Rod Library

An Overview of Rod Library and Its Services

Rod Library is the academic heart of the University of Northern Iowa, supporting teaching, learning and research across campus. Serving students, faculty, staff and the broader community, the library provides access to scholarly resources, innovative learning spaces and expert research support. Through print and digital collections, instructional services, and technology‑rich study environments, Rod Library helps students succeed academically while advancing faculty research and creative work.

More than a place to study, Rod Library is a center for collaboration, discovery and engagement—connecting campus and community to information, ideas and one another. The library is committed to equity, accessibility and stewardship of knowledge, ensuring resources are available today and preserved for future generations.

Support for Local and Unique Collections Through Digitization

The UNI Library is home to a remarkable range of resources that capture the history, creativity and scholarship of our campus community. From our institutional repository—showcasing the research and academic work of faculty, staff and students—to the University Archives and the UNI Museum, these collections preserve the story of UNI and the region we serve.

Support for Rod Library helps fund digitization projects that enhance student learning and faculty research while making our local and unique collections accessible to a global audience. By removing the barriers of geography and physical access, we can ensure that UNI’s distinctive stories, research and artifacts are discoverable and usable by anyone, anywhere. Your investment helps preserve these materials and share them widely for generations to come.

Advancing Student Success Through Textbook Equity

Since 2016, the Rod Library’s Textbook Equity initiative has saved UNI students more than $2.9 million on course materials by providing high‑quality, openly licensed textbooks and learning resources. This program ensures that every student has access to required course materials from the first day of class—removing cost barriers that can delay learning or impact academic success.

Driven by more than 100 dedicated UNI faculty members, the initiative has contributed to improved academic outcomes, including fewer course withdrawals and lower fail rates. Your support is critical to expanding this program, enabling additional courses to adopt affordable and open resources and ensuring more students have the tools they need to succeed.

Make a gift today to help provide equitable access to learning resources and empower UNI students to thrive.