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Research at the Center
Using the Special Collections Reading Room
The Special Collections Research
Center welcomes faculty, students, and staff of the University of Chicago
and visiting researchers. The Reading Room is reserved for registered
users of Special Collections. Since many of the materials are rare or
unique, readers are expected to treat all materials with care to avoid
loss or damage and to follow these guidelines:
Getting settled in
- Food and drink are not permitted
in Special Collections.
- Please silence
your cell phone, pager, or other messaging device. Digital cameras and
headphones of any type are not permitted.
- Only materials needed for
research may be taken into the Reading Room. Free lockers are available.
Please check all briefcases, backpacks, handbags, computer cases, coats,
and hats in the locker room. Keep your Chicago Card or day pass with
you at all times.
- Library materials and personal
items (including notebooks, laptop computers, books, etc.) are subject
to inspection prior to entering and upon leaving the Reading Room.
- Books, manuscripts, and
archival documents are paged for readers and may be used only in the
Reading Room.
- All items charged to the
Reading Room must be returned to the front desk at closing time. We
are happy to place items on short-term hold for researchers.
Using the Reading Room
- All written notes are to
be taken in pencil. Marking, erasing, or altering Library materials
is prohibited.
- Laptop and computing devices
for taking notes are permitted in the Reading Room.
- Reproduction or imaging
of materials by researchers in the Reading Room (e.g. photography or
scanning) is not permitted. Please see Copy
Services for information on reproduction services.
- All materials must remain
on the surface of the table. When appropriate, readers may be asked
to place books and bound manuscripts on book rests or cradles, to use
weights for holding books open, or to wear protective gloves. When in
doubt about proper handling, please consult the Reading Room staff.
- Manuscript and archival
materials circulate one box or folder at a time.
- The exact arrangement of
unbound materials (papers in folders and folders in boxes) must be maintained.
Only one folder may be removed from a box at one time.
- Readers are permitted to
consult multiple printed volumes. Depending on size and condition, Reading
Room staff may limit the number of books circulated at one time.
Staff are always happy to discuss
these procedures and assist readers. For further information, contact:
- Special Collections Research
Center
- University of Chicago Library
- 1100 E. 57th Street
- Chicago, Illinois 60637
- Phone: (773) 702-8705
- Fax: (773) 702-3728
- SpecialCollections@lib.uchicago.edu
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