Key Insights
ARL is the leading and most prestigious association of academic and research libraries in North America, and membership places UAB among distinguished company.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Students study in the Sterne Library. Libraries is the newest member of the Association of Research Libraries, the leading and most prestigious association of academic and research libraries in North America.
ARL members made the invitation after voting during their fall 2026 meeting Oct. 5. Membership in ARL is reserved for leading research libraries that demonstrate significant contributions to research, scholarship, innovation and academic excellence.
Acceptance into ARL places UAB Libraries among a distinguished group of academic libraries in the United States and Canada — other members include Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, Duke University, the University of Michigan and the University of California System.
UAB Libraries Dean Kasia Gonnerman says recognition as an ARL member highlights the vital role UAB Libraries plays in advancing research, education and clinical excellence at UAB.
“This recognition is, above all, a reflection of the extraordinary achievements of the entire UAB community,” Gonnerman said. “The strength of a research library is inseparable from the strength of the institution it serves. UAB’s faculty, researchers, clinicians, students and staff drive the discovery, innovation and scholarship that define our university, and our admission to ARL acknowledges both the libraries’ contributions and UAB’s emergence as one of the nation’s leading research institutions. We are honored to join this distinguished community and look forward to advancing our mission through collaboration with research library peers across North America.”
This milestone reflects a period of transformative growth in UAB Libraries during recent years, Gonnerman says. Through expanded support for research and scholarly communication, strengthened digital and special collections, innovative technology initiatives, expertise in systematic reviews and data services, and enhanced student and faculty engagement, UAB Libraries has become an increasingly indispensable partner in the university’s academic and research mission.
“ARL membership affirms that UAB Libraries’ impact extends far beyond traditional library services and now is recognized at the highest levels of research librarianship across North America,” Gonnerman said.
UAB Libraries is a valued partner in advancing UAB’s mission and strategic priorities across education, research, patient care and community engagement, says Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.
“By connecting students, faculty, clinicians and community members with the expertise, resources, technologies and spaces they need to learn and innovate successfully, the libraries help drive excellence across the enterprise, from student success to research excellence and meaningful impact for our patients and community,” Woodruff-Borden said. “Acceptance into ARL is a significant accomplishment for UAB, positioning us among the country’s best university libraries. It also reflects the dedication and excellence of our Libraries’ faculty and staff, and the visionary leadership of Dean Kasia Gonnerman.”
UAB’s membership was approved following a comprehensive review process that included a review of both qualitative and quantitative data and a site visit to campus.
UAB Libraries’ 2.9 million print volumes, 654 research databases, tens of thousands journal subscriptions and unique historical collections underpin the university’s research, education and patient care mission. UAB Libraries led more than 1,100 instructional sessions for more than 12,400 students in 2025, and research guides created by librarians were consulted more than 236,000 times. The Digital Commons, the open access repository service housing research and scholarly output from across the UAB campus, expanded the university’s global visibility and impact with nearly 2 million downloads last year. UAB Libraries continues to work to reduce financial barriers to education for Blazers, whether through providing more than 100 long-term laptop loans each semester or adding hundreds of textbooks to its course reserves program.
UAB Libraries also advances community engagement through outreach programs, public lectures, K-12 educational initiatives, exhibitions and literacy partnerships that reached thousands of participants — all while welcoming 22,000 visitors each week to library spaces that foster learning, collaboration and innovation.