<p>I can understand the quality vs. quantity argument in general but I don’t think this is a case where it applies. Many sources, including the New York Times, London Independent, as well as scholars at the British Library, and Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris have said since 70s that UT-Austin has one of the greatest library collections in the world. In fact, in the respected survey “Great Libraries” (Hobson), UT, along with only Harvard, Yale, the New York Public Library, and Huntington were the only libraries in the US to make the listing of the top 32 libraries in the world. In UT’s case it is not a size issue, since it is smaller overall than Harvard and Yale’s library, yet ranked above them in cultural significance by these sources.<br>
Most importantly - UT maintains one of the most OPEN collections in terms of access from the public. Try requesting to look at something at the Houghton without a serious research justification.</p>
<p>Indiana U’s Lilly library is much smaller than Harvard, Yale, or UT, but is also a very respected literary archive.</p>
<p>Regarding UT’s art museum, again, of course size in itself is just a silly and meaningless bragging argument. However, it does possess some very significant collections including one of the largest Italian Renaissance collections in the world outside of Italy, one of the largest and most important Latin American collections in the world, a respected Contemporary American collection, and one of the most important print and drawing collections in the US (a primary reason the noted art historian Leo Steinberg donated his collection to UT rather than a NE school).</p>
<p>I completely agree with your last point.</p>