Using Special Collections
FAQs
Our year-round hours in the Reading Room:
Monday: 1:00pm-5:00pm
Tuesday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
Friday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday: CLOSED
Hours may change during holidays and intersessions. For updated information, check this page for library hours.
No. As our materials cannot be taken out of the building, our Reading Room is open only to those using Special Collections Materials. There are other study areas in the Harrison/Small building where you are welcome to work, such as the South Gallery (2nd floor) and Taylor Nook (3rd floor).
Location
The Small Special Collections Library is located on the central ground of the University of Virginia’s campus. If using a GPS device to locate us, use this address:
170 McCormick Rd.
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
Parking
Parking is available in the Central Grounds Parking Garage, 400 Emmet St. Pay via ParkMobile.
Accessible parking is available on McCormick Road in front of Shannon Library.
Temporary parking permits for up to three months may be obtained for lots not on Central Grounds. Please see General Visitor Parking Information.
We are delighted to provide your class with an instructional session using the wealth of materials in our Special Collections Library. Please use this form for all classes and groups, regardless of size.
For classes larger than 30 and sessions taking place during periods of high demand (September/October, February, June/July), we recommend making your request at least 4 weeks in advance.
All requests should be made at least 2 weeks in advance.
Materials (except for microfilm) are non-circulating and accessed only in our reading rooms. Microfilm requests may be made through InterLibrary Loan by participating libraries. All other materials may not be removed from the Library for any reason, at any time.
You may obtain publication-quality scans of Special Collections material from the library’s Digital Production Unit. Digital Production Group Request Form.
This process takes at least four weeks and costs $50 for the first hour and $25 for each subsequent hour. Once you submit an order, you will be provided with an estimate of costs and delivery date. We will not complete an order without your approval of the cost.
Learn more about the Digital Production Group, including policies, digitization standards, equipment, and payment.
It is not necessary to seek the Library's permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use materials from collections. This applies whether your use is non-commercial or commercial. For Special Collections materials, we do ask as a courtesy that you credit the Library as the holder of the original materials in the forms described below, as reasonably possible given the context of your use
However, the Library's consent as the owner of physical or digital copies of any given work does not address copyright or other legal issues that may affect publication or other re-use of these materials. Copyrights in Library materials are typically owned by third parties, and it is the sole responsibility of the user or recipient of copies of Special Collections and other Library materials to investigate the copyright status of any given work and to seek and obtain permission where needed prior to any distribution or publication.
For more information on our permissions and publishing, visit our website here.
A list of Independent Researchers who are familiar with our collections is available to those researchers unable to visit the Small Special Collections Library in person.
We do provide limited in-depth reference assistance to remote users. If you have a reference question, please submit an Online Reference Request and one of our staff will assist you.
Cameras and cell phones may be used without flash in the reading room to photograph materials for research use. Equipment must not touch the surface of collections materials. For more information, please view our Camera Use Policy.
Flat-bed scanners, tripods, photocopiers, as well as outside lights and flash are not permitted. Please silence cell phones, laptops, tablets, and other devices in order not to disturb others. Researchers will not be allowed to place materials or themselves in jeopardy by standing on furniture to get the "best" shot.
