Individual reference assistance is available in the Africana Reading Room, 328 Library, on a walk-in or appointment basis. Faculty and graduate students who may need extensive assistance are encouraged to make an appointment in advance with the African Studies Bibliographer, Al Kagan.. The office and reading room are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM when classes are in session. The Bibliographer is also available for group bibliographic instruction sessions. Faculty should request such sessions at least two weeks in advance. The Bibliographer also teaches a full semester graduate student course on "Bibliography of Africa" (LIS 530M).

The Africana Reading Room contains Africa-specific indexes, bibliographies, handbooks, directories and other reference materials.  A current year collection of some of the most-read general periodicals is also housed in the reading room.  Older issues of these periodicals are shelved in the Library's general stacks or in subject libraries.