The Alkek Library, built in 1990, contains a teaching theater for undergraduate classes, computer labs, the Student Learning Assistance Center, where students can get free tutoring, and, of course, books — nearly 2 million of them.

Alkek is also home to The Wittliff Collections, which include the Southwestern Writers Collection and the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican Photography, one of the world’s foremost collections of Mexican photographic arts.