Libraries

The Libraries of the Big Ten Academic Alliance are aligned in the vision of uniting our separate collections into one collection, shared and fully networked: the BIG Collection. By this phrase we mean a holistic and comprehensive understanding of what a library "collection" is: not simply the things we hold, but our services; our people; our expertise; our technology; and our infrastructure.

In advancing this future of interdependence and excellence, we are guided by our North Star in everything that we do:

In order to advance a just, trustworthy, scalable & sustainable open knowledge ecosystem, make open, more equitable scholarship our lead purpose.

On these pages, you'll find more about the services, programs, and community that are advancing this vision in a principles-centered, mission-driven, values-aligned way.

Library Accessibility Group webinar: Revised ADA Title II in the Library

The slides and recording from the webinar on August 27, 2024 are now available.

Academy Owned Scholarly Publishing Landscape Report

Launched in the fall of 2022, the Big Ten Academic Alliance [BTAA] landscape assessment of academy owned scholarly publishing activities explores the shared challenges and opportunities facing publishing programs and operations within the Big Ten institutions.

Big Ten Open Books

Big Ten Open Books connects readers everywhere to fully accessible, trusted books from leading university presses. Established as a new model for open-access publishing focused on equity and inclusion, we invite you to explore our Gender and Sexuality studies collection.

BIG Collection: Resource Access Policy Harmonization Report

The Resource Access Policy Harmonization pilot team is pleased to share their final report. Aspirational in nature, the report includes the new BTAA Resource Sharing Agreement plus Scanning Standards; reaffirms the Principles and Protocols for Sharing Special Collections within the Big Ten; and articulates important next steps for future pilot projects and working group investigations.

Library News

Research Matters: UMD Talk Show Focuses on the CIC

Apr 25, 2013, 11:49 AM

CIC Executive Director, Barbara McFadden Allen, joined UMD's Senior Vice President and Provost, Mary Ann Rankin, along with UMD Dean of Libraries, Patricia Steele, to talk about the many opportunities for collaboration between UMD and the member universities of the CIC.

Screenshot of UMD's Research Matters video

Opportunities and impact were the focus of the University of Maryland's "Research Matters" program about UMD becoming a member institution of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation.

CIC Executive Director, Barbara McFadden Allen, joined UMD's Senior Vice President and Provost, Mary Ann Rankin, along with UMD Dean of Libraries, Patricia Steele, to talk about the many opportunities for collaboration between UMD and the member universities of the CIC.

Hosted by Don Kettl, UMD Dean of Public Policy, the conversation centered around CIC programs for faculty development, student opportunities, and research synergies. Steele elaborated on the access to CIC universities' library resources. Through the CIC's award-winning UBorrow program, students throughout the CIC have access to 90 million volumes from across the consortium's libraries. Along with the CIC's Shared Print initiative and Government Documents project, Steel said the relationship with the CIC was "transformational."

For more on the University of Maryland entering the CIC, please visit the expansion area of the CIC web site.