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The International Room in Sterling Memorial Library: Finding and Accessing the International Room (SML 177)

Accessing the International Room

The entrance to the International Room (SML 177) is to your left as you enter Sterling Memorial Library (SML) from the main entrance on High Street.

  • From the main (High Street) entrance to Sterling Memorial Library: Turn left immediately after passing through the security turnstile just inside the door, then pass to the left of the circular staircase leading down to the Wright Reading Room and the tunnel to Bass Library. Continue straight down the long hallway, passing the entrance to the Digital Humanities Lab on your left, continuing until you reach the International Room at the very end of the hallway. 
  • From the York Street entrance to Sterling Memorial Library, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), or elsewhere inside the building: Pass through the Nave towards the main (High Street) exit, turn right immediately before you reach the security kiosk, then pass to the left of the circular staircase leading down to the Wright Reading Room and the tunnel to Bass Library. Continue straight down the long hallway, passing the entrance to the Digital Humanities Lab on your left, continuing until you reach the International Room at the very end of the hallway. 

You'll know you're almost at the International Room when you pass by a small staircase on your left, which leads to the 1742 room, which was originally designed to house the books contained in the Yale College library in 1742 when Thomas Clap created a manuscript catalogue of the library's contents. The catalogue was published in 1743. The books have since been moved to the Beinecke Library and you can see many of them, along with Clap's catalogue, in a display in the book stack tower at Beinecke. 

What you can bring into the International Room during class sessions

Because the special collection materials you'll be using in the International Room are in many cases unique and irreplaceable, all personal belongings, food, and drink must be placed on tables immediately inside the entrance to the International Room. The International Room is continuously monitored by video surveillance cameras.

  • We welcome pencils, notebooks, texts needed for a class session, laptops, and cameras in the Gates Classroom. Please silence your cell phones before entering.
  • Please leave all pens with your belongings on the tables inside the entrance to the International Room.

Layout of Sterling Memorial Library

International Room in SML