Libraries

UAB Libraries

UAB Libraries are your home to access world-class collections and research support for your successful academic journey. The libraries hold more than 2.6 million volumes and provide access to approximately 700 online research databases and other specialized resources in support of the university’s vast academic and medical enterprise.

The UAB Libraries system includes:

Mervyn H. Sterne Library is the epicenter of undergraduate student activity on campus and supports teaching and research in the arts and humanities, business, education, engineering, natural sciences and mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences. Sterne Library also houses other academic support units (the UAB Writing Center, INTO UAB, and the Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center), and a Starbucks location for when you need a coffee break. You will find technology-equipped group study rooms, single study carrels, open study spaces (including a quiet area on level 3), and emerging technology labs to support multimodal learning, digital scholarship, and STEM innovation. A variety of standard and specialized equipment is available for checkout through the HUB Desk and LibLab. In the spring and fall semesters, Sterne Library is open 24 hours a day, five days a week. For more information on resources and services, visit the Sterne Library website, call 205-934-6364, or request help by email, text, or chat at this link.
Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences, the largest biomedical library in Alabama, supports students, research and teaching faculty, and clinicians in medicine, nursing, optometry, dentistry, public health, health professions, and joint health sciences. Visitors can use technology-equipped group study rooms, open study spaces (including a quiet area on level 2), and emerging technology labs to support multimodal learning and health and biomedical innovation. A variety of standard and specialized equipment is available for checkout through the HUB Desk and LibLab. For more information on resources and services, visit the Lister Hill Library website, call 205-934-2230, or request help via email, text, or chat at this link.
The Lister Hill Library at University Hospital, located in the West Pavilion, provides onsite support for education, research, and patient care. Access the resources and services for clinicians through the LHL@UH website, call 205-934-2275 or request help by email, text, or chat at this link.
UAB Historical Collections, located on the third floor of Lister Hill Library, includes the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences, the Reynolds-Finley Historical Library, and the UAB Archives. The Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences preserves more than 500 years of medical history through instruments, specimens, equipment, and pharmacology. The Reynolds-Finley Historical Library contains rare books, pamphlets, journals, and manuscripts on the history of medicine, science, and health-related fields from the mid-14th century to the mid-20th century. UAB Archives is the official repository for the permanent records of the university and for archival collections held by UAB, including the history of the health sciences and collections on the history of the Greater Birmingham area. All three collections in Historical Collections are used extensively by researchers, and classes from all academic levels and disciplines frequently visit for specialized tours of materials. Historical Collections is open to researchers, including student researchers, by appointment. Please visit Special Collections - Libraries for more information and to schedule an appointment for research.
The Dennis G. Pappas Historical Collections Gallery, located on the second floor of Lister Hill Library, is the exhibitions home for UAB Historical Collections. The gallery features rotating exhibitions that highlight the rich resources held by Historical Collections, combining interactive technology and traditional displays for an engaging experience. Visit the Pappas Gallery, which is free and open to the public, Tuesday-Saturday, 12-5 p.m.
Sparks Medical Library is located at the UAB Huntsville Regional Medical Campus. The library is available 24/7 to all UAB medical students, residents, full-time faculty, and credentialed volunteer faculty physicians. For more information on resources and services, visit the Sparks Medical Library website, call 256-551-4405, or request help via email, text, or chat at this link.

Library faculty and staff are here to support you all the way through your academic journey. There are liaison librarians assigned to every academic unit on campus to ensure expert help is available for all majors. They can help you get started with your research or properly format your citations and are available to meet one-on-one or in small groups either in person or virtually for consultations. You can find a complete list of our liaison librarians and schedule a consultation here. You can also get help online through our chat service (use the yellow “Chat with a Librarian” pull-out on every library page) or by email.

If the libraries don’t have what you need for your research, we can get it for you. Our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service allows you to borrow materials not owned by UAB from other libraries throughout the world. This is a free service, and many of these requests can be filled within several hours.