Hesburgh Library
More than 50 years ago, President Emeritus Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., dreamed of a new library building that would become the academic heart of the University. It would serve—along with the Main Building and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart—as one of a trilogy of iconic buildings that would define the Notre Dame campus. The Memorial Library (renamed Hesburgh Library in 1987) and the Word of Life mural would soon stand for all to see, as a symbol of excellence and the pursuit of truth.
Today, the Hesburgh Library remains a centerpiece of Notre Dame’s intellectual pursuits and an enduring symbol of the University’s commitment to academic excellence. Home to a broad range of services, resources, and spaces, and nearly 200 library faculty and staff, the Hesburgh Library continues to serve as the flagship building of the Hesburgh Libraries system.
In addition to the many service points, study spaces, and general research collections in open stacks, four specialty libraries and centers reside within the Hesburgh Library building.
Specialty Centers in the Hesburgh Library
Medieval Institute Library
Center for Digital Scholarship
Rare Books & Special Collections
University Archives
Hesburgh Library
Notre Dame ID Card Access 8pm – 7am through the north, east, or west entrance.