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Academic vs. Public Libraries

There are many different kinds of libraries in the world, but public libraries are usually the ones we grow up with and are most familiar with. Then, when we go to college, we encounter academic libraries like the UDC Library. How are public and academic libraries the same? How are they different? We’ll break it down.

Let’s begin with the similarities. Public and academic libraries both aim to support research, learning, and literacy and seek to do this in a few ways:

• They both offer physical spaces for the community to read, learn, study, and meet.
• They both offer resources – computers, printers, print and electronic books, databases, digital resources, multimedia, and more – for the community to use or borrow for free.
• They are both staffed by librarians and library professionals whose job is to help the community use the spaces and resources. They can help with using technology, navigating library collections, finding materials, and more.

While there are many similarities, public and academic libraries differ in the primary populations and types of resources they offer:

• While public libraries are intended to serve the general public—children, teens, and adults of all ages—where they are located, academic libraries strongly focus on serving the students, faculty, and staff of a university (though many academic libraries do allow visitors who are not affiliated with the university).
• Academic libraries offer more specialized resources targeted to an academic audience and the academic pursuits of a university—its programs of study, classroom learning and teaching, and scholarly research. But since public libraries serve a broader population, they have a wider selection of resources and offer more materials for general audiences, personal interests, and entertainment.