This was a banner year for UT Libraries. We kicked off 2023 with a rise in rankings, hosted several prominent exhibits, increased the number of students served, and opened a new makerspace.

Our faculty and staff enhanced the university’s research, teaching, and service mission through contributions to a new core curriculum for honors programs, and the Quality Enhancement Plan, a campus-wide initiative for improving student success.

We remain the heart of campus and a 24-hour hub for intellectual activity. Our goal in 2024 is to continue elevating the university, and in doing so, boost the academic experience of students and deepen and extend the university’s connection to Tennesseans and the world.

Here’s a look back at some of our 2023 highlights:

• Ranked 22nd among US public research libraries and 4th in SEC.

• Received a substantial grant to process and promote the Beauford Delaney Papers.

• Joined the Knox County Public Library in celebrating Clarence Brown. See items from collections Brown left to UT Libraries.

• Kicked off planning for the long-awaited Library Storage Annex.

• Opened the Medbery Makerspace, which allows students from all disciplines to engage in hands-on learning, try new tools and technologies, invent, design, and create.

• Hosted a national exhibit on mental health care and custody.

• Featured exhibits at the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives included our collections of editorial cartoonists, figure studies by artist Joseph Delaney, and keepsakes tied to Cormac McCarthy’s Suttree.

• Dean of Libraries Steve Smith joined Vice Provost for Student Success Amber Williams to serve a late-night breakfast to hundreds of students during finals week.

• UT Libraries’ staff, initiatives, resources, exhibits, and collections were featured in 22 news stories in local media including the Knoxville News Sentinel, WBIR Channel 10, WATE Channel 6 and WVLT Channel 8.

• UT Libraries was featured in 12 student news media stories, including in the Daily Beacon.