The University of Michigan's University Library has a 150 year history of collection building and sharing its collections with the broader scholarly community. Over seven million volumes are included in the system of distributed libraries on campus.

There are a number of mechanisms for access provided for those who would like to use materials from the University Library.

• The library collections are available to all individuals for use on site.
• Any individual in the U.S. may request that materials be borrowed from the UM collection through his/her local library's interlibrary loan offices.
• Individuals unaffiliated with UM may purchase privileges to borrow from UM Library collections on an annual basis through Graduate Library Circulation Services (734-764-0400).
• The Michigan Information Transfer Source (MITS) was established in 1980 to provide a mechanism for individuals, businesses, or corporations to engage library staff for research or other information delivery services. This fee-based service is available to all individuals as a mechanism to obtain single or multiple items from the collections. Express and FAX delivery options are also available (734-763-5060).
• All faculty from universities and colleges in the state of Michigan are eligible for privileges to borrow from University Library collections.
• Faculty, staff, and students as well as all ancillary staff are eligible to borrow materials from University Library collections.