Ohio University Libraries Listed Among Top Academic Research Centers

Contact: Dean of Ohio University Libraries Julia Zimmerman, (740) 593-2705,or Media Specialist Jack Jeffery, (740) 597-1793 or jefferyj@ohio.edu

ATHENS, Ohio (June 13, 2001) -- Ohio University Libraries again are ranked highly by the prestigious Association of Research Libraries (ARL). This year, Ohio University is ranked 70th by the association. The university's libraries ranked 72nd in 2000 and 75th the year before.

"We're very pleased that the Ohio University Libraries are advancing in the Association of Research Libraries' ranking. It speaks well for our libraries and for Ohio University that we have made gains for the past two years," Dean of Ohio University Libraries Julia Zimmerman said. "ARL membership is an indication of depth and breadth of services and collections, and of institutional commitment to providing top-quality information resources to students, faculty and other constituents."

Only the top academic libraries in the United States and Canada are included in the ARL rankings. Among criteria for inclusion are size of collection, budget, serials collection and staffing.

"Among the thousands of academic libraries that are eligible, only 112 are included in the rankings, so this recognition means we have a top tier library," Associate Dean for Administration of Ohio University Libraries Gary Hunt said. "Not only did we qualify, but Ohio University has moved up in the rankings steadily. When I came here 22 years ago, inclusion in the ARL seemed like an unattainable goal. This is a measure of the support we have received from this and past administrations, as well as faculty and staff."

Zimmerman said, "Our ARL affiliation allies us with libraries that are on the cutting edge of innovation in information delivery and scholarly communication, and gives us many excellent opportunities for professional development for our staff members. Even in times of tight budgets, our administration has supported increases in library funding, enabling us to keep pace with North America's major libraries. We're grateful for this support and we intend to continue to provide top-quality library services that make significant contributions to the success of teaching, learning and research at Ohio University."

Ohio Universities Libraries' holdings include about 2.3 million bound volumes and more than 34,000 current serials, 20,000 electronic books, 35,000 journals and 3 million microforms. Patrons use the library services approximately 2.5 million times annually. Ohio University Libraries include Alden Library and other resource centers within the colleges on the Athens campus and libraries on the five regional campuses.