What college has the most books?

Harvard University possesses the largest collection of books among colleges, with its library system holding nearly 20 million volumes.

What College Has the Most Books?

Harvard University holds the distinction of having the most books within its college library system. As of 2020, its extensive collection comprised an impressive 19,608,349 volumes. This makes Harvard's library system, officially known as the Harvard Library, the largest academic library in the United States and one of the largest private library systems globally.

Understanding Library Holdings

The term "library holdings" typically refers to the total number of physical volumes—books, journals, and other bound materials—a library possesses. These collections are vital resources for academic research, teaching, and scholarship, providing students and faculty with access to a vast array of knowledge across numerous disciplines.

Top Academic Libraries by Volume Count

While Harvard leads, several other prestigious universities also boast incredibly large and comprehensive library collections, playing a critical role in supporting their academic missions. The following table highlights some of the largest academic libraries in the U.S. based on their volume counts as of 2020:

Rank	Institution	Library Holdings (Volumes) (2020)
1	Harvard University	19,608,349
2	University of Michigan	16,025,996
3	Yale University	15,421,200
4	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	15,385,227

These extensive collections are constantly growing, with new acquisitions and digital resources added regularly to keep pace with evolving academic needs and research areas. The sheer scale of these libraries underscores their importance as global centers of knowledge.

For further information on university libraries in the United States, you can refer to resources like University libraries in the United States.