Rare Books and Special Collections | River Campus Libraries

Our collections span a range of subjects and include printed, manuscript, audio, and visual material including books, letters, diaries, photographs, personal and business records, architectural drawings, maps, and more. For more information about how and what we collect, consult our collection development policy and see recent additions on our New Books page. Information on University of Rochester history and records is available in the University Archives. To learn more about who we are and our expertise, check out our staff page.

This video gives you an overview of the collections held by the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation. It includes an overview of our collection areas of strength, the types of material we collect, and the collections for which we are the most well-known.

Access policy

Although it is not required, we suggest that researchers make an appointment and complete an online registration form prior to their visit. Researchers are allowed to bring laptops, phones, cameras, chargers, pencils, and loose paper into the Reading Room. All other personal items must be left in one of our lockers.

Statement on Interrupting, Redressing, and Acknowledging Cycles of Harm in the Archives

We are dedicated to safe and inclusive physical and intellectual access to the collections in the University of Rochester’s Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation. These collections and the documents that describe them sometimes contain harmful or insensitive language that does not reflect the current views of the library and the University, and we are committed to acknowledging and remediating these issues.

This is a work in progress, and we welcome and appreciate any feedback. If you encounter any harmful or offensive language or content in our collections, finding aids, or this website, please reach out to us at rbscp@library.rochester.edu. If you would like to be part of this effort, or if you have ideas you would like to share, we would greatly value your input.