With the dedication of the Mining and Mineral Resources Building in 1988, of which Mining Engineering occupies nearly one-half, the facilities for mining engineering have become among the most modern in the country.

The opportunities for experimentation, research, and graduate study have expanded commensurately with the tripling of the space available. New, digitally controlled testing machines for rock mechanics, pilot-scale-sized ventilation tunnels with remote sensing and computer control of airflow, coal and petrography laboratories, mine electrical laboratory, an environmental laboratory, and an array of computers, connected via the building ethernet network, all come together to support the advanced research needed for modern mining. Inasmuch as the other major tenant of the building is the Kentucky Geological Survey, a tremendous working source is available for research on reserves evaluation and characterization.

Of primary importance among the auxiliary services provided by the University is its system of libraries. Resources of the Renowned William T. Young Library and 12 associate and branch libraries include more than two million volumes and 3.2 million microform units. In terms of numbers of volumes, the University library is one of the top 50 research libraries in the United States. As to microform holdings, it ranks 17th in the nation.

The UK Science & Engineering Library contains essential resources not available anywhere else on campus. Home to the physics, astronomy, chemistry, engineering, math, statistics and geology collections, the library also offers the largest map collection of its kind in the state of Kentucky with approximately 242,000 paper maps and aerial photographs. The UK Science & Engineering Library serves UK students, faculty, staff and the commonwealth of Kentucky through reference support, information literacy instruction, research help, course reserves, circulation and other services.