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Reading Rooms:

The H. Furlong Baldwin Library has several reading rooms, all of which are handicapped-accessible:

The Walter Edgar Rhodes Reading Room (formerly the Main Reading Room) has been restored to resemble its original 1917 appearance with improvements including restored historic light fixtures, wireless computer networking, handicapped access, and greatly expanded seating. Other rooms accessible from the Rhodes Reading Room include Reference North and South, the Family Chart Room, the Genealogy Upper and Lower Rooms, and the Vertical File Room. This area is where researchers can find non-rare books and pamphlets, bound periodicals, unique card indexes and vertical files, atlases, oral histories, the genealogical manuscript collections, and the on-duty reference librarian.

The new Alexander A. McIlvain Special Collections Reading Room features a cozy atmosphere created by wood paneling, three large windows, and two marble fireplaces. This is where researchers can request manuscripts, photographs, prints, maps, currency, sheet music, ephemera, and broadsides.

The new Microfilm Reading Room provides a spacious, well-lit area for reading microfilm and microfiche.

The new Current Periodicals Reading Room displays the Library's current periodicals and includes two very comfortable chairs for patron use.