact the relevant library location directly.