UA’s University Libraries Mark 1 Millionth User Since August 2011

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University Libraries at The University of Alabama will select its 1 millionth student visitor  in a ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 1, in Gorgas Library at the first-floor entrance.

The occasion will honor the 1 millionth person who has used the library since Aug. 1, 2011. Prizes for the visitor will include a $100 gift certificate to UA’s SupeStore as well as party food and favors.

The event will mark the increase in use University Libraries have seen in recent years. Since 2002, visits to University Libraries are up 70 percent – more than the increase in enrollment. Visits to the Gorgas Library alone are up more than 116 percent, said Dr. Louis A. Pitschmann, dean of libraries.

The libraries continue to provide still-needed traditional collections and services while adding 21^st century services including online resources and spaces where students can use computers and technology, Pitschmann said. Students are coming to the libraries to use computers with the latest productivity and academic software programs and to take advantage of group and individual study spaces.

Since 2003, University Libraries has moved from 97th to 56th among the top 115 private and public university libraries in the United States and Canada which qualify for membership in the Association of Research Libraries.