Auburn University Libraries

Auburn University Libraries consists of three libraries on campus. The largest library on campus is the Ralph Brown Draughon Library, a 377,000 square-foot structure with seating for 4,850. It is co-located with the Mell Classroom Building on Mell Street. Branch libraries are located in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. Auburn University is one of the 125 universities that are members of the Association of Research Libraries. AU Libraries serves as a Federal Depository Library for Alabama.

AU Libraries’ collections exceeds 4.6 million volumes, more than 2.7 million items in microform, and 152,000 maps. The libraries license access to over 200 electronic databases, including online full-text access to over 5,000 scholarly journals and receive more than 57,000 current serials, including publications issued by the U.S. government.

The libraries offer an online catalog to library holdings at www.lib.auburn.edu, expedited electronic document delivery to faculty and students via the AubieExpress service, delivery of books or documents held at other libraries via Interlibrary Loan, and expedited purchasing of titles requested by faculty or students via Purchase Request.

The Draughon Library contains the Learning Commons for group study as well as an entire floor dedicated to quiet, individual study. More than 1400 power outlets to allow students to use personal laptops while in the library. RBD Library also offers carrels for faculty and graduate student use and over 200 university and public computer workstations, including laptop computers that can be checked out to faculty and students. 

The Innovation and Research Commons (I&RC) provides access to the latest multimedia hardware and software along with on-site expertise to assist users – to include help with the Adobe Creative Cloud. The I&RC also contains a maker space where students from all schools may experiment with 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics stations, sewing machines, and advanced virtual reality and augmented reality equipment.

Reference service and library use instruction is provided by subject-specialist librarians. Draughon Library also features an expanded assistive technology workstation area on the second floor that hold three workstations with specialized software for helping vision-impaired patrons use library and Internet resources.

The Special Collections and Archives Department collects rare and unique material related to the history, literature and natural history of Alabama; the American Civil War; the history of aviation; and family history in the southeastern United States.

Library borrowing privileges are extended to enrolled students; members of the administrative, research, instructional and extension staffs of the university; student, faculty and staff spouses; and active alumni association members.