The Gildor Family Special Collections Reading Room is open to all researchers. Research visits are available on an appointment-only basis Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The reading room is closed for a lunch recess from 12 p.m. to 1 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and from 1 - 2 pm on Wednesday. See Library hours for additional information.
Preparing For Your Visit
Register
Find Materials
Request Materials
How to Submit Requests and Schedule an Appointment:
The most efficient way to request an appointment is by first placing a request through the BruKnow catalog:
These videos are included to further illustrate the process of making requests and scheduling appointments. Please email [email protected] if you have additional questions.
Requesting Special Collections Materials using BruKnow
Scheduling Special Collections Reading Room Appointments
Rescheduling Special Collections Reading Room Appointments
Handling Materials
Please exercise all possible care to prevent damage to materials: Foldered materials should be laid flat on the table, should not be placed face down, rested on another book, or in held in one's lap.
Book rests are available to help support reading materials; special weights (snakes) are available for holding pages open; acid-free slips are available for use as placeholders. Marks or annotations should neither be added nor erased. Tracing or rubbing is not permitted. Please do not write on paper laid on top of books (whether the books are open or closed).
Please turn pages gently. Readers should not attempt to cut unopened pages. Such books should be brought to the attention of the Reading Room monitor.
Use of Manuscripts
Manuscript materials are examined one folder at a time. Please maintain the exact order of items within a folder; acid-free placeholders are provided to mark the place from which a folder is removed from a box. The table directly in front of the Reading Room desk is reserved for users of manuscripts.
Use of Audiovisual materials
Audiovisual materials (film, magnetic audio recording, video cassette, DVD, CD) cannot be played in the reading room but they can be viewed as physical objects. The John Hay Library will create digital copies of audiovisual material to the extent that physical condition and copyright or other legal restrictions permit. Email [email protected] for information about digital copies.
Joint Research Projects
Researchers using archival materials may not simultaneously consult a box. Materials used for join research project are subject to staff approval.
Note Taking
Pencils are the only writing implements allowed in the Reading Room while library materials are in use. A supply is available at the Reader Services and Reading Room desks. Please return them before leaving.
Damaged Materials/Errors Discovered
Readers are encouraged to bring to the attention of the staff all items in need of repair as well as suspected cataloging errors or misfiling of materials.
Security Matters
Only those books and papers necessary for research are permitted in the Reading Room. All papers, folders or any other materials taken into the Reading Room, including personal effects, may be subject to inspection by the monitor before a reader may remove them from the Reading Room.
USING SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
RESOURCES & MORE