Support for UTSA Libraries leads to renovated spaces and expanded special collections

Students work in the renovated third floor's study spaces.

AUGUST 22, 2025 — With 1.6 million visitors walking through the doors every year, the UTSA Libraries are considered central to the university experience, offering space to study and a place for discovery, creativity and connection.

Now the libraries on UTSA’s campuses are better than ever.

UTSA Libraries is comprised of four facilities. They include the John Peace Library (JPL) and Applied Engineering and Technology Library at the Main Campus, the Downtown Library at the Downtown Campus, and the Institute of Texan Cultures Library, which is temporarily closed and expected to reopen in early 2026 at Frost Tower.

During the Be Bold Campaign, which raised over $500 million for the university, new investments and generous donors are allowing the UTSA Libraries to expand its reach and impact. 

One of the most visible transformations resulting from the campaign occurred during renovation in the John Peace Library.

UTSA Libraries by the Numbers 

• 959,513 annual visits across all library locations 
• 9,748 daily visits during peak semesters 
• 2 million+ available e-books
• 42,000 digitized items in Special Collections, available worldwide 

Left to right: Arturo Infante Almeida, Alan Beckstead, Stephen Alexander Annala, Daniel Lerma and Dean Hendrix. Beckstead, Annala and Lerma donated 114 pieces to Libraries.

Once a dim and outdated space, the library’s third floor now features bright open study areas, collaborative work zones and upgraded infrastructure. New windows usher in natural light.

For many students, the JPL has become a second home and a key part of their academic journey, so student input was considered in updating a layout that focused on more than physical improvements. The renovation project aimed to enhance the student experience by creating an environment for focused learning, connection and a sense of belonging. 

In addition, expanded technologies, equipment lending and research support better meet the needs of UTSA’s growing academic community.

Donations supported enhancements to the Libraries’ Special Collections, helping preserve culturally significant archives and expand access for researchers. 

New additions include the Diana Kennedy Culinary Archive and Mexican Cookbook Collection, the Beckstead, Lerma, and Annala Art Collection, the Happy Foundation Research Collection and a growing Chicano Research Collection. 

Endowments like the Kathy Furukawa Memorial Library Fund and several planned gifts strengthened preservation efforts and student support. 

— Jordan Allen