Access rare and distinctive materials

Stanford University Libraries acquires, preserves, and makes available materials of enduring historic value to support the research needs of Stanford students and faculty and the larger scholarly community. Collections of non-circulating research materials across the Libraries include personal papers of scientists, artists, performers, political activists, and writers; maps; photographs; manuscript drafts; rare books; artists’ books; audiovisual materials; records of departments and organizations; and more.

Before your visit

Rare and distinctive materials are held in several Stanford University Libraries locations. Some of these locations have their own guidelines and policies. Please review the one that applies to the collection you want to use: 

• Special Collections policies
• Archive of Recorded Sound rules of use
• Research at the David Rumsey Map Center
• East Asia Library Special Collections

Request materials

• Many rare and distinctive materials are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. 
• Find and request materials through SearchWorks, the Libraries’ online catalog, or Archival Collections at Stanford, our portal for finding aids (detailed collection guides). The request form is also available at the Online Archive of California, where Stanford finding aids can be found alongside those of other institutions.
• New visitors will be asked to create an account. 
• The number of items you can request is limited and varies by location. The limit will be specified on the request form.
• The request form will ask you to select a request type, generally a reading room appointment or digitization. 
• All reading room visits require an appointment, which you create in the request form. 
• Digitization requests should be completed within the request form and are subject to copyright and other restrictions. 

Appointments

• On the request form, select a date for your reading room appointment, and at some locations, also select a specific time. You can also manage appointments in My Library Account.
• Visitors without a Stanford ID must show a government-issued ID and register at the library entrance before proceeding to the reading room.
• Some media materials must be digitized before your in-library appointment, which can lengthen the time needed to fulfill your request. Staff will notify you if this applies to your request. 
• Help us preserve materials by following our collection handling guidelines before you arrive. 

During your visit 

• Please arrive with clean hands and note that food and drink are not allowed.
• Before using rare and distinctive materials, place all personal belongings in the designated storage space, except pencils, loose sheets of paper, cell phones, and laptop computers.
• Non-flash photography of materials for research purposes is typically allowed, but please ask reading room staff about any additional restrictions when you arrive.
• Library staff are happy to answer questions; when in doubt, please ask. 

Digitization

• Digitization services and policies differ by location and are subject to copyright and other restrictions. 
• To request digitization, find materials in SearchWorks or Archival Collections at Stanford (or the Online Archive of California) and select digitization as the request type on the request form. Consult the location guidelines above or contact staff to explore options.