About the Libraries

Welcome to the University Libraries and the Anderson Academic Commons

The library is the heart of the university — our collections, services, and study spaces are central to every student's educational journey, and the Anderson Academic Commons (AAC) sits at the center of campus. The AAC combines the University of Denver's main library and many academic support services in one convenient location where we enhance student learning with support for research, writing, and information literacy.

Our library offers a rich collection of books, journals, primary sources, and media, but beyond the collections, we connect students, faculty, staff, and the broader University community to knowledge. Scholarly information is offered in a variety of formats and we strive to make access to this knowledge as straightforward as possible for our students. We provide access through our website, where you can learn more about the resources and services available, and we offer research consultations and instructional sessions to help our community understand how to find, assess, and use information.

The AAC is a technology-rich collaborative space that offers group study rooms, booths, quiet zones, and areas for individual study. Whether your preference is for minimal noise and distraction, immersive individual study, intensive group work, or social study among friends with food or coffee from the Front Porch Café, the AAC provides a space.

The AAC also provides a variety of services. Between the Research Center, the Writing Center, the Digital Media Center, the IT Help Center, the Math Center, the Center for World Languages and Cultures, the Science and Engineering Center, and Special Collections and Archives, students can find support for a range of learning and research needs.

We know that for far too long institutions of higher education, their libraries, and the knowledge they provide have been available primarily to the privileged. We affirm that the Anderson Academic Commons and the University Libraries belong to the entire DU community and we welcome visitors from Denver and beyond. We are deeply committed to diversifying our collections, developing inclusive services, and ensuring that our spaces are welcoming to all who might use the Libraries. We’re actively assessing our facilities, our collections, and our web presence to ensure that the AAC, the Bonfils-Stanton Music Library, the Hampden Center, and our website are accessible and inclusive. We’re committed to this work, but we know there is always more to do. Please stop in and visit me or share your suggestions with us so we can ensure a supportive learning environment for everyone.

  • About the Dean, Michael Levine-Clark

    As Dean of the University of Denver Libraries since 2016, Michael Levine-Clark oversees the Anderson Academic Commons — a vibrant, innovative, student-focused space that combines the library with other academic support services; the Bonfils-Stanton Music Library; and the Hampden Center – an off-campus facility where the bulk of the collections are housed.

    Michael has been at DU since 1999 where he has held a variety of other positions, including Associate Dean for Scholarly Communication and Collections services, Collections Librarian, and Reference Librarian.

    He is the author of dozens of publications about academic library collections, trends in scholarly communication, and library collaboration. He is a frequent presenter at publisher and library events, and has been invited to speak on six continents.

    He served as co-editor of the 4th edition of The Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences and co-author of the 4th edition of the ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science. He helped found the open access journal Collaborative Librarianship, and continues to serve on its editorial board.

    As co-chair of the NISO Recommended Practices for Demand Driven Acquisition of Monographs, he co-authored the recommended practices document. For his work on e-books and demand-driven acquisition models, he received the 2015 Harrasowitz Leadership in Library Acquisitions Award.

    Michael has held leadership roles in many library organizations. Among his current roles, he is:

    • Chair of the Greater Western Library Alliance (GWLA) Board of Directors
    • Co-Chair of the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries Shared Collection Development Committee
    • Member of the OCLC Global Council and Americas Regional Council
    • Member and Past-Chair of the Western Regional Trust Executive Committee
    • Chair of the Rosemont Shared Print Alliance Executive Committee
    • Member of the Colorado OER Council

     

    He has served on the advisory boards of over twenty publishers and library vendors, including current membership on:

    • Cambridge University Press North American Library Advisory Board and Global Library Advisory Board
    • Elsevier North American Library Advisory Board
    • JSTOR Library Advisory Group
    • Oxford University Press Library Advisory Group
    • ProQuest North American Library Advisory Board
    • Reveal Digital Executive Committee
    • Springer Nature Americas Library Advisory Board
    • Wiley Library Advisory Board