Florida State University Libraries of Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) Libraries boast an extensive collection, featuring over 4 million titles and providing access to more than 1,064 databases and 120,000 electronic journals. Through the statewide UBorrow system, students and faculty can access a shared collection of over 15 million books from all 40 state university and college libraries.
FSU operates a total of fifteen libraries, offering millions of books and journals. Eight of these libraries are situated on the main Tallahassee campus, while the remaining seven are spread across various global locations.
The university’s collections span virtually every academic discipline and include a diverse range of formats—books, journals, manuscripts, maps, and recorded music. Digital resources are increasingly prevalent and can be accessed online via the library’s website and catalog.
At the heart of FSU’s library system is the Robert M. Strozier Library, located in the historic central campus area near Landis Green. FSU’s library system dates back to the 1880s, with the main library having occupied several different buildings over time.
The Paul A. M. Dirac Science Library serves as the university’s primary science library, housing over 500,000 books. It also accommodates the FSU School of Computational Science and Information Technology and features a collection dedicated to Dirac’s academic contributions at FSU and Cambridge University.
The Claude Pepper Center, formerly the Florida State College for Women Library and later home to WFSU-TV studios, now houses the Reuben O’Donovan Askew Papers.
The Warren D. Allen Music Library, situated within the Housewright Music Building, supports the FSU College of Music with an extensive collection of scores, sound recordings, videos, books, periodicals, microforms, and streaming media.
Previously, the Harold Goldstein Library specialized in library and information science, information technology, and juvenile literature. However, in 2018, it was replaced by the Innovation Hub, a state-of-the-art technology and design-thinking center. Its collections were integrated into the Strozier Library and Dirac Science Library.
The FSU College of Law Research Center, housed in B.K. Roberts Hall, serves as the official law library, featuring digital collections managed in partnership with Florida Academic Law Libraries. Students also have access to 116 law-specific databases.
Beyond the Tallahassee campus, FSU oversees five additional libraries, museums, and research centers, including:
- The FSU Panama City Florida Library and Learning Center
- The FSU Panama, Republic of Panama Library
- The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
- The FSU Florence, Italy Study Center
- The FSU London, England Study Center
Museums
FSU administers The Ringling, Florida’s official state art museum, located in Sarasota. Established in 1930, the museum showcases 21 galleries of European paintings alongside Cypriot antiquities, as well as Asian, American, and contemporary art. Its collection features over 10,000 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, and decorative arts from various historical periods and regions. Among its highlights are eight paintings by Peter Paul Rubens.
As one of the largest university museum complexes in the country, The Ringling was ranked the second most popular attraction in Florida by USA Today Travel in 2014. Additionally, FSU operates the Museum of Fine Arts (MoFA) on its main Tallahassee campus, further enriching its cultural and academic offerings.