Shanghai University Libraries is composed of three libraries. The main library is on the new Baoshan campus, Wenhui library is located on Yanchang campus, and Lianhe library resides on Jiading campus. The University library, with a total floor space of 55,000 square meters, has 25 reading rooms and 3,000 seats. The main library occupies approximately 38,000 square meters.

The libraries contain more than 3 million volumes, more than 4,600 periodicals, and many electronic resources including Elsevier, Ebsco, Kluwer, and Academic Press. The library materials are comprehensive and cover diversified areas. In cooperation with Shanghai Writer’s Association, the main library has a collection room for Shanghai writer’s works.

The library includes the departments of acquisition, cataloging, periodicals, circulation, information reference, technical service, reading, and special collection. The administrative offices include the Director’s Office and Office of General Affairs. The director of library is Professor Yuanda Dong, a famous material scientist.

As a member of IFLA (International Federation of library Associations), Shanghai University libraries have established contacts and academic exchanges with many other universities, institutes, and libraries, both domestic and abroad.

Shanghai University Libraries have paid great attention to the development of an unique, automatic, modern, and digital library. There are more than 300 computers that provide all kinds of services. The library website provides all the electronic resources including accessing and connecting to China Academic Library & Information System, and the Shanghai Education Network Library. Through the campus network system, users can access the electronic databases of Shanghai University Libraries. The campus network of the university is built upon an infrastructure of the gigabit Ethernet and the three campuses are interconnected by the fiber optic backbone. The libraries adopt SUN Enterprise 5500 as the main server and HORIZON library automation system for library and information management.

The libraries has established an interlibrary loan and resource-sharing system with most of the universities in Shanghai.