Arkansas Colleges & Universities
Top college and university libraries in Arkansas
These college and university libraries stand out for their collections, special collections and archives. Public access varies, so each entry says how visitors can use the library.
University of Arkansas LibrariesUniversity of Arkansas
The Fayetteville library system is built around David W. Mullins Library, the campus's main research facility, plus four branches: Chemistry and Biochemistry, Fine Arts, Physics, and the Robert A. and Vivian Young Law Library. Together they offer more than 3 million volumes and 2,320 manuscript collections, along with digital collections, an open-access repository of student and faculty work, and a web archive of campus history.
Special Collections, Mullins LibraryUniversity of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas's Special Collections preserves manuscripts, rare books, maps and university archives. Its collecting strengths include the Civil War in Arkansas, state politics, civil rights, the Fulbright Program, Ozarks folklore and Arkansas arts and literature, and its Arkansas Collection holds about twenty-eight thousand cataloged titles of Arkansas print material. The reading room is open by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closes daily from noon to 1 p.m.
Center for Arkansas History and CultureUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock
UA Little Rock's teaching archive was established in 1978 and moved downtown in 2009. It now shares the Bobby Roberts Library of Arkansas History and Art in the River Market District with the Central Arkansas Library System's Butler Center for Arkansas Studies. The shared second-floor research room is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. No appointment is required, though appointments are encouraged.
UAMS LibraryUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
The medical sciences university's library offers education and research services to UAMS faculty, students and staff and to citizens of Arkansas, along with reliable health information for patients and families. Its Historical Research Center collects and preserves the history of UAMS and of the health sciences in Arkansas, assists researchers interested in the history of medicine in the state, and maintains rotating exhibits around the library and campus.
Olin C. Bailey LibraryHendrix College
Hendrix College's library in Conway lets students book librarians for research help during open hours, and the drop-in Peer Learning program meets mostly in the library. The second-floor rotunda hosts rotating exhibits. The library also buys copies of works by authors the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation brings to campus, so students can check them out.
The most beautiful college library in Arkansas
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David W. Mullins LibraryUniversity of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas's main research library holds Special Collections on its first floor. Level 2 has a new Makerspace with sewing machines, a laser cutter, soldering stations and seven 3D printers for students, faculty and staff.
Last verified: November 2, 2026. Visitor rules, hours and borrowing policies change, so check the library's website before you go.
About colleges and universities in Arkansas
The University of Arkansas (UA) is by far the largest university system in the state with around 25,000 students enrolled at its various campuses throughout the state. The main campus in Fayetteville has an enrollment of just under 20,000.
Other large school systems in the state include Arkansas State University (ASU) with over 15,000 students and the University of Central Arkansas with an enrollment of just under 15,000.
The Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation has been a strong supporter of education in Arkansas. The foundation donated $300 million to the University of Arkansas in 2005 as part of a campaign that raised $1 billion for the university.
The first Walmart Discount City store was opened in Rogers, Arkansas by Sam Walton and eventually grew to become the largest retailer in the world. Higher eduction in Arkansas has been a strong beneficiary of the success of Wal-Mart Stores and its roots in Arkansas.
There are many famous people that attended a university in Arkansas. Among them are Jerry Jones (Owner of Dallas Cowboys), Rob Walton (Chairman of Wal-Mart), Joe and Scott Ford (founder and CEO of Alltel), and Steve Atwater (Pro Bowl DE).
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) provides funding recommendations for all the public universities and colleges in the state. The ADHE also allocates lottery funds and state revenue that is earmarked for financial aid.