A Reintroduction and New Reflections

from Bentley Director Alexis Antracoli

Every once in a while, something seemingly mundane comes across my desk that inspires me to reflect on the bigger picture. June 27, 2023, was one of those days. I learned that a researcher was using the Kathleen Russell papers. I immediately had a hunch that I was more than familiar with this collection, and, upon brief investigation, my hunch was confirmed; I had processed this collection of a local LGBTQIA+ activist in 2009. What followed was a moment of reflection on my re-introduction to a Bentley that was both different than the one I left in 2011, while also being strikingly similar in many significant ways.

As I’ve adjusted to a new university, a new library, and a new set of faces, the core ways in which the Bentley has remained familiar were comforting, and, upon reflection, also what I believe will set the Bentley up for success as the Library charts its future. These similarities are a set of values and priorities that include: a commitment to access for all; an ethos of service to the University and the state of Michigan; and a dedicated staff that cares about the Bentley and its future.

In all the work of the Bentley, whether we are paging boxes for onsite researchers, writing articles for and producing this magazine, or ensuring our facilities meet staff and patron needs, the commitment to access shines through. We want you to know what we have and how to find it, and to have a welcoming and comfortable experience using the collections. Behind the scenes, we work to make new materials available for research, both on-site and online, and to make sure that materials are preserved so that generations of researchers will be able to use them.

The Bentley collects in two areas: the history of the state of Michigan and the history of the University of Michigan. Every day, we work to identify and acquire collections that patrons will use to create new knowledge, research their family histories, and teach students about the histories of the University and the state of Michigan. At the Judy and Stanley Frankel Detroit Observatory, student docents create walking tours and programs highlighting the history of the University, and welcome visitors to engage with and learn about the University’s first research facility.

Across the Library, staff demonstrate an impressive commitment to the Bentley and its success. They seek professional development opportunities, publish research findings, and support each other in achieving their goals. They are excited to work together to chart the course for the next chapter in the Bentley Historical Library’s story by creating an ambitious and innovative vision for the Library’s future. As that future evolves, I look forward to sharing it with you.