On the top two floors I (and others) find it difficult to find books because there are no directions regarding call numbers. If I am standing in the middle of the stacks of books, I can't quickly determine which direction I need to walk in to find the matching call letters, especially if it is a different first letter. A more detailed map of each stack's call numbers would be very helpful and located in the actual area of book browsing.

From: a graduate student

Patricia Selinger, Head of Preservation, replies...

It is important that our students easily find books in the stacks. I'm not sure what you have in mind and invite you to contact me directly with your idea. Stack guides have been placed on the end panel of each shelving row. The guides indicate what call number range is in that row. The library books are organized from top to bottom, left to right. The call number order snakes through the stacks, which allows for continuous flow of call numbers from the left to the right. It means you don't have to walk to the beginning of the row if the call number ends at the end of a row; you just turn around and work your way from the left to the right. Not all the guides are correct as the VCU Libraries is in the process of pulling low-use books from our overcrowded stacks to put into storage. Then the sections are shifted and the stack guides aren't correct. The stack guides will be corrected when the work in that part of the stacks ends. Thank you for taking the time to send us your suggestion.