University Libraries Press Release

Contact: Melissa Cox Norris, Director of Library Communications, (513) 556-1558 or melissa.norris@uc.edu

UC LIBRARIES AT BEST POSITION EVER IN ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH LIBRARIES RANKINGS

April 20, 2004 - At #45, the University of Cincinnati Libraries have achieved their best position yet in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) annual ranking of 113 U.S. and Canadian research university members. Reaching #45 for the 2002-03 academic year marks the sixth consecutive year the UC Libraries (University Libraries, Medical Libraries, and Law Library) have improved their ARL ranking. They were most recently at #47 in 2001-02, up considerably from #78 in 1993-94.

“This milestone for 2002-03 is a tribute to the University administration’s exceptional support of library collections in the past decade. Even during difficult years, the University has taken the long view that strong and stable library collections are essential to achieving premier research status,” according to Victoria A. Montavon, Dean and University Librarian.

Four other Ohio university libraries are included in the 2002-03 ARL rankings: Ohio State University (23), Ohio University (87), Case Western Reserve University (101), and Kent State University (107). Universities ranked near UC’s number 45 include Kansas (44), California Davis (46), Montreal (47), and Maryland (48). The top five ARL libraries include Harvard, Yale, California Berkeley, Toronto and Michigan.

Looking ahead to UC’s entry into the Big East, UC is ranked third highest of the eight university libraries included in the ARL index. The Big East rankings include: Pittsburgh (28), Rutgers (29), Connecticut (50), Notre Dame (52), Georgetown (58), Louisville (81), and Syracuse (89).

The ARL considers five key factors in compiling its rankings each year:
• Total number of volumes held (UC: 2,977,475)
• Gross volumes added (UC: 120,010)
• Current serials (UC: 36,511)
• Total expenditures (UC: $19,425,518)
• Number of professional and support staff (UC: 176)

The Association of Research Libraries was founded in 1932. The University of Cincinnati was a charter member.

 

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