Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) was established in 1967 by Act 403 of the Alabama Legislature. This action resulted from the request of the citizens of the Montgomery area to establish a degree-granting institution to serve Montgomery and the surrounding counties. In March, 1968, Dr. H. Hanly Funderburk, Jr., was appointed vice president and chief administrator of the new institution called Auburn University Montgomery. The University offered its first classes in September, 1969. A 500-acre tract on the east side of Montgomery was purchased for the site of the new campus. The land, which was formerly part of the McLemore Plantation, is located approximately seven miles east of downtown Montgomery between Interstate 85 and Highway 80. Two architectural firms developed the master plans for the new campus and designed the original buildings, which were occupied in the fall of 1971, amongst them the Auburn University at Montgomery Library.
While originally comprising only two stories of the University administration building, the AUM Library now occupies a two-phase building complex which includes a ten-story tower. The Library encompasses five and a half stories of the building, with library materials found primarily on 2nd – 5th floors. The Library collection contains over 300,000 books, 100 databases, and an extensive archives and special collection, with the most prominent collection being the William Dickinson Congressional papers. Additionally, the Library houses a Browsing Collection that provides users with popular fiction, biographies, memoirs, and other best-sellers.
The Library offers soft seating, and other study areas for over 700; this includes closed study carrels, a carrel with a machine to assist those with visual difficulties, several group study rooms – located on the 3rd and 5th floors - and a computer lab/library classroom.
The AUM Library has experienced many changes since 1971, but one thing has not changed, our commitment to provide the best resources, and service to library users.