Milner Library will reopen to walk-in patrons beginning Monday, February 1, 2021. Building access will be limited to current Illinois State University students, faculty, staff, and retirees. Face coverings and physical distancing will be required at all times when in the library. For all information related to Milner Library’s pandemic response, visit the library’s COVID-19 response page.
Spring Building Hours
Beginning February 1, building hours will be
- Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.–Midnight
- Friday 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Sunday 10 a.m.–Midnight
Access to Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield University Archives and Special Collections will remain by appointment-only. View all hours on our website.
Spring Reference Assistance
When the building reopens February 1, research help will continue digitally via the library’s Virtual Reference Desk. Reference assistance is available to anyone regardless of University affiliation. Spring Virtual Reference Desk hours are
- Monday through Thursday 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Saturday Noon–5 p.m.
- Sunday Noon–8 p.m.
Milner librarians are available every day by:
- Chat through the Chat with us button at Library.IllinoisState.edu
- Email via this form.
- Phone at (309) 438-3451
- Texting (309) 807-9442
- Or contact your subject librarian to schedule a research consultation via Zoom or email.
Additional Temporary Changes to Continue
While the building will be open, temporary service and resource changes remain in place. Curbside pickup will continue and will be expanded to seven days a week once the library reopens. Library access by appointment will no longer be available; however, individualized assistance remains available by scheduling a research consultation with subject librarians. Additionally, there will be no seating or technology on Floor 5 due to an ongoing facilities project; however, access to Floor 5 and the books on that floor will be available.
Expanded Electronic Resources
The ISU community can still access an expanded array of electronic resources many of which are available anywhere, anytime. Milner’s electronic resources include things such as e-books, topical library guides, electronic databases, Kanopy streaming video service, ISU ReD (Illinois State University’s institutional repository), and our digital collections—just to name a few. For those needing course reserve items digitized, please send a request to our Access Services staff: bit.ly/reserverequest. Additionally, in response to COVID-19 many publishers have worked to allow expanded free e-book and e-textbook access for students, faculty, and staff of colleges and universities. For more information on expanded options available from various publishers, go visit our COVID-19 Free e-Resources and e-Textbook Guide. Please note that in many cases books from these sources will not show up when searching the Milner Library catalog. Individuals will need to go through each company to see if the books they want are available. Read more about Milner electronic resources.
Stay up to date
For all information on Milner Library’s COVID-19 response, please go to https://Library.IllinoisState.edu/covid-19/. Any additional updates will be posted on Milner’s website as well as on social media (follow Milner on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).
Face coverings are required at all times and in all areas of the library. 
Floor decals will help maintain 6 feed distance between patrons in areas that lines might form. 
Furniture has been removed and rearranged to help with physical distancing. 
Green “sit here” decals also help with maintaining physical distance.
