The ORNL Research Library assists researchers and managers in finding the information they need to carry out and compete for research of national importance. Primary subject areas covered include chemistry, physics, materials science, biological and environmental sciences, computer science, mathematics, engineering, nuclear technology, and homeland security.

While the library still houses valuable print and microfiche collections, increasingly, researchers can access the information they need from their desktop.

The library currently provides access to over 3,500 electronic journals, numerous science databases like the Web of Science, e-book collections, a large collection of industry standards on the Web, and over 4,500 electronic ORNL technical reports.