Libraries

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.

web accessibility
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
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


Maurice York Appointed Director of Library Initiatives

May 5, 2020, 11:00 AM

The Big Ten Academic Alliance is delighted to announce that Maurice York has been appointed as the new Director of Library Initiatives, effective May 21, 2020. Headquartered in the Midwest, the Big Ten Academic Alliance is the nation’s preeminent model for effective collaboration among research universities. With a 62-year history of substantive collaboration, the Big Ten and University of Chicago libraries pursue collective action to provide robust and enduring access to information resources, to advance models for more open and sustainable scholarship, and to engage shared investment in programs of efficiency and impact across the consortium.

In welcoming Maurice, Keith Marshall, Executive Director of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, said, "Maurice is an accomplished library leader with a deep commitment to the collaboration and collective action that define the Big Ten Academic Alliance. We are confident he will help us continue to advance the impact and reputation of the Big Ten Academic Alliance library initiatives and achieve the ambitious goals of the BIG Collective Collection."

Maurice YorkMaurice comes to the Big Ten Academic Alliance from the University of Michigan where he has served as Associate University Librarian for Library Information Technology. Prior to his time at the University of Michigan, Maurice held a series of progressively responsible positions at Bard College, Emory University and North Carolina State University. He also has been an active and visionary leader in numerous national initiatives designed to ensure the open access of knowledge in the public interest through collective action.

Maurice holds a Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies from Bard College and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“I’m excited to have Maurice as the next director of Big Ten Academic Alliance library initiatives,” said Sarah Pritchard, chair of the Big Ten Academic Alliance Library Directors group.  “He is so familiar with major national consortial projects and with the record of work in the Big Ten itself, that he will be able to effectively carry forward the venturesome strategies we have outlined.”