Skip to Main Content

Collection Access

Updates on access to materials on the third floor during the cleaning process.

Current status

Due to environmental remediation efforts, some sections of our collection on the third floor of the Robert L. Carothers Library & Learning Commons will be temporarily inaccessible. Please contact the Circulation Desk for more information.

As of January 2, remediation is underway. Please contact Circulation for assistance accessing materials in the sequestered area.

Availability of books on the Third Floor

The majority of the collection on the third floor is available for patrons to browse and check out as they please.

As of February 07, 2025, this availability includes:

  • DS549 thru F94
  • GN575 thru HB119
  • PN1590 .S26 H4 thru PR5480 .F06 v. 10
  • PS2631 .M3 thru PZ83

New books

After they are received and processed, new books within those affected call number areas will be located along Range 66 on the 3rd floor.

Unavailability of materials on the third floor

The following sections of the collection will be unavailable until further notice. 

  • P1 thru PN1590 .H36 J64
  • PR5480 .F2 thru PS2631 .L6

For more information, please call the University Libraries Circulation Desk at (401) 874-2672.

Books flagged as unsalvageable

As of January 30, 2025, these are the books flagged as unsalvageable by the remediation company.

Options for getting for obtaining unavailable material

If your research material is within the listed unavailable areas, here are three options to obtain what you need.

Option #1 - If the URI Libraries book or books are unavailable, please place a request via Interlibrary Loan.

Option #2 - If the URI Libraries book or books are unavailable and your need is urgent, book orders can be submitted via the URI Libraries Book Suggestion Form.

Option #3 - If the URI Libraries book or books are unavailable, you can check Rhode Island's Ocean State Libraries' catalog for that book or books.  As a member of the URI Community, you do have access to that consortium's collection.  However, if you are not a RI Resident, you will need to provide both your URI ID and evidence of RI residency, whether on-campus or off-campus, such as a bill with your name and address.  The closest library for you to apply for a library card is the Kingston Free Library.

 

How long will it take to receive books?

Estimates for Interlibrary Loan delivery times under the current systems:

Books sent from within Rhode Island: Approximately 3-7 business days (75% of requests). 2-3 business days (25% of requests).

Books sent from the Boston Library Consortium (BLC): 1-3 business days.

Books sent from outside RI or the BLC:

3-10 business days (65%)
10-15 business days (25%)
15-20 business days (10%)

We aim to order from BLC or RI institutions as we have better delivery systems, but the Interlibrary Loan process requires the lending library to have the book available at the point of request.

Is there any risk to my health?

Testing has shown that mold levels are within safe limits, especially away from the "wrapped stacks" on the third floor. In addition, air filtration systems have been installed to improve the air quality.

The molds detected on the third floor are commonly found in indoor environments with moisture or high humidity. These molds are typically non-toxic and do not contain the "black mold" that is dangerous to humans.

However, they are allergenic, so if you have a mold allergy/sensitivity or asthma, you might choose to avoid long periods on the 3rd floor or, alternatively, wear a KN95 or similar mask while there.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.