Location Guide (Bentley Historical Library)

The Bentley Historical Library has two distinct stacks, which are connected by a 3rd floor corridor. Each wing has 3 floors that are differentiated by color (see below) and consists of one or more cubes, or separate rooms of the stacks that are divided by doors. 

• The original wing: This wing was built in 1972 and begins behind the Reading Room. It houses Cube 1 (Shelf units 1-199), Cube 2 (Shelf units 200-399), and Cube 3 (Shelf units 400-699). 

• The new wing: This wing was built in 2004 and is adjacent to the University Archives area in the back of the building. It houses Cube 4 (Shelf units 700-1999), which also serves as a temporary storage space for the UM Special Collections and Music Libraries.

Both wings use the same location system:

•  Each floor is identified by a color: Blue (third floor), Yellow (second/ground floor), and Green (first floor).

• Boxes are situated on numerically identified units. Each shelf location slot is identified by a letter ranging from A (the most upper-left spot) through U (the most lower-right spot).

For example, a typical location will look something like this: Y-365-D. This means that this container is:

• On the "Yellow" Level (i.e., the second/ground floor). 

• In the 365th shelving unit (i.e.,. within Cube 2).

• On that unit's slot "D". 

In addition, materials marked with a white location label are stored in the Bentley's basement. These materials include some oversized and/or architectural materials.