Main Stacks Reference Collection
The Stacks Reference Collection is located in the Main Stacks in the C1 range of Deck 5 (the back wall of the first section of open shelving on your left as you enter the Stacks). The collection is building-use only and includes dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, books related to the University and to the Urbana-Champaign area, and other subject focused reference resources. More information about the Main Stacks (including locations of scanners and work stations) is available from the Central Access Services page.
Other Reference Resources:
- Online Reference Collection – Useful online reference materials, including general dictionaries and encyclopedias, for quick access to reliable facts.
- Thesis File Card Catalog – Explains how to search the card catalog (located on the second floor of the Main Library, near the entrance to the main stacks) for older theses records.
- Library Organization and Classification System Guide – This guide will help you understand how to read Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress call numbers to find Library Materials.
- You can learn more about the rest of the University Library’s Collections on the Library’s “About Us” page.
History of Reference Services at the Library
Reference services have existed at the University of Illinois Library since the first dedicated Library building (now Altgeld Hall) opened its doors in the fall of 1897.
- For a timeline overview of the changes that have occurred in these services as well as the physical spaces where reference services have been provided since 1897, see this poster: Reference History Timeline
- For a more in-depth history of reference services at the library, you can view the tour on ExploreCU: A History of Central Reference Services at the University of Illinois Library