Basic information
- Location & hours
- Special Collections & Archives is located at the east end
of the main floor of Olin Memorial Library. Reading room hours are
Monday through Friday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00 and by
appointment. (In summer, Monday through Thursday 1:00 to 5:00 and by
appointment.)
- Staff & addresses
- The department is staffed by Head of Special Collections and
University Archivist Suzy Taraba (860/685-3375, staraba@wesleyan.edu),
Assistant University Archivist Valerie Gillispie (860/685-3863,
vgillispie@wesleyan.edu), and Archives
Assistant VI Linda Hurteau (860/685-3859,
lhurteau@wesleyan.edu). Our mailing
address is: Special Collections & Archives, Olin Memorial Library, 252 Church
Street, Middletown CT 06459-0108. The main department telephone number is
860/685-3864 and the departmental email account for reference questions and
correspondence is sca@wesleyan.edu.
- Spaces & facilities
- The Special Collections & Archives main floor reading room
contains the most frequently consulted Wesleyan publications and
vertical files, the rare book reference
collection, and most of the Middletown collection. The
adjoining Davison
Rare Book Room provides a place for Wesleyan classes and other
small groups to examine rare books. Visitors are welcome to tour
the room, one of the University's most elegant spaces. Most
materials are housed in a closed stack on the lower level. Some
archival collections are in offsite storage.
- Who may use SC&A
- Anyone is welcome to consult materials in the care of Special
Collections & Archives. Non-Wesleyan users must complete a
registration form. Permission to examine original materials will
be granted to researchers for specific purposes, upon completion
of a registration form and an introductory interview with the
librarian.
- Obtaining SC&A materials
- Materials are brought to users by staff members; this is not a
self-service or browsing department, except for reference works.
Users should feel free to consult SC&A staff about their
informational needs. For identified printed items or theses the
user should fill out the Library's three-part request form.
Completed forms may be left in SC&A (or under the door if the
office is not open) or at the Circulation Desk. Request forms are
not necessary for the locations "Reference," "Office," or
"Middletown," or for frequently consulted Wesleyan reference
materials. Requests cannot normally be filled immediately and
should be made in advance. SC&A accepts simple, clear
telephone and e-mail requests.
- Using SC&A materials
- Because of the nature of SC&A materials, they do not
circulate, use is supervised, and careful handling is essential.
Upon written request, staff will photocopy limited quantities of
material or arrange for photographic reproductions, when the
condition of the original permits. Departmental materials, as well
as fragile materials from storage collections, are consulted in
the main floor reading room. Requested materials will be held
there for as long as needed. In special circumstances limited
circulation can sometimes be arranged.
Last updated Feb. 22, 2006
SC&A
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