Using Special Collections
Please watch our Visiting Special Collections video to see what to expect when visiting, including our policies, usage procedures, and services. Our diverse collections of rare books, photographs, manuscripts, archives and artifacts are available for research use by faculty, students, visiting scholars and the general public. All materials must be viewed on site in the reading room. A knowledgeable staff is available to assist researchers and to retrieve materials for study. Please see our policies below for more specific instructions.
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Reading Room Policies
All researchers must register to use Special Collections. This involves filling out a registration form and presenting a photo ID for copying.
- All coats, bags, and personal belongings not required for research must be left in the locker area. The coat rack and lockers are available for use.
- Pens, food, and drinks are prohibited; please leave with your personal belongings. Pencils, notes, laptops, cameras, and phones may be used to take notes. Please silence your phone and take any phone calls in the Library Gallery.
- Collections material can only be used in the Reading Room. Storage areas, including the book stacks, are not open for browsing. Request materials using provided call slips.
- All materials must be handled with care. Please use provided handling instructions. Clean, dry hands are required; a restroom is available in the Library Gallery.
- Researchers are required to adhere to all copyright laws.
- Cameras may be used, according to the guidelines outlined in our Camera Use Policy.
- Requests for digital scans or files can be submitted using the digital imaging form(PDF). Please complete and send to speccoll@umbc.edu.
- Researchers can provide complete citation information for their digitization request using a form specific to publications, photographs, audiovisual items, archival materials, or a multi-format request.
- Payments for services can be submitted using the credit card form(PDF). Please complete and send to speccoll@umbc.edu.
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Special Collections staff can make scans or photocopies for you. For information about this service and about permissions to use materials, as well as associated fees, please see Rights & Reproduction.
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Special Collections offers many types of instruction sessions. Learn more about Special Collections instruction and Request an instruction session.
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The Special Collections department is available to assist all interested researchers with each stage of a research project. Undergraduates, faculty, the general public, new and experienced researchers - all are welcome. Please see our Research page to learn how to search and locate Special Collections research resources, guides to help you with your research, and how to cite your sources. Learn more...
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The Special Collections department is located on the first floor of the Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery, in the back of the Gallery. Learn more...
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