University of Tennessee Libraries

Name

University of Tennessee Libraries

Legal name

University of Tennessee Libraries

Website

https://lib.utk.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1794

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), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Libraries (Law, Medical, Corporate, Government) Operations (EDAEAGAD), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Academic library services
• Scholarly research databases
• Special collections archives
• Library makerspace services
• Academic publishing press

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. University Appropriations: Primary funding from University of Tennessee general budget allocations, supporting core operations, collections, staffing, and facilities.
2. Printing and Production Services: Large format (poster) printing services at Pendergrass and Hodges libraries. Fees for printing on various paper sizes and types. Revenue supports equipment maintenance and supplies.
3. UT Press Publications: University of Tennessee Press generates revenue through sale of academic books, regional titles, and children's books published through UT Press Books for Young Readers.
4. Donations and Endowments: Philanthropic contributions through the John C. Hodges Society, Big Orange Give campaigns, and direct donations support library collections, programs, and facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

University of Tennessee Libraries operates as a comprehensive academic library system serving the University of Tennessee, Knoxville community. It provides access to extensive physical and digital collections, research support from subject specialist librarians, Special Collections and University Archives, technology services (3D printing, VR, media production, large format printing), adaptive/assistive technology, and scholarly publishing through multiple branch libraries and the OneSearch discovery platform.

Product overview

University of Tennessee Libraries operates as a comprehensive academic library system consisting of multiple physical locations and digital services. The core product is OneSearch, a unified discovery platform powered by Ex Libris Primo that provides access to the library's catalog, databases, digital collections, and resources. Supporting services include traditional library offerings (research assistance, interlibrary loan, special collections) and technology-enabled facilities such as The Studio (media production lab with audio/video/VR capabilities), Medbery Makerspace (3D printing and fabrication), Audio Studios, Media Production Studio, and eXperience Point Gaming Lab. Branch libraries include Hodges Library (main), Pendergrass Agriculture/Veterinary Medicine Library, and DeVine Music Library. The system also manages University of Tennessee Press and community outreach programs including BOSS STEM Saturday and 2ndBRIDGE.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OneSearch: Library discovery and search platform for articles, books, and resources
• Hodges Library
• The Studio
• Medbery Makerspace
• BOSS (Big Orange STEM Saturday)
• 2ndBRIDGE

Products and services

• OneSearch Central discovery platform that allows users to search across the library's print and electronic collections, including books, articles, databases, and digital materials, with integrated access to full-text resources via tools like LibKey Nomad. Used by UT students, faculty, and researchers for academic research and coursework.
• Research Guides (LibGuides) Subject- and course-specific research guides curated by subject specialist librarians to help students and faculty navigate databases, primary sources, and scholarly resources for their disciplines.
• Digital Collections Online platform providing access to digitized unique materials from the library's Special Collections, including photographs, manuscripts, oral histories, and other primary source materials, available to researchers and the public.
• Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad) Service that enables UT students, faculty, and staff to borrow books and obtain copies of articles and book chapters from other libraries worldwide when materials are not available in the UT collection.
• Special Collections Request (Aeon) Request and paging system that allows researchers to schedule access to rare books, manuscripts, University Archives materials, and other unique items held in Special Collections.
• Medbery Makerspace Makerspace providing students and faculty with access to tools and equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, and other fabrication technologies for academic and creative projects.
• Audio Studios Soundproof recording studios equipped for audio capture, podcasting, music recording, and audio editing, available to UT students, faculty, and staff for academic and creative work.
• Media Production Studio Studio equipped for video production, including cameras, lighting, green screen, and editing workstations, supporting student and faculty multimedia projects.
• Studio VR Room Virtual reality space offering VR headsets and immersive experiences for coursework, research projects, and creative exploration across disciplines.
• eXperience Point Gaming Lab Gaming lab providing access to video games and gaming hardware for student and faculty use, supporting coursework, research, and recreational activity.
• 3D Printing Service Service offering 3D printing of student, faculty, and staff designs for academic projects, prototypes, and creative work, available through the Medbery Makerspace.
• Large Format Printing and Scanning Service providing large format printing, poster printing, and scanning of oversized documents, maps, and images for academic presentations and research.
• Equipment Loans Loaner program allowing UT students, faculty, and staff to borrow cameras, laptops, calculators, and other equipment for short-term academic use.
• Adaptive Technology Assistive technologies and accessible workstations provided by the library to support patrons with disabilities in accessing library resources and physical spaces.
• University of Tennessee Press Scholarly publishing imprint housed within the library system that publishes academic books on topics relating to Tennessee, the South, and regional studies.
• Hodges Library Main library building on the UT Knoxville campus housing the primary collections, research services, makerspaces, media studios, and study spaces.
• Pendergrass Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Library Branch library serving the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Herbert College of Agriculture with subject-specific collections and research support.
• DeVine Music Library Branch library supporting the School of Music with collections of scores, recordings, and music reference resources.
• Special Collections and University Archives Facility and service housing rare books, manuscripts, University Archives, and unique primary source materials, providing research access, instruction, and digitization services.
• Board Game Collection Circulating collection of board games available for borrowing by UT students, faculty, and staff for recreational and community-building use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 22nd among US Public Research Libraries, 4th in SEC

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• USPTO Patent & Trademark Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2026UT Libraries has been designated as a Patent & Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The grand opening is scheduled for August 14, 2026, at Hodges Library. This partnership provides access to patent databases, trademark resources, and intellectual property support for researchers and entrepreneurs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• University of Michigan Library: Larger, top-tier R1 research library that sets the benchmark UT Libraries compares against. Similar digital infrastructure and special collections scope, but materially larger budget and footprint.
• Penn State University Libraries: Major public R1 library system with similar multi-branch structure, technology services, and broad curricular support. Comparable in operational scale and service breadth.
• Ohio State University Libraries: Large Big Ten research library with comparable scope, makerspace offerings, and special collections. Functions as a broader incumbent in the same R1 public university library category.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library: One of the largest US public research libraries with comparable digital infrastructure, special collections, and STEM-focused services. Represents an aspirational incumbent peer.

Direct peers

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries: SEC/ACC peer flagship university library with similar ARL ranking, special collections depth, and Southern regional focus. Direct comparison point for special collections and humanities support.
• University of Georgia Libraries: SEC peer and fellow flagship state university library with comparable ARL standing, regional special collections focus, and similar service portfolio. Direct competitor for SEC library rankings and shared consortia participation.
• Texas A&M University Libraries: SEC peer with comparable scale, agriculture/veterinary library branch structure (paralleling Pendergrass), and similar land-grant university library mission. Direct comparable for agricultural and STEM research support.
• University of Florida Libraries: Peer R1 public research university library system with similar ARL-tier ranking, comparable special collections, and parallel digital discovery platform (Primo/OneSearch). Directly comparable on collections, faculty services, and technology infrastructure.
• University of Virginia Library: Public flagship research library with comparable ARL tier, strong special collections (including Digital Collections), and similar liaison librarian model. Closely comparable on services for a state flagship.
• Indiana University Libraries: Public R1 university library system with strong special collections, university press operations, and similar scholarly communication programs. Directly comparable on academic publishing and digital scholarship services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/utklibraries
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UTKLibraries
• Facebookfacebook.com/utklibraries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utklibraries
• Instagraminstagram.com/utklibraries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 University of Tennessee Libraries