The U-M library system has nearly 8 million volumes in 22 libraries and departmental collections, constituting one of the largest research collections in the country. Students and staff have access to print materials, online texts, rare books, maps, journals, videotapes, audiotapes, and DVDs. 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 pass is good at most U-M libraries. The Law School Library, the business library, and the three historical libraries (Bentley, Clements, and Ford) have their own borrowing systems and fees. Most of the library system’s catalog is online at mirlyn.web.lib.umich. edu. For nonuniversity clients, Michigan Information Transfer Source, 763–5060, provides document delivery on a fee-for-service basis.

Art, Architecture, & Engineering Library

Its 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. Special collections include art folios, engineering industry standards, U.S. patents and trademarks, and U.S. Department of Energy and NASA technical reports. Includes many digital resources. Open to students 24 hours daily Sept.–Apr., 7:30 a.m.–midnight in summer. Public hours 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m. daily year round. www.lib.umich.edu/aael

Askwith Media Library

More than 25,000 titles on CD, DVD, CD-ROM, VHS, laser disc, and 16-millimeter film, including foreign features and educational programs. Primarily intended for use by U-M faculty, students, and staff; others may use items on-site (please call ahead). Fall & winter terms: Mon.–Thurs. 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 1–6 p.m. Spring term: Mon.–Thurs. 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 1–5 p.m. Summer term: Mon.–Thurs. 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. aml@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/aml.

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. Its stacks and database are open to the public (nominal charge for printing from the database). The building also is home to several renowned smaller libraries, including the Asia Library, Documents Center, Map Library (see below), Papyrology Collection (see below), and Special Collections Library (see below). Sept.–Apr.: Mon.–Thurs. 8 a.m.–2 a.m., Fri. 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m.–2 a.m. May–Aug.: Mon.–Thurs. 8 a.m.–midnight, Fri. 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.–midnight. askus@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/grad

Map Library

An outstanding collection of contemporary and historical maps from all over the world, and local maps, including a rare copy of an early-19th-century map of southeastern Michigan commissioned by Saline founder Orange Risdon. Soil maps and watershed maps. Visitors can use computers to create color-coded maps based on census data. Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; also open Sun. 1–4 p.m. during fall & winter terms. map.library@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/maplib

Music Library

One of the nation’s largest music libraries offers books, scores, periodicals, sound and video recordings, DVDs, and musical association newsletters. Sept.–Apr.: Mon. –Thurs. 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 1–5 p.m., Sun. 1–10 p.m. May–Aug.: Mon.–Thurs. 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m.: in July also Sun. 1–5 p.m. music.library@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/music

Papyrology Collection

The Western Hemisphere’s largest collection of original papyri, it has more than 10,000 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. The collection also includes parchment and paper. Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. trainos@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/pap

Shapiro Science Library

One of the nation’s largest collections of publications in the sciences. Information resources in astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental studies, geology, mathematics, natural resources, physics, and statistics. Many research and reference services (some restricted to U-M affiliates). An online collection of 19th-century mathematics texts is available to all. Late Aug.–mid-June: daily 8 a.m.–5 a.m. Mid-June–late Aug.: daily 8 a.m.–2 a.m. Closed to the public at midnight. sciencelibrary@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/science

Shapiro Undergraduate Library

Nearly 200,000 books and periodicals, access to many electronic resources, and a small collection of leisure reading materials. Late Aug.–mid-June: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.–5 a.m., Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.-5 a.m. Mid-June–late Aug: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.–2 a.m., Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.-2 a.m. (closed to the public at midnight). undergrad.library@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/ugl

Special Collections Library

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. Also, rotating exhibitions that usually feature the library’s own rare books and manuscripts. Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–noon (varied hours between semesters). special.collections@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/spec-coll

Taubman Medical Library

One of the nation’s top medical libraries, Taubman features books, periodicals, more than 3,000 print and electronic medical journals, access to the collections of other medical libraries nationwide, and rare items, including 82 incunabula (books printed before 1501). Fall & winter terms: Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.– 11:45 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–7:45 p.m., Sun. noon–11:45 p.m. Spring & summer terms: Mon.–Thurs. 8 a.m.–9:45 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.–5:45 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 1–5:45 p.m. Closes 4:45 p.m. Sun. mid-July–mid-Aug. Check the website for possible changes in hours. medical.library@umich.edu, www.lib.umich.edu/taubman