The Edgar Shannon Library is the University of Virginia’s social sciences and humanities library. At 230,000 square feet, it is also UVA’s largest library and acts as the central library for the UVA Library system. The social sciences and humanities collection consists of more than a million volumes, and Shannon Library also holds about 150 staff.
The building was originally constructed in the 1930s in response to a need for a new and larger library to replace the Rotunda. It opened in 1938 as Alderman Library, named for UVA’s first president. After a major renovation in the early 2020s, it reopened in 2024 and was renamed after Edgar Shannon, the fourth president of the University.
The 2020s renovation removed and replaced the central and north areas of the building, and completely updated the east, west, and south wings (known as the building’s “historic envelope”).
Extra credit
Back in 1938, the library originally opened with 43 staff and a little more than 303,000 volumes. It was completed under budget at a total expense of $950,909 with funds from the Public Works Administration.
Start the tour
This tour will guide you through select spaces in Shannon Library, encompassing both the refurbished historic envelope of the building and the new construction in the central and north areas. You can begin this tour on any of Shannon Library’s five floors (the basement is a staff-only area). You will be guided through each floor and can then move to the floor you’d like to explore next. You should allow yourself an hour for a tour that visits all five floors.
Each floor has central area, located between the central stairs and elevators, with entrances to the east, west, and south wings of the building, and direct access to the stacks. Women’s and men’s restrooms are just inside the entrance to the east and west wing, respectively (all-gender, private restrooms can be found on the north end of the building), as well as water fountains. On whichever floor you choose to start, make your way to the central area to begin. We’ll also be returning to the central areas as we move up and down between floors.
