Q1. Where are you located, and what are your hours?
Q2. Where do I park?
Q3. Can anyone have access to Special Research Collections?
Q4. Do I need to make an appointment to use the collections?
Q5. May I copy or photograph Special Research Collection materials?
Q6. How can I search the collections?
Q7. Can I look at the UCSB yearbooks, newspapers and course descriptions at Special Research Collections?
Q8. Why is the book I want to see in Special Research Collections? What makes it so "special"?
Q9. What events/exhibits are happening at SRC?
Q10. How can I support the Department of Special Research Collections?
Q11. How do I apply for a job in Special Research Collections?
Q12. Where can I request course descriptions from the UCSB General Catalogs?
Q1. Where are you located, and what are your hours? We are located on the third floor in the Mountain Side of the UCSB Library. Please see Hours and Location for additional information on how to get to the UCSB campus and to the UCSB Library.
Q2. Where do I park? For parking information, visit: Campus Parking and Information Services.
Q3. Can anyone have access to Special Research Collections? Yes, but it is required for all patrons to register as researchers in order to request and have access to Special Research Collections materials. You do not need a UCSB library card in order to use the collections, but you will need to supply an official form of photo identification (such as a driver's license or student card) after registering. It is highly recommended that patrons register prior to their arrival. That can be done starting here: Special Collections Research Account. Note that all materials in the collections are non-circulating and can only be used in the Reading Room. For detailed information, please read our policies for working with the collections.
Q4. Do I need to make an appointment to use the collections? All researchers need to make an appointment to use the collections. Requests should be placed at least a week ahead of time via. Please visit this link for instructions on how to make an appointment: https://www.library.ucsb.edu/request-appointment. Classes or groups that would like to use our materials in instruction or presentation should request an appointment by emailing: special@library.ucsb.edu.
Out-of-town researchers or researchers working on time-sensitive projects should contact Reading Room staff at least two weeks ahead of your visit. Some materials need to be retrieved from off-site and will not be immediately available without advance notice. Additionally, you may want to contact one of our curators or other Special Collections staff for more in-depth reference assistance.
Q5. May I copy or photograph Special Collection materials? Limited reproductions may be possible. Reproduction requests will be determined by staff on a case-by-case basis and completed by staff. All reproduction requests will need to be submitted online using your Special Collections Research Account. A summary of our charges is available here. Additional charges may apply for commercial publication or reproduction.
Q6. How can I search the collections? To find published materials, you may use UC Library Search. To search only for materials in Special Research Collections, click the tab to perform an Advanced Search and limit your search location to Special Research Collections. You can further narrow your search by limiting by format, i.e. Archives/Manuscript, Book, Sound Recordings. You can also use the Online Archive of California to search for materials. Please feel free to contact our staff or come into the department if you need help with searching for materials.
Q7. Can I look at the UCSB yearbooks, newspapers and course descriptions at Special Research Collections? Circulating copies of the yearbook, La Cumbre, are available in the Main Stacks [LD800 .S35L]. Issues of the Daily Nexus from 2000/2001 onward are available online through the Daily Nexus website. Issues older than that are available on microfilm located in the Main Library [LB3621.65 D35]. If you find that the year or issue you would like to see is missing from the Main Stacks or is checked out, you may use our archival copies, but you will be required to register at our front desk, supply photo identification (such as a driver's license or student card), and abide by all Special Research Collections policies. For course descriptions see Question 12. Where can I view course descriptions from the UCSB General Catalogs?
Q8. Why is the book I want to see in Special Collections? What makes it so "special"? There are many different reasons why a book may be in Special Research Collections, including age, scarcity, condition, format, context, or donor request. Variant editions of the same title may be available in the Main Library and can be found by searching UC Library Search. You may be able to find a copy to borrow through another library via Interlibrary Loan by searching the UC Library Search catalog. Please be aware that you will need a UCSB library card in order to utilize our Interlibrary Loan service.
Q9. What events/exhibits are happening at Special Research Collections? Information on our current exhibits can be found here.
Q10. How can I support the Department of Special Research Collections? Please visit our support page for more information on giving to Special Research Collections.
Q11. How do I apply for a job in Special Research Collections? For staff positions, please visit UCSB Library Human Resources to see library job postings, or check the UCSB Human Resources website. For student positions, please visit the Student Employment UCSB Library Human Resources page to view and apply for current openings.
Q12. Where can I request course descriptions from the UCSB General Catalogs? Past General Catalogs starting from 2006 to the present are available on the web at http://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/current/past_catalogs.aspx. Older catalogs have been microfilmed and are available in the microform collection down on the first floor. Special Research Collections maintains archival copies of the catalogs which have been disbound, and are therefore not available for patron use. For additional information, please contact special@library.ucsb.edu
