Special materials housed in the Perry-Castaneda Library include a collection of United States federal and United Nations official documents in the Reference and Information Services Department, current journals and newspapers and a large collection of microforms in the Periodicals and Microforms Unit, over 252,000 maps in the Map Collection, University of Texas at Austin theses and dissertations, and the Textbook and Curriculum Collection. The General Libraries administrative offices, Facilities and Support Services, Technical Services, Library Systems, and the Collections and Information Resources Division are also housed in the library. Library staff at the information desk in the lobby provide general assistance and referrals. Librarians in the Reference and Information Services Department assist in the use of the library and offer reference services. Staff and services areas are located on the first two levels of the building with the book collection in open stacks on the upper levels.
Reader seating is provided on all levels.
Photocopiers, change, and copy card vending machines are available in several areas. This basic resource library, located in the Flawn Academic Center, is designed to serve undergraduate students, especially those at the lower-division level. Introductory information in all fields is available in an open shelf collection. Reference staff assist users in learning library skills and in finding information. Materials placed on reserve by faculty for the students in their classes are available at the service desk on the first floor.