John C. Hodges Library

Specialties

John C. Hodges Library is the central library facility for the University of Tennessee Knoxville campus, housing 2.3 million volumes and includes collections in all subject areas. Research services and collaboration workspaces are provided for all students and faculty of the university.

History

Established in 1794.

The six-​story, 350,000-square-foot building was constructed around the smaller, five-​story, 100,000-square-foot John C. Hodges Undergraduate Library built in 1969. The present building was completed in 1987 and incorporated the collections of the former Undergraduate Library and the former James D. Hoskins Main Library. A central, lofty galleria and sweeping stairways link the Volunteer Boulevard entrance on the ground floor and the Melrose Avenue entrance on the second floor. The galleria on the first floor is named in honor of Jack E. Reese, long-​time Knoxville Chancellor and advocate for the libraries.

The interior is designed to admit ample natural light and features Italian and Spanish marble and lightly-​finished woods. The terraced effect of the library belies the building’s massive size.

A stained-​glass window, backlit by the glass wall on the east end of the ground floor, was created by artist Morna Livingston.