Visiting Special Collections

As UT Libraries moves archival collections into a new offsite storage facility, most materials will be unavailable to researchers and the Special Collections Reading Room will be closed temporarily.

June 22 – October 7.  Archival collections are unavailable.  

June 22 – July 10.  Reading Room is open for rare book use only.  Limited reproduction services available.

July 13 – October 7. Reading Room closed to all researchers.

October 7 - October 16. Reading Room open with access to rare books only.

October 19 - November 30. Reading Room open with limited access to archival collections.

The Special Collections Reading Room is open to members of the University of Tennessee community, visiting scholars and community researchers.  The reading room is only available to researchers using our collections, not for quiet study. 

Visitors are also welcome to view our exhibits located in the Elaine Altman Evans exhibit area in the galleria and inside our reading room and classroom.

The reading room may be closed occasionally to accommodate instruction or other programming. Special Collections is closed on weekends and evenings.  Please be sure to check the specific hours for each day. Please note limited availibility during move to new Library Storage Annex June - October 2026.

A research account is required to schedule appointments, request materials, and register in the reading room.  Archival collections are housed offsite and must be requested in advance. Rare books are available on site. Collection materials are non-circulating and must be used in the reading room.

The Special Collections reading room is housed in room 121 on the first floor of Hodges Library (between the ground floor and the second floor).  Hodges Library is located at 1015 Volunteer Blvd. at the corner of Volunteer Blvd and Melrose Avenue.

Use the UT interactive map for the location of the campus and other buildings.

There is no visitor parking available next to the library.  See Visitor Parking for more information.

Researchers must follow all general handling guidelines and specific instructions communicated by staff to help safeguard collection materials.  Our procedures are informed by the guidelines developed and endorsed by the American Library Association and Society of American Archivists.

• Researchers are allowed to bring laptops, notes, pencils (no ink), and paper into the reading room.  All other items must be placed in the lockers provided.
• Eating and drinking are prohibited.
• Materials should be maintained in the order in which they are received by the researcher. Researchers are allowed to have only one box of materials on the table at a time. All other boxes must be stored on the carts provided.
• Reproduction requests must be submitted through your research account.
• There are no self-service reproduction services available in the reading room. Personal scanners are not permitted.
• Subject to copyright or any other legal restrictions and policies set forth here, researchers are welcome to use smartphones and other personal, hand-held digital cameras to photograph collection materials in the reading room for personal use; all devices should be placed in silent mode.