USC Libraries

Every Trojan recognizes the significance of USC Libraries to their academic success.  Maybe it’s your memory of the librarian who always seemed to find the right resource to support your research papers; or maybe it was the feeling of pure awe when you paged through a parchment manuscript from the 14th century; or the relief of mastering the digital guides and finding an obscure medical reference; or maybe it’s just the memory of the chair hidden in a quiet study corner at Leavey Library that only you knew about.  Whatever your memories, USC Libraries hold a special place in the hearts of the Trojan family.

Leavey Library is not only the largest of USC’s libraries, it’s also utilized by students from nearly every school and discipline at USC.  When its doors first opened in 1994, the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Library ushered in a new era for the contemporary library. At a time when laptop computers were far less common and desktop computers were large, cumbersome, and expensive, Leavey Library introduced students to the latest in computer technology and provided access to the fledging world of the internet. Today, 30 years after its opening, planning is underway at Leavey Library for the renovation of the student study spaces and construction of a student wellness room. 

While Leavey Library serves a hub for student study and research, USC Libraries is also the focal point for a number of thought-provoking events for the USC community.  For example:

A new interactive installation and web resource, developed by a USC Libraries team with the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York and the USC Shoah Foundation, will ensure that Holocaust survivors’ firsthand accounts remain accessible for future generations. Housed at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Survivor Stories: An Interactive Dialog leverages the latest advances in digital and AI technologies to put museum visitors and web users in direct conversation with ten Holocaust survivors. 

A new USC Libraries Special Collections exhibit explores the fascinating afterlife of medieval manuscripts. “What a Waste: Manuscript Treasures Lost and Found” highlights how discarded parchment texts were often recycled as binding material in newly printed books. Once considered expendable, these fragments—referred to as manuscript or binding waste—are now invaluable to scholars. Drawing from the USC Libraries' Rare Books collection, the exhibit features striking examples of manuscript waste, from Gregorian chant sheets repurposed as decorative covers to hidden theological texts revealed only through damage or age. Each item tells two stories: that of the printed book and the older manuscript embedded within it.  

USC Libraries are able to offer such thought-provoking and innovative programs because of the support of our donors like you. Please consider continuing your support by making a gift to support USC Leavey Library or to one of the libraries special funds. Thank you for your support of the USC Libraries.