An academic library is a library attached to a college or university. Its purpose is to serve students in scholarly pursuits, and to aid faculty research. It serves as a repository for the institution’s history, such as storing dissertations and university publications. They are often central to the teaching and research missions of the college or university.
Librarians working in academic library are typically very reference focused and specialize in a few academic fields. They often have a dedicated technical staff to process acquisitions and support electronic resources.