As I entered the University Libraries recently a thought occurred to me – about the hundreds of library users who were passing through the UA Libraries that day, among the thousand of users who were in our three campus libraries or accessing our e-resources from afar. Each one of them – students, scholars, researchers, alumni, and friends were seeking information and were depending on the UA Libraries for information, quickly, conveniently, and reliably.

To all of you who use the University Libraries with confidence thank you. We sincerely appreciate that despite the many options you have in seeking information, you continue to use and choose the Libraries of the University at Albany. Your confidence is well placed.

If you are new to the University at Albany, I look forward to having you visit one of our three campus libraries (University Library, Science Library, and Dewey Graduate Library) or access our substantial selection of online resources.

Since 1845, when the school’s first library was opened, the UA Libraries have been very successful at providing high quality library service. Now, more than 160 years later, assessment data indicates the UA Libraries continue to do a good job on delivering the information students and faculty need and when they need it. In addition, the UA Libraries continue to be ranked among the top 100 academic research libraries in North America.

The UA Libraries recognize that each new generation of students and scholars has new needs. The UA Libraries are moving ahead with many service enhancements and facility upgrades which will ensure our collections, operations, and services remain attractive and valued. The UA Libraries are now concentrating efforts on addressing these needs, plus offering the reliability, scope of service, and user focus that new and returning students and scholars want and deserve.

Although the Libraries have many goals, one key objective is to regularly communicate with our users--- new and old--- to let them know about how the UA Libraries continue to advance and evolve. Thanks for visiting the University Libraries today and we look forward to having you depend on us for your information needs during your tenure at the University at Albany.

Frank D’Andraia, Dean & Director of Libraries,
University at Albany, State University of New York