The well-known saying, “a rising tide lifts all boats,” is personified in spirit and truth by University Libraries, as the resources and services we provide support the success of all students and faculty of The University of Alabama. Advancements in the quality of University Libraries facilities, technologies, collections, services and programs have played a major role in the recruitment and retention of UA students and faculty. Our investments have paid other impactful dividends for the University as well.
University Libraries collectively represents the largest classroom on campus, and we make millions of resources available to students and faculty 24/7 online. Since 2020 we have seen an exponential increase in usage statistics for all of our digital resources. However, two areas that stand out for increased usage are streaming video and E-book downloads.
Though many of us remember times when print materials, microfilm, filmstrips, or a VCR or DVD player delivered educational content, today’s students have a world of possibilities at their fingertips, wherever they may be. With that in mind, we want to use Bama Blitz to expand our educational streaming video and E-book offerings. In 2025 we provided access to 309,557 video and audio titles, along with an impressive 2,998,714 E-books.
Streaming video platforms are ideal for faculty and students in online or traditional courses, and E-books are ideal for all students and faculty. Faculty can efficiently identify content and embed programs, E-books, and films directly in our course management system for seamless student access. Students are able to explore a universe of content on their own, expanding upon the traditional resources that support their educational experience.
University Libraries goal for Bama Blitz is to raise $5,000.00 to be used in our streaming video and E-book resource pool. With the money raised, we will license more titles through educational packages from various distributors, providing more options for faculty and students involved in the hybrid learning models of the present and future.
A gift to University Libraries is a gift that supports all students and faculty, wherever they are. With your help, we will continue to expand the resources we provide, as the Tide continues to rise!
