The UVA Library provides access to approximately 5 million books, 3 million e-books, nearly 500 journals, and more than 1,000 databases. That amount of available scholarship might feel overwhelming to someone sitting down to write a paper or begin a research project, but a handy tool can help students, faculty, and researchers alike quickly navigate and locate the specific information they need. Library subject guides (also known as LibGuides or just “Guides”) are carefully curated research companions organized by subject and created by librarians — think of them as a digital version of talking to an expert in any field of research.
UVA Library offers roughly 500 public LibGuides on 95 subjects (ranging from aerospace engineering to women, gender, and sexuality). Many guides are designed for specific UVA courses in consultation with instructors. Each guide is maintained by a specific librarian, Library team, or subject liaison — UVA Library specialists who can answer questions about certain areas of study. These subject matter experts update their LibGuides through the year to make sure they’re using best practices and listing the most up-to-date resources.
“On their guides, our expert liaisons have identified the most important resources for research in every subject taught at UVA (and for many specific courses) and have provided tips for finding the most relevant books, articles, images, datasets, and more,” said Chris Ruotolo, Director of the Research in the Arts and Humanities on the Library’s Research and Learning Services team. “We hope our LibGuides will save users time and make them feel more confident in their understanding of scholarship for a given subject or course.”
A new look, and widespread use
Last summer, the Library’s User Experience and Communications department “refreshed” every single LibGuide (scouring more than 3,500 web pages) to modernize the look and feel of the guides, as well as update all accessibility features. This process included applying contemporary visual styles, enlarging text and navigation for better mobile use, ensuring alt-text was present for images and descriptive text for links, and applying proper headers throughout.
The LibGuides platform is the third most popular of all Library websites, with more than a quarter million visits in 2025. The guides are also a component of the new UVA Library Portal, which all UVA courses now automatically have in their Canvas sites. The portals give students quick and easy access to Library resources, including specific LibGuides for their classes, requests for materials, librarian appointments, and the “Ask a Librarian” chat service. Instructors can access the portal directly from their Canvas course site menu and connect with liaison librarians for assistance.
“I use subject guides in my classes to extend learning beyond the classroom, giving students an easy way to find key resources and revisit core research skills and concepts we discuss together,” said Meridith Wolnick, Director of the Library’s Teaching & Learning team. “They function as a quick reference students can return to throughout the semester, especially when they are working independently.”
Wolnick added that the guide she relies on most, Source Evaluation, has been especially effective in supporting students as they navigate questions of credibility and information quality. “Faculty have also shared that the guide is a valuable tool in their efforts to help students understand truth and misinformation in today’s media landscape,” she said.
Explore our list of Library guides to see how they can sharpen your research. And remember, help through our ‘Ask a Librarian’ chat is always just a click away!