Individual and Small Group Research Visits
Our Spaces
We currently have two spaces where collections are brought out for individual and small group research: the Reading Room (Canaday 202) and Old Library 304. (The former is the default unless indicated otherwise by staff.)
Preparing for your visit:
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Please contact speccoll@brynmawr.edu in advance of your planned visit. Alternatively, you can schedule appointments online with individual Special Collections staff.
- To consult materials that are on reserve for a class, researchers are encouraged to visit the Reading Room during our drop-in hours or schedule a Class Assignment visit.
- For all other material requests, please search our collection discovery systems and email us the title, classification number, accession number, or box and folder number for any materials you wish to use. We require at least 1 business day to retrieve rare books, manuscripts, and archives and at least 3 business days to retrieve art and artifacts.
- If you need assistance selecting materials to request, staff members are available for research consultations.
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If you are feeling ill, reschedule your appointment. Per the College’s health services guidance, we recommend that if you are ill that you refrain from being in an enclosed area for prolonged periods (more than 15 minutes) around others. Our reading room is a small space that doesn’t allow personal distance of 6 feet or more from staff and other researchers.
Arriving:
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Researchers without a TriCollege ID must present a government-issued photo ID at the time of arrival and registration.
- Pencils, notebooks, laptops, tablets, cameras and camera phones are all welcome in Special Collections. (Digital images may be taken as long as the flash is turned off. Some collections may have restrictions that prevent photography.)
- Please leave jackets, bags, laptop cases, folders, pens, food (including gum and hard candy) and drinks in the cubbies.
- Handle materials carefully. The materials will be brought from storage and set-up on tables for you. Keep materials supported on cradles, stands, or tables, as instructed by staff. Do not trace or write on top of the materials.