The facilities include: (1) 2,700,000 catalogued books (2) 260 multi-functional PC's (3) 3369 study places (4) 80,000 pre-1850 books (5) 3 million manuscripts.

The library holds special collections, particularly: (1) Mediaeval (2) Early Modern (3) Victorian (4) 20th Century (5) History of the University (6) Middle Eastern.

It also contains rare book collections, including: (1) Parish Libraries (2) Fine Printing and Private Press (3) D.H. Lawrence (4) Havelock Ellis (5) Hensleigh Wedgewood.

And archives and manuscripts, including: (1) Missionary Archives (2) 19th and 20th Century Political Papers (3) Modern Literary Collections (4) Records of Christian Education and Youth Movements (5) Family Papers (6) Society, Business and Organisational Records.

The Edgbaston campus also contains 6 satellite libraries: (1) Barber Fine Art Library (2) Barber Music Library (3) Barnes Medical Library (4) Education Library (5) European Resource Centre (6) Harding Law Library.

And 3 libraries at other locations: (1) Orchard Learning Resource Centre @ Selly Oak (2) Ronald Cohen Dental Library, St Chad's Queensway (3) Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon.