UAB Libraries plays a vital role in student success by delivering the resources, expertise, and learning environments that support academic achievement.
These resources go far beyond simply offering textbooks on reserve to help students save on course materials. UAB Libraries’ technology and equipment loans give students access to items required to complete courses, while mitigating financial stress. Students can even borrow a laptop for an entire semester. Students who have participated in this loan program credit it with directly contributing to finishing assignments on time and getting good grades.
“It allowed me to have the privilege of having access to a computer without weekly time restraints,” students commented. “I was able to do well in my classes and complete my work efficiently.”
Through the Library of Things, students can borrow additional tools for creativity, relaxation, and everyday life. In the emerging technology labs, students design prototypes, build digital projects, and bring imagination to life, while honing skills for their future careers. In the past three years, students completed more than 5,500 3D printing projects and visited emerging technology labs nearly 55,000 times.
“I miss my time working in the 3D printing lab,” said Logan Risner, UAB graduate and former LibLab employee. “It has been a couple of years now. It was an incredible learning experience, and I’m grateful for everything I picked up there.”
The knowledge he gained helps Risner in his job at Message Point Media, which includes a lot of 3D printing.
However, the greatest resources at UAB Libraries are the people. Whether it is helping with a research paper or guidance on a capstone project, library faculty and staff give students the tools and confidence to thrive in and out of the classroom. In 2025, library faculty and staff answered more than 21,000 questions and led more than 1,200 instructional sessions. This important resource is available to students even if they cannot make it to a physical location. For 40 hours each week, librarians are available via chat. Librarians answered 2,480 questions on chat in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Each year, the library team hosts back-to-school and study break events to further help students achieve the best semester possible. The library also helps many students financially by providing an on-campus job. Student assistants logged more than 38,000 hours last year.
The profoundly positive impact of UAB Libraries expands beyond campus through events hosted for K-12 students from Birmingham communities. These events offer unique hands-on learning experiences, including opportunities to examine rare historical materials up close through the Historical Collections. In 2025, UAB Libraries welcomed 53 K-12 school groups totaling more than 1,000 students for visits, including several to Historical Collections.
Support from philanthropic donors and through the UAB Giving Days campaign will help ensure that the extensive resources of UAB Libraries remain strong. An investment of $200 will help keep the laptop loan program strong, while an investment of $25 can fund a 3D printing project. Through generous donor support, UAB Libraries will continue supporting success for current and future students.