Finding items in Main Stacks
- What are the Main Stacks?
- Where are the Main Stacks?
- How do I know if an item is in the Main Stacks?
- How do I retrieve an item from the Main Stacks?
- What if the item I need is checked out or missing?
- How do I find out more?
What are the Main Stacks?
With over 6 million volumes, the Main Stacks house the largest collection of books and other items in the University Library system. Materials in stacks cover all subject disciplines and date ranges.
Where are the Main Stacks?
The Main Stacks take up approximately the back two-thirds of the Main Library building. They can be entered on the second floor of the Main Library, behind the Circulation Desk.
How do I know if an item is in the Main Stacks?
Locations of items are indicated in the online catalog. Here is what the record for a book in Main Stacks looks like:
How do I retrieve an item from the Main Stacks?
Access to the Main Stacks varies depending on your university affiliation:
UIUC faculty, staff, and grad students can enter the stacks and retrieve their own materials by presenting a valid i-card to the assistant on duty at the stacks entrance.
UIUC undergrads can bring the call numbers and titles of needed items to the Circulation Desk. Items will then be paged (retrieved). Undergrads wishing to retrieve their own items may request a bookstacks pass at the Circulation Desk or in Room 203 Main Library.
All UIUC faculty, staff, and students can request materials from stacks using the online catalog's "Request" feature. Please note that online requests usually take 24-48 hours to fulfull.
For other types of university affiliates, and for members of the public, please see bookstacks access policy.
What if the item I need is checked out or missing?
If an item is checked out or missing, we can usually obtain a copy from another library for you. Please see this page for details.
If an item isn't on the shelf where it's supposed to be in Main Stacks, please ask a member of the Circulation Desk staff for assistance.
How do I find out more?
If your question wasn't answered here, please Ask a Librarian for help. You can also refer to the Central Circulation and Bookstacks pages for additional information.
