Library Opens February 2. What to Know Before You Go!

Updated February 1 at 7:00 a.m.

We are excited to re-open our doors for Spring 2021! Any member of the Bentley community who is enrolled in the University’s COVID-19 testing program is welcome to visit the library starting Monday, February 1, 2021 Tuesday, February 2, 2021. Please be prepared to show your Bentley ID and display a current COVID testing program wristband to enter.

You can view the complete library hours calendar, including our online Reference Help hours, for the entire trimester online. Hours are subject to change due to holidays, inclement weather, or unforeseen circumstances. 

Additional guidelines and information are provided below. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.


Bentley Library Building Opening

  • The Library is operating in accordance with state and university COVID-19 public health guidelines. All library users and staff are required to wear face coverings, maintain 6 feet physical distance, and practice hand hygiene. Please perform your daily health self-check and stay home if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.  
  • Like all buildings on campus, you will need both your current Bentley ID and the appropriate wristband from the COVID testing program to enter the library through the main entrance.    
  • Building occupancy will be limited and monitored. When you enter the library, you will be given an occupancy card representing a seat or spot in the library. The cards are color coded by floor. You will need to return the card when you leave. As long as there are cards available, there will be a seat in the building. Due to the occupancy limits, we ask that you please be courteous to others and mindful of your time in the library.  
  • Do not leave any personal belongings in the building, as you may not be able to re-enter to get them if we are at capacity. 
  • Disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer are available throughout the library. Please wipe down any shared surfaces before and after you use them. 
  • Food is prohibited in the library until further notice. 

Study Rooms and Spaces 

  • The library’s study rooms are subject to reduced capacity and physical distancing guidelines. Many study rooms are limited to single occupancy; some of the larger rooms accommodate two people. Please check the occupancy sign posted on each room. Study rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are not available, but you can check current room availability online before visiting.  
  • Face coverings are required in all library spaces at all times, including in study rooms, study carrels and pods, and at study tables. 
  • Furniture is arranged to ensure proper physical distancing. Please do not move furniture. 

Borrowing Library Materials and Using Course Reserves 

  • To minimize face-to-face interactions, we request that you use the library’s self-check machine to check out your items.  
  • Please return your library items in the book return drop, located at the main entrance.  
  • Search the Course Reserves site to see if your professor has set aside a copy of the textbook or other required materials for your class. You can also check the “Course Documents” section of your Blackboard site for any readings your professor may have put on electronic reserve.  

Online Research Help 

  • Reference librarians are available online to help you with your papers and assignments. Use live chat, email refdesk@bentley.edu. or text 781.728.0511 to get research, database, and citation help. You can also book an appointment for a research consultation via Zoom. The virtual Reference Desk hours and contact information are posted on the Research Help page.  
  • Visit our Getting Started Online guide for more details about remote resources.

Computers & Printers 

The library provides computers and printers (color and B&W) for you to use if you need one. To install the Bentley print drivers on your laptop, visit the Falcon Printing website. You will also find information about printing funds and costs on that site.  

Get Updates 

Keep an eye on your inbox for our regular monthly In the Know email, and don’t forget to follow @BentleyLibrary on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook for updates, news, events, and photos.  

Library Status & Services: January 19-31

Happy New Year! Like all of you, the Library has been busy preparing for the start of online classes on January 19th. During the first two weeks of the trimester library staff will continue to provide services and resources online to the Bentley community. We plan to reopen the building on February 1st, barring any changes to the University’s scheduled resumption of in-person operations. We will post updated information here when we reopen.

Starting the Spring Semester Online
Library Services and Resources
January 19-31, 2021


Contactless Pickup & Returns

  • We will be offering contactless pickup on Wednesdays in January from January 13th-27th (excluding course reserves). Simply search our online catalog, click “request” on any item you want, sign in with your Bentley credentials, and submit the request. You will receive a confirmation email with pickup instructions.
  • If you have books or DVDs to return please place them in the book return drop, located at the main entrance.  The book drop is open 24×7.

Online Library Services Help

  • If you have questions about borrowing/renewing books and other library items, Course Reserves, Museum Passes, or building operations, please contact Library Services via phone 781.891.2168, email or live chat.
Library Services Help Hours: January 19 – 31
Sunday noon – 8:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturdayclosed

Interlibrary Loan and Scan on Demand

Online Resources and Research Help 

  • The library website—library.bentley.edu—is your portal to accessing online library services and resources. Your Bentley email address and password grant you remote access to most library databases and electronic resources – anytime, anywhere. 
  • Librarians have created research guides for popular topics and specific classes such as GB214 and GB320. The guides are a great help in getting started when doing research for projects and papers. Don’t wait to check them out – your first assignments will be due very soon!    
  • Contact the Reference Desk for research help via email refdesk@bentley.edulive chat, or text 781.728.0511. Research consultations via Zoom are available by appointment.
Reference & Research Help Hours: January 19 – 31
Sunday1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Monday – Thursday8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Visit the Reference & Research Help page for full services and contact information.


Additional details about the library’s operations can be found on the Bentley Library Status and Services page. For information about online resources please visit the Getting Started @ the Bentley Library – Online guide. Please contact us if you have any questions or need assistance finding materials, accessing electronic resources, or conducting research.

Winter Intensives: Online Services & Help Hours

Library services and research help will be available online during the week of Winter Intensives: January 11 – January 15, 2021. The building remains closed at this time. Hours and contact information are listed below.

Electronic collections including eBooks, streaming films, article databases, and more are available 24/7 from off-campus using your Bentley email address and password. For more information, visit our Getting Started @ the Bentley Library — Online! page.

Virtual Library Services Help Hours
Monday 1/11 – Friday 1/158:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 1/16 – Monday 1/18 (Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday)closed

Library Services contact information can be found on our Contact Us page.


Virtual Reference & Research Help Hours
Monday 1/11 – Thursday 1/148:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday 1/158:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday 1/16 – Monday 1/18 (Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday)closed

Visit the Reference & Research Help page for full services and contact information.

Winter Break Closing: December 24 - January 10

Bentley University has announced an extended winter break this year. The Bentley Library will be closed Thursday, December 24, 2020, through Sunday, January 10, 2021. All staffed services will be unavailable during the break. Online library services, Interlibrary Loan (ILL), Scan on Demand, and research help services will resume on Monday, January 11. Please anticipate longer turnaround times for any items you request or questions you submit while we are closed.

The library’s online resources, including research databases, digital book and audiobook collections, and streaming films, will continue to be accessible to Bentley users via our website.

For the latest information on currently available library services, please see our Bentley Library Status and Services page. 

We wish everyone a restful break and a happy and healthy holiday season! 

Special Online Hours: December 18-23

Please note the changes to our online help hours for the period of time after classes end on December 17th and before winter break begins on December 24th.

Virtual Library Services Help Hours

Friday, December 188:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 19 & Sunday, December 20Closed
Monday, December 21 – Wednesday, December 238:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Library Services contact information can be found on our Contact Us page.

Virtual Reference & Research Help Hours

Friday, December 188:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 19 & Sunday, December 20Closed
Monday, December 21 – Wednesday, December 239:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Visit the Reference & Research Help page for full services and contact information.

Other Services Available:

  • Contactless Pickup of physical items will be available on Wednesday, December 23rd from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
  • Electronic collections including eBooks, Streaming Films, article databases, and more will continue to be available 24/7 from off-campus using your Bentley email address and password. For more information, visit our Getting Started @ the Bentley Library — Online! page.

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours: Tuesday, 11/24 - Sunday 11/29

The library will close for Bentley University’s Thanksgiving Break at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, and remain closed until the start of spring term. Online Reference Services will resume on Sunday, November 29, from 1:00-9:00 p.m. (EST). Library Services online assistance will resume Monday, November 30, at 8:00 a.m.

Don’t forget that our online research databaseseBook collections and streaming films databases are accessible 24×7 with your Bentley email address and password.

For complete information about the library, virtual reference, café, and IT Help Desk hours please view the hours calendar.  

Have a happy Thanksgiving and a restful break!

Hours Update! Now Open Until Midnight Sunday-Thursday.

As we enter the sixth week of the trimester, we are seeing the number of people using the library at night increase. We’re excited to announce that we have just extended our evening hours to be open until midnight Sunday-Thursday! We are also opening two hours earlier on Saturdays, at 10:00 a.m.

Please keep wearing your face coverings, maintaining physical distance, and abiding posted room occupancy limits and other guidelines. Your participation in following Bentley’s safety protocols allows us to offer more hours and services. Thank you, Falcons!

Library Hours Effective October 4, 2020

Sundaynoon – midnight
Monday – Thursday:7:30 a.m. – midnight
Friday:7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday:10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Online Help Hours Update: Monday, August 10-Sunday, August 30

The library’s online help services will be closed nights and weekends during the period after summer session classes end and before fall classes begin – Monday, August 10 through Sunday, August 30. 

Library Services is available online:

Monday – Thursday:8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday:8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday:CLOSED

Reference and Reference help is available online:

Monday – Thursday:8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday:8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday:CLOSED

Don’t forget that when the library is closed you can still use our digital book and audiobook collections (including OverDrive), databases, and streaming films. Contact us if you need any help accessing the library from off campus.

Stay tuned for announcements about our Fall 2020 re-opening plans and hours!