About
The mission of the Howard University Libraries is to support excellence in learning, scholarship, innovation, and service in a user-centered environment as we preserve the black experience.
Executive Director's Welcome
Welcome to Howard University Libraries—Founders Library and the Wayne A.I. Frederick Undergraduate Library (UGL). Each year, we look forward to the energy our students, faculty, and staff bring back to the Hilltop. We are proud to provide the essential spaces and services that drive student success, elevate scholarship, and foster the community engagement that defines the Howard University experience.
University Libraries serves as a catalyst for scholarship, offering an environment specifically designed for rigorous research and collaborative discovery. We’ve spent the past few years evolving—bridging the gap between physical resources and digital innovation to meet the unique needs of today’s students and faculty. Whether you’re in the classroom or studying remotely, our world-class collections and collaborative spaces are ready to support your journey.
I invite you to find inspiration in our quiet study spaces In Founders or the collaborative work areas in UGL; explore our curated collections; and engage with emerging technologies by visiting the Makerspace and Data Lab.
Whether you’re a first-year student or a PhD candidate, our subject librarians are here to elevate your research. We partner with faculty to bring the latest technology and information literacy and digital literacy directly into the classroom.
Our library is a powerhouse of information, housing an expansive collection of nearly 2 million print volumes, 1 million journal titles and e-books, and 250 specialized databases. The best part? Most of these resources are at your fingertips 24/7 via BisonSearch. For those seeking the unique, the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center collects, curates, and exhibits our rarest and most distinctive treasures, capturing the global Black experience.
The library is the focal point for campus and community-based programming, hosting everything from student-led initiatives to scholarly presentations. Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice is woven into our very fabric and reflected in our specialized collections.
Howard University Libraries is here for you. We take great pride in our services, spaces, and collections.
On behalf of our staff, welcome to Howard University Libraries!
Our Departments
Administration
The administrative department is responsible for directing and managing the various departments within Howard University Libraries. The department and library are currently under the direction of Del Hornbuckle, Executive Director of Howard University Libraries.
Access Services
202-806-7250 | accessdept@howard.edu
The Access Services Department facilitates user access to physical and electronic resources through the circulation of materials, requests for material from other libraries through the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC) and the Consortium Loan Service (CLS) and Interlibrary Loan (ILL), course reserves, group study rooms, and library-wide lost and found.
Acquisitions
The acquisitions department manages the acquisition of library materials and maintains the library databases and resource purchasing.
Business Library/Patent Trademark Center
Howard University is one of 81 Federal Patent and Trademark Resource Centers nationwide. We value our status as a PTRC because we are a rich, local resource for small businesses, research and development firms, our University laboratories, and independent inventors.
Digital Service Center
202-806-4324| digitalservices@howard.edu
The digital service center is the repository for all digital collections within Howard University Libraries and Moorland Spingarn Research Center.
Events/Facilities
202-806-7238 | ewatkis@howard.edu
The Events/Facilities department is responsible for maintaining library buildings, and scheduling library events.
Technical Services
202-806-4301| alisha.strother@howard.edu
The technical services department maintains the library catalog and the description of materials in the library providing access for users and staff.