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Address: 

100 Main Library
125 West Washington St.

Iowa City, IA 52242-1420 

Contact: 

319-335-5299 (Service Desk)

Hours:

Check Current Hours

Welcome to the Main Library at the University of Iowa! One of eight libraries on the University of Iowa campus, the Main Library is home to Special Collections and Archives, the Iowa Women's Archives, Scholarly Impact, the Digital Scholarship & Publishing Studio and more. The purpose of this guide is to help graduate students in the humanities and social sciences find and access library resources for academic purposes.

Driving to Main Library: 

If you are planning to drive to the Main Library, consider how much time you plan to be there and then determine which of the parking options will be best for you. See the details of closest parking lots here:

• Library Lot (Lot 3) - Located behind Main Library. Any registered student not living in a residence hall may obtain a free Student Day Permit which allows parking at a reduced hourly rate. The Library Lot is open to the public only on weekends and 4:30pm-7:30am Mon-Fri. This option is best for students spending more than two hours at the library
• Stanley Art Ramp (Lot 63) - Located next to Main Library. Parking limited to two hours and the rate is $1.20/hour. Accessible spots available. Address: 160 West Burlington Street
• There are a few one-hour only metered spots located between the library and Stanley Museum. Pay via app, ParkMobile, which works on iOS and Android.
• There are two metered, accessible parking spots off the northeast corner of the Main Library that can be accessed right off South Madison Street. Pay via app, ParkMobile, which works on iOS and Android.
• Public Parking Garage: A five minute walk from the library, Capitol Street Ramp is open to the public. Free for the first hour, and $2 an hour for each additional hour. Address: 220 S Capitol Street

Bus to Main Library:

• There is a bus stop in front of the east entrance (Madison Street) to the Main Library (0795), and also across the street at the Seamans Center (0151). Both CAMBUS and the Iowa City Public Transport buses stop outside the library. Both are no fare, accessible, and can be tracked in the Transit app.

Bike to Main Library:

• There are bicycle racks on the north and south sides of the Main Library.

Motorcycle Parking:

• In addition to the spaces in Library Lot 3, there is a small, separate lot at the southwest corner of the Main Library for motorcycle/moped parking 24/7 by permit only.

Ride at night: 

• Use the free Campus Safety Nite Ride Service 

"The University of Iowa Libraries affirms its commitment to provide all members of the university community with access to library information resources and services." Learn more about what services are available.

Ramp access is located on the Madison Street south and east entrances, and the north entrance facing Becker and Adler buildings. All entrances include handicap push button. Elevators are located past the Service Desk on the south and north side. A single, all gender restroom with a changing table is located on the first floor past the Service Desk next to elevator A.

This guide was created by Catie Reynolds and Izabella Botto, two Library and Information Science graduate students working in the UI Libraries Humanities and Social Sciences department. (Summer 2025)