Who We Are
The University of Texas Libraries (UTL) collects and preserves many of the finest achievements of human knowledge in support of the exploration of ideas and intellectual innovation. We continue to build one of the world’s greatest collections, currently maintaining more than 10 million volumes and providing access to the latest digital journals, databases, and web resources. You might have seen the growing number of renovated user-centered spaces in the PCL for studying, productivity, and hands-on learning. You might be familiar with the articles and books we provide to Longhorns across the 40 Acres. But UTL offers so much more!
Our print map collections are world-renowned, and we were among the first to introduce a digital map collection. As leaders of online map collection curation, our team of dedicated subject matter experts can support UT researchers by providing access to enhanced digital maps and geospatial data through our cutting-edge Collections Portal and GeoData Portal. Access to digitized maps, like those in our collection, can provide endless research possibilities. Continuing to be at the forefront of research and access in this field, we launched the Map & Geospatial Collections Explorer (MGCE) Fellowship in 2021 to encourage the use of UTL’s map and geospatial assets. By giving today, you can help keep the momentum and impact of this initiative going!
What We’re Fundraising For
Join UT Libraries in raising funds to support the continuation of the MGCE Fellowship. For close to 140 years, our Libraries have been the heart of the Forty Acres. Since the beginning, UTL’s efforts and programs have focused on creating an environment flush with resources and opportunities for students, faculty, and our community at large. We are looking to sustain the Explorer Fellowship so that we can continue to support innovative scholarship that draws on the wealth of materials available to researchers through the UT Libraries map and geospatial collections.
For the past three years, we have offered Explorer Fellowships of $1500 in two categories; one award reserved for faculty/postdocs and the other open to UT students of all levels. Awarded funds from this Fellowship have recognized the promise of exemplary project proposals, supported our Fellows as they have carried out their work, and given the campus community an opportunity to learn more about our UTL collections and how they can impact research.
The Explorer Fellowship has proven to be an excellent resource for supporting our amazing community of UT scholars as they pioneer new ways to utilize our unique and wide-ranging cartographic resources and geospatial datasets. As we reach the end of the funding used to establish this Fellowship, we are working hard to find ways to continue its impact through crowd-funded support. By donating to this campaign, you will play an integral role in helping to continue the legacy of the MGCE Fellowship.
Your Impact
By giving to this 40 for Forty campaign, you will help us continue to unlock the potential of UTL’s renowned map collection and empower the next generation of scholars. Every dollar given to the Explorer Fellowship initiative directly supports groundbreaking research that utilizes and grows the collection. So far, the Fellowship has funded projects ranging from mapping rising sea levels on the Texas coast to artistic spatial visualizations of biodiversity in Hawaii.
When you donate today, you will make a difference in the careers of UT researchers and enable work that maintains UTL Maps among the world’s elite geospatial collections! Now is your chance to join us in advancing this critical work, which enriches UT, Texas, and beyond. You can follow each year’s award recipients and keep track of their work on our fellowship page so you know how your generosity is making a difference.
Thank you for joining UT Libraries as we support the research, learning, and innovation needs of Longhorns past, present, and future! With your partnership, we are creating impactful access to knowledge and information across the 40 Acres.