The Chicago Jazz Archive is located in the Regenstein Library at the University of Chicago. Because the Library is not open to the public, and because the Archive's public hours are limited, visits to the Archive are by appointment only. For security reasons, all persons entering the Library are required to present valid University identification or a visitor's pass. The Library Privileges Office will issue a pass to visit the Archive only after confirming that the visitor has an appointment, so walk-in visits are not possible.

CJA Reading Room and 78rpm stacks

The Archive is a research collection and is not browsable; materials are boxed and foldered in accordance with archival practice. Using collection finding aids, patrons identify specific items of interest which are then paged from locked storage and brought to the Reading Room for examination.

Rare materials require considerably more care and consideration in handling than do items found in circulating collections. Before working with Archive materials, visitors must agree to abide by the rules stated in the Visitor Guidelines, a standard practice when using rare materials archives. A copy of the Guidelines is provided before on-site visits.

The CJA has a standard jazz reference book collection, and there are jazz books, CDs and microfilms of Chicago newspapers in the Library's General Collection. Because these materials can be easily consulted at other area libraries, the Archive does not arrange research visits solely to use them, though they are available for consultation by patrons using Archive collections.

Except for institutional exhibit loans, Archive materials do not circulate and are not available for Interlibrary Loan.

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