The Florida Environment and Natural History (FLENH) collections initiative at the University of South Florida Libraries represents the fastest-growing research area in our collections.

Florida Studies represents a core strategic collecting area for USF Libraries’ Special Collections. The digital materials in these collections encompass hundreds of years of rich local history with a particular emphasis on the Tampa Bay area.

A collection of historically significant lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer materials that document LGBTQ+ history, culture, politics, community relations, and public health. While the Tampa Bay region remains an important focus, these collections are international in scope.

The University Archives comprises print and digital resources housed in Special Collections and Digital Collections. As part of the University Archives, the USF Libraries collect, preserve, and provide access to a variety of materials that document the administrative and intellectual history of the University of South Florida.

This digital collection of children’s literature from USF’s Special Collections is just the tip of the iceberg, featuring boys and girls series books from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. This is a growing collection, and more titles will be added over time.

The USF Libraries Oral History Program records original interviews and provides free, open online access through our collections repository. These primary sources complement library collections, providing qualitative research materials for scholars exploring a variety of local, national, and international issues. Patrons around the world can mine this rich resource to research the program’s key areas of emphasis: Environmental Studies and Sustainability, and Florida and local history.