The UT Southwestern Library will stop circulating books permanently on Monday, August 19, in preparation for moving the print collection to the University of Texas System/Texas A&M Joint Library Facility, located in College Station.

The Joint Library Facility (JLF) is an initiative of the UT and A&M library systems. Opened in May 2013 on A&M’s Riverside campus, it is designed to store up to 1 million volumes in secure, climate-controlled conditions. Any library in either system may contribute volumes to the facility; there is no charge to the contributing library for storage. Once in the facility, materials are available to system libraries through interlibrary loan. Journal articles will be scanned and delivered by email; books will be delivered by a statewide courier service.

The UT Southwestern Library collection, recognized as the most comprehensive medical collection in Texas, will become the core of a shared resource used by students and faculty throughout the state, including the new UT System Medical Schools in Austin and South Texas.

The Library will retain a small print collection of titles held on reserve – as well as rare, unique, and archival materials – which may be used in the Library. The rest of the collection will be available electronically or through interlibrary loan. There will be no charge to request UT Southwestern Library materials located at the JLF.

The vacated space on the Library’s middle and top floors will be used for new educational activities. The Library’s collection of electronic books and journals will remain available through its website, http://library.utsouthwestern.edu.