2025 Annual Report
university of virginia library
2025 Annual Report
University of Virginia Library
Letter from John Unsworth
The Library's 2025 annual report is the first to be produced only in digital form: the Library's tradition of producing these reports in print has finally been overtaken by increased prices for paper and postage. Nonetheless, I think you will find this report as readable, informative, and well-designed as its predecessors. This report also marks another transition — a change in Library leadership, with my retirement and the appointment of Leo Lo as the 17th University Librarian. Looking back at the list of University Librarians, I feel a special kinship with the 10th Librarian, Harry Clemons, for whom Clemons Library was named.
What have we been up to this year?
Explore the tabs below!
A notable year
Visitors flooded to the newly renovated Shannon Library, the University Librarian retired and a new Dean of Libraries — an expert in AI literacy — joined us in September, we mourned the passing of a former UVA president who loved the Library, and we celebrated our most successful fundraising campaign ever.
A Library for the present and the future: Growth & change
UVA Library explored new frontiers in research, acquisitions, and programming.
- The colors are brilliant, and the poisons are real
- He escaped the Holocaust as a child. His son donated his belongings to Special Collections
- Collections grow to meet University needs
- Removing barriers: Advancing digital accessibility across the Library
- Artist in residence creates “An Atmosphere Akin to Freedom”
Supporting academics and education
UVA Library’s mission is to provide access to accumulated knowledge.
Something for everyone: Activities & events
In addition to advancing learning, UVA Library also strives to strengthen our community.
A special place: Exhibitions, art, & spaces
UVA has six library locations, each with unique places to study, learn, and create.
- Through a Harlem Renaissance poet’s garden, and into her work and life
- Rehousing a vital collection for Tibetan Buddhism
- Early observatories, modernism, a bicentennial celebration, and “the greatest remaining private collection” of its kind
- ‘Free to Be’: Shannon art installation investigates our shared Charlottesville landscape
Visitors flooded to the newly renovated Shannon Library, the University Librarian retired and a new Dean of Libraries — an expert in AI literacy — joined us in September, we mourned the passing of a former UVA president who loved the Library, and we celebrated our most successful fundraising campaign ever.
A Library for the present and the future: Growth & change
UVA Library explored new frontiers in research, acquisitions, and programming.
- The colors are brilliant and the poisons are real
- He escaped the Holocaust as a child. His son donated his belongings to Special Collections
- Collections grow to meet University needs
- Removing barriers: Advancing digital accessibility across the Library
- Artist in residence creates “An Atmosphere Akin to Freedom”
Supporting academics and education
UVA Library’s mission is to provide access to accumulated knowledge.
Something for everyone
In addition to advancing learning, UVA Library also strives to strengthen our community.
A special place: Exhibitions, art, & spaces
UVA has six library locations, each with unique places to study, learn, and create.
- Through a Harlem Renaissance poet’s garden, and into her work and life
- Rehousing a vital collection for Tibetan Buddhism
- Early observatories, modernism, a bicentennial celebration, and “the greatest remaining private collection” of its kind
- ‘Free to Be’: Shannon art installation investigates our shared Charlottesville landscape