Collections

In June 2022, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved funding for an off-site Collections Facility — a project long sought by the Libraries to ensure preservation of collections well into the future.

“Having a new facility is critical for us to ensure that we properly preserve the University’s most valued and unique assets, while having space to plan for the future.”

— Lisa German, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries

A database’s impact

About 120,000 pages of material from the Libraries’ Immigration History Research Center Archives were downloaded in FY22 through Migration to New Worlds II, a resource for undergraduate research and teaching. Migration to New Worlds II, an Adam Matthew Digital product, includes more than 70,000 pages and audio recordings from the Libraries’ Immigration History Research Center Archives, and hundreds of thousands of digitized materials from other collections, including material from the National Archives (UK) and the Tenement Museum, New York.

History Day

During the COVID-19 pandemic, online access for schools in Minnesota was granted as part of the University’s National History Day support.

“It really helped rural students have equitable access to high-quality research materials.”

“One of our kids is at National History Day!! (Virtually, of course) thanks to the [Adam Matthew Digital] database! So thank you!”

“Having digital access to resources [of the] university libraries … is absolutely critical.”

Interlibrary Loan and Digital Delivery

Filled Requests:

• Digital: 23,243
• Print/physical: 12,199
• Total: 35,442

95% requests were filled, or 35,442 of 37,493. Out of these, 2% were canceled by the patron, 2% no library can supply, and 1% are still in-process. Of those filled:

• Books purchased for collection: 400
• Open access shares: 2,500
• Digitization from U of M print collections: 3,159
• Available in U of M collection: 3,741
• Filled by other libraries or document suppliers (72% total fills): 25,592

 

“Thank you so much! You continue to be one of the very best components of researching at U of M! I’m so grateful for the ILL services!”

“What a superb service! Thank you to everyone making this possible: apart from COVID’s effect on getting around comfortably, there are other life/work schedules that make it hard to even attend a library more than infrequently.”

“Without you and ILL, I wouldn’t get anything done. You are my scholarly lifeline!”