Working at the library: physical organization of the collection

The Architecture Library is divided into several sections, some of which are open shelves and freely accessible to users, while others are not directly accessible.

In order to give users accurate information, it is necessary to be familiar with all areas of the library:

1. Loan rooms: books arranged on shelves according to the Dewey Decimal Classification and an alphabetical code, and organized by color. There are also three thematic towers that highlight a portion of the collection: 391 Fashion; 722-723 Ancient Architecture, 720.9456-720.9457 Architecture in Africa and America. Please pay attention and return the books from these sections to their thematic towers and not to the shelves.
2. Reference room: books not available for loan. These are general reference works for architecture, organized according to the Dewey Decimal Classification and alphabetical code, color-coded, and with a green REF label. There is a thematic tower containing the architectural drawings section, 720.222.
3. Course room: books excluded from loan. These are the books listed in the course bibliographies; organized according to the Dewey Classification and alphabetical code, organized by color, with a red C label.
4. Periodicals:  not available for loan. Italian and foreign magazines are arranged on the shelves in alphabetical order by title; the available issues are the ones from the last 10 years (with the exception of Casabella, Domus, Interni, and others, which are available on the shelves for more than the last 10 years). Issues from before the last 10 years can be found in the Pozzo; issues from the current year that have not yet been bound are located in the library offices.
5. Pozzo librario:  books, periodicals, and theses, to be requested online and distributed daily. The material is located in different places, both with Dewey Classification and with locations that use other schemes; some are located in the basement, some in Vault 36 on the ground floor (Dewey classes 721-799).
6. Rare books and Archives Room: antique and rare materials, archival materials, book collections linked to the archives, distributed daily. The material is located on the first floor.
7. External storage: book materials from former departments (TAED, Construction, Restoration), distributed once a week on Wednesdays.