University of Minnesota Libraries

Name

University of Minnesota Libraries

Legal name

Regents of the University of Minnesota

Website

https://lib.umn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1869

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Interlibrary Loan (ILL) & Resource Sharing Operations (EDAEAGAK)

Keywords

• Academic library services
• Research collections support
• Course materials access
• Special collections archives
• Digital repository services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. University Funding: Primary funding comes from the University of Minnesota's operating budget as part of the state university's public funding model.
2. Student Fees: Course Works Complete program charges a flat fee of $279 per semester to undergraduate students for course materials including textbooks and readings.
3. Printing and Copying Services: Black-and-white prints at $0.10 per exposure ($0.20 double-sided), color prints at $0.50 per exposure ($1.00 double-sided). Scanning is free.
4. Fee-based Digitization Services: High-quality archival scanning services for digitization of materials from collections for both University affiliates and non-affiliates, with fees applying.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The University of Minnesota Libraries provides academic library services across 12 locations, including access to 7.7 million volumes and 112,309 serial subscriptions, interlibrary loan, course materials, research support, special collections, digital repositories, makerspaces, VR studios, peer tutoring, and digitization services. Primary users are University of Minnesota students, faculty, and researchers, with public access to selected resources and government publications for Minnesota, South Dakota, and Michigan.

Product overview

The University of Minnesota Libraries operates as a comprehensive academic library system comprising 12 locations with 7.7 million volumes and 112,309 serial subscriptions. The core offering centers on Libraries Search (Primo), a unified discovery platform accessing physical and digital collections including books, journals, articles, media, and archival materials. Key services include Interlibrary Loan & Digital Delivery for materials from external sources, Get It book delivery for campus routing, and Archives and Special Collections housing rare materials across 20+ distinct collections including the Children's Literature Research Collections (Kerlan Collection), Charles Babbage Institute Archives, and Tretter Collection. Digital infrastructure encompasses UMedia for digitized collections, the Digital Conservancy institutional repository, and DRUM data repository. Innovation spaces include Makerspaces with 3D printers and fabrication tools, The Toaster Innovation Hub for entrepreneurship, Virtual Reality Studios, and 1:Button video recording studios. Student support services feature Peer Research Consultants, Peer Tutoring for 250+ courses, Assignment Calculator planning tools, and Course Works Complete textbook program. Research support includes data services, systematic review assistance, copyright consultations, and publishing services. As a Federal Depository Library, it provides access to government publications for a three-state region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Minitex: An arm of the Libraries that embraces libraries through Minnesota and the Dakotas and offers the Minnesota Digital Library.
• Student Advisory Board

Products and services

• Libraries Search (Primo) Unified discovery platform enabling users to search and access books, articles, journals, streaming media, maps, music, and more across all University Libraries collections. Used by University students, faculty, and the public.
• Interlibrary Loan and Digital Delivery Free service for University of Minnesota students, faculty, and staff providing access to materials unavailable within the Libraries, including digital copies of articles and book chapters from print collections. Managed through ILLiad.
• Get It Book Delivery Delivery service routing loanable library materials to users' choice of campus library location or campus office, available to University of Minnesota affiliated users.
• Archives and Special Collections Department collecting and preserving archival records, personal papers, images, maps, films, videos, and rare books supporting interdisciplinary research. Available to everyone by appointment.
• UMedia Digital archive providing access to digitized materials from across the University, including Archives and Special Collections with images, manuscripts, maps, video, and audio.
• Digital Conservancy Institutional repository of the University of Minnesota providing free, public access and long-term preservation to work created at the U of M.
• Data Repository for the University of Minnesota (DRUM) Publicly available collection of digital research data generated by U of M researchers, students, and staff for search and download.
• Makerspaces Free-to-use creative spaces providing access to crafting/prototyping supplies, 3D printers, sewing machines, laser cutters, hand tools, and workshops for all skill levels.
• The Toaster Innovation Hub Innovation and entrepreneurship hub in Walter Library offering open study space, reservable meeting/workshop/event spaces, makerspace equipment, and student support for innovation projects.
• Virtual Reality Studio Space facilitating use and exploration of virtual worlds for education, research, and patient care. Free for U of M Twin Cities faculty, students, and staff.
• 1:Button Studios Fully automated HD video recording spaces with professional studio lighting and sound equipment for high-quality video projects without requiring technical knowledge.
• Peer Research Consultants (PRCs) Trained student consultants helping undergraduates with research papers, assignments, and getting started with faculty-sponsored research.
• Peer Tutoring Free tutoring program providing help with over 250 courses for currently-enrolled undergraduate students, including individual and drop-in group sessions.
• Assignment Calculator Online tool breaking down research and writing projects into manageable steps based on due dates, with hints and how-to links for each step.
• Children's Literature Research Collections (Kerlan Collection) World-renowned collection of children's literature including original manuscripts, artwork, books, comics, and related materials for historical and modern children's literature research.
• Course Works Complete Program automatically enrolling undergraduate students providing required textbooks and readings for courses, including library materials, open educational resources, journal articles, and courseware, at a flat fee of $279 per semester.
• Research Data Services Data management training, workshops, and bootcamps for individuals, lab groups, departments, and classes on research data best practices.
• Charles Babbage Institute Archives (CBI) Archives and research center promoting study and understanding of the history of information technology and its impact on society.
• Tretter Collection Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies including published materials, organizational records, and personal papers, home of the Tretter Transgender Oral History Project.
• Government Publications (Regional Depository) Access to federal, state, and local government information as a Regional Depository for Minnesota, South Dakota, and Michigan under the Federal Depository Library Program.
• Publishing Services Publishing services including consultations, journal publishing, books, and dynamic scholarly serials through the University of Minnesota Press.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students who use the Libraries tend to boost their GPAs and increase their chances of graduating within four years

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

Integration6 records

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• MinitexcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1969Minitex is a state library network operated by the University of Minnesota Libraries that embraces libraries through Minnesota and the Dakotas. It offers the Minnesota Digital Library and supports resource sharing across the region.
• Big Ten Academic AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA consortium of 19 libraries committed to managing all member libraries' collections as a single, fully networked library. Physical materials borrowed from Big Ten libraries usually arrive within 1 week and can be borrowed for 16 weeks with renewal.
• Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Minnesota Libraries serves as the Regional Depository for Minnesota, South Dakota, and Michigan, providing access to federal government publications and supporting participating depository libraries in the region.
• HathiTrust Digital LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership of academic and research institutions offering access to millions of digitized titles. The University of Minnesota participates, and eligible users with disabilities can access in-copyright materials through special arrangements.
• Minnesota Digital LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports discovery and education through access to unique digital collections shared by cultural heritage organizations from across Minnesota, including libraries, historical societies, museums, and archives.
• Umbra SearchnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMakes African American history more broadly accessible by bringing hundreds of thousands of digitized materials from over 1,000 libraries and archives together in one search. Hosted by the University of Minnesota Libraries.
• Library Accessibility AlliancenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded from the Big Ten Academic Alliance Libraries group to include additional consortia, working collectively on e-resource accessibility evaluations and standardized license language.
• University of Minnesota BookstorescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide freely available online required textbooks where possible through the Course Works Complete program, providing course materials to undergraduate students.
• Minnesota Landscape ArboretumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Andersen Horticultural Library at its Leon C. Snyder building, providing horticultural resources to Arboretum visitors and researchers.
• Subject Librarians NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubject librarians and department liaisons across academic departments support faculty and researchers by connecting them to materials, teaching classes, and supporting research.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Michigan Library: Large Big Ten academic research library system with comparable scale, deep special collections, and digital repository infrastructure. Most directly comparable AAU peer given public research university status and consortial participation.
• UC Berkeley Library: AAU public research university library with comparable collections scale, signature special collections, and federal depository status. Comparable on academic research library scale and digital initiatives.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries: Big Ten peer with similar scale of collections, regional library network responsibilities, and status as a public research university library. Strongly comparable in regional resource-sharing role.
• Michigan State University Libraries: Big Ten peer with similar public university library scale, regional responsibilities, and digital repository operations. Comparable in service breadth and consortial positioning.
• Ohio State University Libraries: Big Ten public university library with similar collections scale, large special collections, and digital preservation programs. Comparable in academic library operations and consortial activities.
• Indiana University Libraries: Big Ten peer with comparable special collections strength, digital scholarship programs, and Federal Depository Library designation. Comparable in academic library scale and digital infrastructure.
• Penn State University Libraries: Large public university library with multi-campus footprint, substantial special collections, and active participation in Big Ten resource sharing. Directly comparable in scale and service model.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library: Major Big Ten academic research library with comparable scale, repository services, and consortial leadership. Strongly comparable in serving a large public research university with regional responsibilities.

Others

• Minitex (University of Minnesota): Operated by UMN Libraries itself, but functions as a regional library cooperative across Minnesota and the Dakotas. Reference is included for context of the subject's regional extension role rather than as an external peer.

Regional players

• University of Iowa Libraries: Big Ten peer with public research university library profile, but with smaller scale and more limited regional reach than UMN. Comparable in consortial participation and service mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/umnLibraries
• Facebookfacebook.com/umnlib
• Instagraminstagram.com/umnlib
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-minnesota-libraries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 University of Minnesota Libraries