Areas of Expertise
Although it is not required, we suggest that researchers contact us and register as a researcher prior to their visit. All researchers will be asked to fill out a registration form beforehand or in person and provide valid photo identification (such as UR ID or a driver's license).
RBSCP has over 500 manuscript collections that are described in online finding aids. Each entry gives basic descriptive information about the subject and material in the collection, the size of the collection, and its provenance (how it came to RBSCP). Finding aids contain a short description of the collection and, in some cases, a box-by-box or folder-by-folder listing of its contents.
Printed material -- books, maps, newspapers, journals -- is represented by author, title, and subject entries in the library's catalog. RBSCP also has a very strong collection of local history (Rochester and Western New York) materials and is the home of the University Archives.
Before visiting us, please note the following Reading Room Policies & Procedures:
● Researchers are required to fill out an online Registration Form before they use collection material. This can be filled out before their visit or when they arrive in the department. Registrations are valid for one academic year (September-August).
● All users must provide a current, valid ID: UR ID, driver’s or non-driver’s license, or passport.
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● Researchers should not have hand sanitizer residue on their hands when they handle collection material.
● Researchers may bring laptops (no cases), chargers, phones, pencils, and loose papers into the Reading Room. Additional material, including bags and pens, must be left in a locker. .
● Directions to RBSCP: Enter through the ground floor entrance across from Library Lot, go straight down the hallway to the end, going past the elevator, restrooms, and the Art & Music Library. When you get to the end of the hallway, go up the stairs by the vending machines which will take you to the Eastman Quad entrance of the Library. Enter through the doors to your left, go through the Friedlander lobby, up the left marble stairs to the second floor, left through the glass doors to the Great Hall study area, and through the "Administration" doorway to the left. Rare Books is to the right at the end of that hall.
Contact one of the curators below for questions in their areas of expertise.
Autumn Haag, Assistant Director
Erin Fisher, Special Collections Librarian
Jessica Lacher-Feldman, Exhibitions and Special Projects Manager
Melissa S. Mead, John M. and Barbara Keil University Archivist and Rochester Collections Librarian