In the Know @ the Bentley Library

Post updated at 1:13pm: The library will open at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon and close at our normal time of 12:00 a.m. 

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One way to celebrate Black History Month is to read books by Black authors and books that can educate us about the experiences of Black Americans. To help you get started, we’re highlighting a selection of books that were published within the past year.

The Bentley Library is sorry to report that the DemographicsNow database is being retired by the vendor. All access to DemographicsNow will end on Friday, March 28, 2025. Please plan to complete data investigations or report downloads before that date. We will be unable to retrieve data when the database is retired. 

Looking to spend some time indoors during this wintry weather at an area museum? If you’ve requested a discounted pass from us in the past and have tried do so recently, you might be wondering what happened to our museum pass reservation system. As the saying goes, all good and (simple) things must come to an end. That’s not to say that we don’t have discounted passes, because we do and will continue to have them into the future!

Welcome to spring semester, all new and returning students! We look forward to seeing you in the library soon. Here are a few reminders and tips to help you get back in the swing of things.

During the spring semester the normal library hours are:

While January 1 is the day we celebrate New Year’s Day, it’s also another important holiday: Public Domain Day. At the beginning of the calendar year, copyright expires for certain works, and they enter the public domain (PD). Works in the PD are not protected by copyright and are freely available for public use. 

This video highlights some of the most notable works to enter the PD in 2025.  Click the image below to watch video in new window.

RSM Art Gallery proudly presents The Resurrection of Ifé Franklin, a solo exhibition of drawings and mixed media sculptures by Ifé Franklin, whose multi-genre artistic practice is inspired by slave narratives, dreams, dance, song, and visions. All are invited to the artist talk and opening reception on Thursday, January 23, 5:00-7:00pm. The talk will start at 5:00pm and reception follows from 5:30-7:00pm. We hope you can join us!

We are excited to announce our 16th annual Best Books display! Our display features more than 250 titles published in 2024 that have appeared on 17 year-end best books lists*, covering a broad selection of fiction and nonfiction across subjects and genres. Some of these books are bestsellers that you'll surely recognize, while others are critically acclaimed works that may have received less publicity or escaped your attention. 

We're back from break! For the next two weeks the library will be open with reduced hours until spring classes start. Please note that we will be closed on Monday, January 20th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

Monday–Thursday 
8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Friday
8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday
closed

Bentley Library will be closed during the University's winter break — Saturday, December 21 through Sunday, January 5. All staffed services will be unavailable during the break. The library will reopen at 8:00 a.m.