Montana's flagship academic library supporting research, teaching, and community engagement since 1894.
The Montana State University Library maintains comprehensive collections spanning books, e-books, digital media, government documents, and academic journals. The library houses over 523,000 books and 230,000 e-books, along with 114,000 government documents and extensive microform collections. Digital initiatives include ScholarWorks (an open-access institutional repository), digitized archives, and specialized collections such as the Acoustic Atlas featuring natural sounds from the Western United States and Yellowstone ecosystem recordings. The library provides online access to research databases, interlibrary loan services, and digital collections developed through partnerships with regional institutions.
The Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections contain primary source materials including manuscripts, historical documents, and photographs. Notable collections include the Ivan Doig papers, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem materials dating to 1872, the Trout and Salmonid Collection (over 11,000 items), Native American records, Montana agriculture and ranching archives, and architectural drawings from 1828–1980. The Burton K. Wheeler Reading Room provides access to these materials. The library also maintains 3,651 linear feet of university archives documenting Montana State University's history.
The library features over 100 computers, multiple scanners and printers, flexible modular furniture, and configurable group-study areas. The 2011 Information Commons renovation transformed the first floor with movable furniture, portable classroom equipment, module group study rooms, expanded power supply access, an expanded Writing Center, and technical support staff. Additional amenities include the Brewed Awakening Coffee Bar, laptop and digital camera checkouts, and numerous power stations for mobile devices. The building maintains a seating capacity of 1,100 and operates with extended hours (7 am–9 pm daily).
Founded in January 1894, the library began with part-time student and instructor support before hiring its first full-time professional librarian, Mabel Ruth Owens, in 1896. The current 112,000 sq ft building was completed in 1966 following a 1960 expansion. A significant 2002 remodeling added seismic bracing and student study space, including MSU alumnus Rudy Autio's ceramic sculpture Kosmos. The library received the 2003 Montana Library of the Year award and ranked 21st among the 100 Most Social Media Friendly College & University Libraries in 2013. It hosted the international Open Repositories Conference in 2018.