Auburn University Libraries

Name

Auburn University Libraries

Legal name

Auburn University Libraries

Website

https://lib.auburn.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Special Libraries (Law, Medical, Corporate, Government) Operations (EDAEAGAD), Library & Learning Space Managed Operations (Circulation, Scheduling, Staffing) (EDAEALAL)

Keywords

• Academic library services
• Scholarly research support
• Digital collections repository
• Interlibrary loan services
• Maker space technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. University Funding: Primary funding from Auburn University institutional budget and Alabama state appropriations as a public university library system.
2. Fee-Based Services: Fee-based research service (InfoQuest) offering rush document delivery; fee-based ILL for some external users; Special Borrowers Cards for non-eligible visitors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Auburn University Libraries operates a multi-branch academic library system providing physical and digital access to more than 7.5 million volumes, electronic databases, special collections, and advanced research technology (MakerSpace, VR/AR, Bloomberg Terminal, Adobe Creative Cloud). It supports teaching, research, and learning for Auburn University students, faculty, staff, and distance education users through discovery and catalog platforms, instruction, interlibrary loan, and the Innovation & Research Commons. Library services are provided free of direct charge to the campus community, with select fee-based services for external users.

Product overview

Auburn University Libraries operates as a comprehensive academic library system consisting of three physical library locations (Ralph Brown Draughon Library as the main library, plus Library of Architecture Design and Construction and Charles Allen Cary Veterinary Medical Library as branch libraries) serving Auburn University's research and educational needs. The library offers a unified search platform called Discovery alongside specialized products including the AU Scholarly Repository (Aurora) for institutional research, AU Digital Collections for archival materials, and the AubieCat catalog system. The Innovation & Research Commons (I&RC) serves as a central hub offering specialized spaces and equipment including MakerSpace, Extended Reality Space, DataSpace, Audio Studio, Adobe Creative Space, Digital Wall, and Tech Lending. Additional services include a Bloomberg Terminal for business research, Special Collections & Archives with rare books and manuscripts, Interlibrary Loan through ILLiad, Library Tutorials for research skill development, Study Room reservations, Laptop Checkout, Course Reserves, Remote Lab access, and participation in the ALLIES consortium with other Alabama academic libraries. The library also provides access to hundreds of electronic databases and journals through partnerships with vendors including EBSCO, ProQuest, OpenAthens, JoVE, Wall Street Journal, and The Economist.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ralph Brown Draughon Library Main library facility of Auburn University Libraries with more than 4,800 study seats, open 24 hours during peak study periods. Houses Special Collections & Archives and the Innovation & Research Commons.
• Library of Architecture, Design and Construction (LADC) Branch library serving Auburn University's College of Architecture, Design and Construction with specialized collections and resources for architecture and design disciplines.
• Charles Allen Cary Veterinary Medical Library Branch library serving Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine with specialized veterinary medical resources and collections.
• Innovation & Research Commons (I&RC) Comprehensive research support hub within the Ralph Brown Draughon Library offering DataSpace, Adobe Creative Space, MakerSpace, Extended Reality Space, Tech Lending, Audio Studio, and Digital Wall services for data-intensive research and digital creation.
• Discovery Search Platform Unified search platform for finding articles, books, and other resources across all Auburn University Libraries collections using a single search interface.
• AubieCat Library Catalog Classic library catalog system for searching and managing Auburn University Libraries' physical materials, including renewals, recalls, and course reserves. Requires GlobalProtect VPN for off-campus access.
• AU Scholarly Repository (Aurora) Digital institutional repository for preserving and providing open access to Auburn University scholarly works, research articles, theses, and dissertations.
• AU Digital Collections Digital collections featuring digitized special collections materials, historical documents, photographs, and archival content from Auburn University Libraries.
• AU Electronic Theses & Dissertations Digital repository for Auburn University's electronic theses and dissertations, providing access to graduate student research.
• Bloomberg Terminal 24-hour global financial services terminal providing Auburn University business students and researchers with access to real-time and historical financial, economic, and market data covering all market sectors.
• Special Collections & Archives Repository of rare books, archival materials, Truman Capote collection, F. Scott Fitzgerald collection, Civil War memoirs, aviation history materials, historical documents, and the Treasure Collection.
• Interlibrary Loan & AubiExpress Service for requesting materials not owned by Auburn University Libraries from other research institutions, including the AubiExpress courier delivery service within the ALLIES consortium.
• ALLIES Consortium (Alabama LIbraries Exchange Service) Consortium service allowing Auburn University patrons to request and check out materials from Auburn University at Montgomery and Jacksonville State University libraries, with materials circulating for 28 days plus one 28-day renewal.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 4,800 study seats available seven days a week during fall and spring semesters
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ALLIES Consortium (Alabama LIbraries Exchange Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-institutional partnership among Alabama academic libraries for cooperative resource sharing. AU patrons can request materials from partner libraries (Auburn Montgomery, Jacksonville State) with delivery to AU pickup locations. Materials circulate for 28 days with one 28-day renewal. The consortium serves currently enrolled students, active faculty/staff, and retired faculty.
• Alabama Virtual Library (AVL)minorOthersStatewide virtual library providing access to electronic databases and resources funded by Alabama citizens through tax dollars. AU Libraries provides local access point for AVL resources.
• Raymond J. Harbert College of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerous funding for Bloomberg Terminal placement in Ralph Brown Draughon Library Learning Commons, providing business students and researchers access to professional financial data and analytics tools.
• Miller Writing CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing complementary student support services. Located on Auburn campus, the Writing Center works with library services to support student research and writing needs.
• Office of Information Technology (OIT)coreTechnology or IntegrationCritical technology partnership providing campus-wide IT infrastructure including GlobalProtect VPN (required for off-campus resource access), network services, and integration with university systems.
• Academic SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus academic support partnership providing complementary tutoring and academic assistance services that work with library research instruction.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mississippi State University Libraries: Another Southeastern public-research-university library with comparable size, branch operations, special collections, and a focus on serving land-grant disciplines similar to Auburn's agriculture/vet medicine programs.
• University of Tennessee Libraries: Public research university library operating similar services — multi-branch access, digital scholarship, makerspace-style labs, and subject librarian programs — at a comparable scale.
• Virginia Tech Libraries: Large public research university library with similar offerings: discovery platforms, scholarly repository, special collections, makerspaces/creation spaces, and course-integrated library instruction.
• Clemson University Libraries: Public research university library in the Southeast operating multi-branch facilities, special collections, and digital scholarship services for a comparable student population and disciplinary mix.
• University of Florida Libraries: Another large public research university library system in the Southeast with comparable scope — multi-branch operations, extensive government documents, digital collections, and advanced technology-rich spaces.
• University of Georgia Libraries: Major SEC public-research-university library system with comparable collection scale, special collections/archives, digital repository (Georgia Open Scholar), and an Innovation Lab/ makerspace analogous to Auburn's I&RC.
• LSU Libraries: SEC peer with a comparable combination of main library plus branch libraries, Special Collections (notably the Hill Memorial Library), government documents, and digital repository infrastructure.
• University of Alabama Libraries: The library system of Auburn's primary in-state peer, a large public research university in Tuscaloosa. Operates similar branch libraries, special collections, digital scholarship, and subject-librarian models serving a comparable student/faculty base.
• University of Mississippi Libraries: In-state regional peer (SEC-adjacent public university) operating multi-branch libraries, special collections, digital repository, and subject-librarian instructional support for a comparable campus population.
• Texas A&M University Libraries: Major public land-grant research university library with comparable scale, multi-branch structure, government documents depository status, special collections, and a strong digital library program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aulibraries
• YouTubeyoutube.com/auburnlibraries
• Facebookfacebook.com/auburnlibraries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auburn-university-libraries
• Instagraminstagram.com/aulibraries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Auburn University Libraries