Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library

What Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library does

The Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library is the primary graduate-level research library within the University of Michigan Library system, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It operates as a department of a public state university and serves U-M graduate students, faculty, and researchers, with limited on-site access for the general public. Its core offerings include a comprehensive catalog and article-search platform (Library Search), access to scholarly databases such as PubMed, JSTOR, Web of Science, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost, the Special Collections Research Center housing approximately 300,000 volumes and over 8,000 linear feet of archival and manuscript material, a Digital Collections platform with digital preservation services, an interlibrary loan program, an Ask a Librarian reference service, subject-curated Research Guides, study and creation spaces including the Shapiro Design Lab, and a multi-blog content network. Auxiliary branch libraries in the same system (Shapiro Library, Art/Architecture/Engineering Library, Taubman Health Sciences Library) extend coverage across humanities, social sciences, engineering, and health sciences.

The library is built on conventional information-retrieval infrastructure: a unified catalog and database discovery layer, Shibboleth-based authentication, a proxy server and Lean Library Access browser extension for off-campus use, and a digital preservation pipeline documented through the Bits and Pieces blog. Services are delivered free of charge to U-M affiliates, with some resources (e.g., online standards) restricted to U-M Ann Arbor faculty and students. The institution does not operate on a commercial revenue model; it is funded through state appropriations, university budget allocations, student fees, and donor contributions, including recent endowment activity. Distribution is domestic and concentrated on a single campus, with interlibrary loan providing regional access to materials outside local collections.

Name

Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library

Legal name

University of Michigan Library

Website

https://lib.umich.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library is the primary graduate research library of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, providing catalog access, scholarly databases, rare special collections, digital preservation, research consultations, and study spaces to U-M students, faculty, and researchers as a publicly funded unit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Library Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Academic library services
• Research databases
• Special collections
• Interlibrary loan
• Digital preservation

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library is the primary graduate-level research library of the University of Michigan Library system, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It provides physical and digital access to scholarly databases, special collections, archival materials, study spaces, and reference/research consultation services for U-M students, faculty, and staff, and offers limited on-site public access to its collections.

Product overview

The University of Michigan Library system, which includes the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library as a primary location, operates as a comprehensive academic research library providing interconnected services. The core offerings include the Research Guides (subject-specific curated help pages), Library Databases (access to scholarly databases like PubMed, JSTOR, Web of Science), Special Collections Research Center (archival and rare materials), Digital Collections platform, Copyright Services, Interlibrary Loan, Ask a Librarian reference services, Study Spaces, Shapiro Design Lab (creation/maker space), and Library Blogs. The library system also includes several specialized branch libraries: Shapiro Library (main undergraduate), Art/Architecture/Engineering Library, and Taubman Health Sciences Library, all connected through the unified Library Catalog Search.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library The primary graduate-level research library at the University of Michigan, housing extensive collections, study spaces, and specialized research services within the university's library system, serving graduate students, faculty, and researchers.
• Research Guides Web pages curated by library experts offering how-to support and information about recommended library resources, organized by academic subject, course, or special research skill area for U-M students and faculty.
• Library Databases Access to scholarly databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, JSTOR, Web of Science, ProQuest, WorldCat, and EBSCOhost for research and article discovery.
• Copyright Services Provides information and education about copyright law, including rights of users, permission, public domain guidance, and person-to-person consultation services for U-M faculty, staff, and students.
• Special Collections Research Center Houses approximately 300,000 volumes and more than 8,000 linear feet of archival and manuscript material, including distinguished authors, medieval manuscripts, early printed books (350+ incunables), and American culinary history collections.
• Digital Collections Online platform providing access to digitized library materials, archival finding aids, and digital scholarship resources.
• Interlibrary Loan Free service enabling U-M faculty, staff, and students to request materials not owned by University of Michigan Libraries from other institutions.
• Ask a Librarian Virtual and in-person reference services connecting users with library specialists for research assistance at any stage of their project.
• Study Spaces Filtered search for library study spaces by building, noise level, and features to find ideal study locations across library locations on the Ann Arbor campus.
• Shapiro Design Lab Creation and learning space offering 3D printing, media production rooms, PIE space, and workshops for students, faculty, and staff.
• Library Catalog Search Comprehensive search for all physical and digital materials held by U-M Library, including books, periodicals, audio/video, maps, musical scores, and archival materials.
• Shapiro Library Main undergraduate library housing social sciences, humanities, and business collections, with extensive study spaces and research services.
• Art, Architecture, and Engineering Library Specialized library providing resources for engineering, architecture, and art research with access to standards databases and specialized equipment.
• Taubman Health Sciences Library Health sciences library providing medical, nursing, and health-related research resources and services.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• University of Michigan Library (system): The broader University of Michigan Library system of which Hatcher is the primary graduate library. Directly comparable in collections, services, and digital infrastructure, but operated at system level rather than as a single location.

Direct peers

• Harvard Library: Harvard University's library system—another leading R1 research library with extensive special collections, digital preservation services, FDLP-equivalent status, and rich research-guides infrastructure. Directly comparable in mission, scale, and service mix.
• Stanford Libraries: Stanford's library system, including Green, Meyer, and branches serving engineering, health, and business. Directly comparable as a leading research university library investing heavily in digital infrastructure and special collections.
• UC Berkeley Library: The University of California, Berkeley's library is a publicly funded R1 research library of similar scale to U-M, with comparable special collections, FDLP status, and broad disciplinary branch structure.
• Yale University Library: Yale's library system, including the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library and Sterling Memorial Library. Comparable as a top-tier R1 library with significant rare holdings and digital scholarship programs.
• Columbia University Libraries: Columbia's 20+ library system serves a leading R1 university and offers the same mix of special collections, research consultations, digital scholarship support, and FDLP-equivalent access.
• Princeton University Library: Princeton's library system—another elite R1 research library with strong special collections, digital initiatives, and graduate-research focus analogous to what Hatcher provides at U-M.
• MIT Libraries: MIT Libraries serve a leading R1 institution and combine traditional academic library services with strong digital scholarship, data management, and maker-oriented spaces (similar to the Shapiro Design Lab).
• University of Chicago Library: The University of Chicago Library serves a comparable R1 research mission with similar graduate-research emphasis, special collections, and digital infrastructure investments.

Others

• OCLC: OCLC is a non-profit library services and cooperative infrastructure provider that powers catalog and resource-sharing tools used by the Hatcher Library and most comparable academic libraries—an enabling/ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/umichlibrary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/umlibrary/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/110483979013559
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harlan-hatcher-graduate-library

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library