Library West is the major library of the University of Florida's George A. Smathers Libraries system. Its collections consist of material on the humanities and social sciences, as well as African studies and Asian studies resources. The Isser and Rae Price Library of Judaica special collection on Jewish studies is also part of the collection. Librarians specializing in these fields are available to help students and faculty with their research.

The University of Florida is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member and flagship of the State University System of Florida. The university traces its origins to 1853 and has operated continuously on its Gainesville campus since September 1906.