The University of Michigan library is one of the largest academic and research libraries in the country. Housed in 11 buildings across the Ann Arbor campus, it holds over 8 million print volumes, a vast array of special collections items, and is an international leader in providing electronic access to its resources. Students and staff have access to books, periodicals, online texts, rare books, maps, CDs, DVDs, and many other materials. The collections and buildings are available for non-U-M patrons at no cost. People not affiliated with the U-M who wish to check out books must buy a user’s pass for $250/year ($125 for alums). The library system’s catalog is online at mirlyn.web.lib.umich.edu. For non-university clients, Michigan Information Transfer Source, 763–5060, provides document delivery on a fee-for-service basis. www.lib.umich.edu/mits Check the library's website for the latest information on hours: www.lib.umich.edu/hours

Art, Architecture, & Engineering Library

The library's engineering holdings are among the largest and richest technology collections in the country. Its art resources include a large image collection, architectural drawings, photographs, maps, and manuscripts. www.lib.umich.edu/aael

Bentley Historical Library

Houses the Michigan Historical Collections of primary resource material on state and local history, as well as the U-M archives. Archivists help with specific inquiries. Items may be used only on site. bentley.ref@umich.edu, www.bentley.umich.edu/

Biological Station Library

A reference library specializing in limnology, ornithology, ecology, systematics, taxonomy, and natural history. www.lib.umich.edu/biost

Clements Library

World-famous collection of historical material about American history and culture from 1492 to 1950, including rare books, manuscripts, prints, maps, music, and photographs. Its resources are available for historical research. Regular exhibits open to the public; tours available by appointment. Reading room: Mon.–Fri. 9–11:45 a.m. & 1–4:45 p.m. Exhibits: Mon.–Fri. 1–4:45 p.m. clements.library@umich.edu, www.clements.umich.edu

Fine Arts Library

Holds over 100,000 volumes on the history and theory of the visual arts, including painting, sculpture, graphic arts, decorative arts, photography, and architectural history. www.lib.umich.edu/finearts

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library

The Library serves researchers worldwide with archival collections of Gerald Ford's presidential, vice presidential and congressional papers, including his Warren Commission files, with new materials through the twentieth century. Visitors can browse lobby exhibits, see President Ford's office, and attend special events (see the website below for information). Researchers are welcome, and group tours of the archives may be arranged in advance. Mon.–Fri. 8:45 a.m.–4:45 p.m. (closed federal holidays). ford.library@nara.gov, www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov

Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library

With a collection of approximately 3.25 million titles in several hundred languages, Hatcher is the U-M’s primary research collection for the humanities and social sciences. www.lib.umich.edu/grad

Also housed in the Hatcher Graduate Library are specialized collections:

Area Programs, first floor. 764–7555. Collects materials on the Near East, Slavic & Eastern European studies, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. www.lib.umich.edu/area

Asia Library, fourth floor. 764–0406. The fourth largest library for Chinese, Korean, and Japanese studies in North America. www.lib.umich.edu/asia

Government Documents, second floor. 764–0410. An official depository for international, federal, and state governmental information. www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs

Map Library, eighth floor. 764–0407. Collection of contemporary and historical maps from all over the world, with a focus on maps of Michigan and the Great Lakes area. www.lib.umich.edu/maplib

Papyrology Collection, eighth floor. 764–9369. The Western hemisphere's largest collection of papyri, it has more than 12,000 fragments dating from the third century B.C. to 1000 A.D., including 30 leaves of the first known copy of the Epistles of St. Paul and a fragment of Homer.

Special Collections Library, seventh floor. 764–9377. Highlights include original editions of Shakespeare's plays, Islamic manuscripts, works on British and American theater, the Labadie collection of social protest literature, and first editions of Darwin, Newton, and Galileo. www.lib.umich.edu/spec-coll

Museums Library

Supports teaching and research in archeological anthropology, paleontology, zoology, botany, and related fields. www.lib.umich.edu/museums

Music Library

One of the nation’s largest music libraries offers books, scores, periodicals, sound and video recordings, DVDs, and musical association newsletters. music.library@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/music

Public Health Library and Informatics

Serves the School of Public Health and professionals in health services management, environmental health, maternal and child health care, community health, nutrition, and other areas. www.sph.umich.edu/phli

Shapiro Library

The Shapiro Library building is home to several libraries:

Shapiro Undergraduate Library. 764–7490. Along with research consultation services for students, the library provides access to books, periodicals, electronic resources, and a small collection of leisure reading materials. www.lib.umich.edu/ugl

Shapiro Science Library, third & fourth floors. 764–3442. One of the nation’s largest collections of publications in astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental studies, geology, mathematics, natural resources, physics, and statistics. www.lib.umich.edu/science

Askwith Media Library, second floor. 764–5360. Holds more than 25,000 titles on CD, DVD, CD-ROM, VHS, laser disc, and 16-millimeter film, including foreign features, Hollywood hits, and educational programs. www.lib.umich.edu/aml

Social Work Library

Collections include materials on social work practice, administration, and education; therapy; social welfare policy; child welfare; and other fields. www.lib.umich.edu/socwork

Taubman Medical Library

One of the nation’s top medical libraries, Taubman features books, journals, extensive electronic databases, and rare items, including 82 incunabula (books printed before 1501). www.lib.umich.edu/taubman