The ULS stands at the center of intellectual life at the University of Pittsburgh, fostering connections and knowledge creation and dissemination that help faculty, students, and researchers from around the world to excel in research, scholarship and creative expression. It supports and enhances faculty and student productivity through its extensive collections, innovative Open Access publishing, and user-centered focus.

The University of Pittsburgh's University Library System is a member of the Association of Research Libraries and contains over 4.4 million volumes, 37,000 subscriptions, and 4 million pieces of microforms. The University Library System (ULS) consists of 16 libraries and employs 78 faculty librarians and 136 staff. In addition to the ULS, the University of Pittsburgh includes libraries for the health sciences and law school.

Hillman Library, the central library of the University of Pittsburgh campus which saw some 2 million visitors in FY17, is currently undergoing a five-year top to bottom renovation. The reinvented Hillman will be a light-filled home to spaces, from vibrant to serene, for digital making and exploration, showcasing unique collections, advancing academic study, and fostering energetic, collaborative exchange.