Rare and Distinctive Collections: Research and Visiting
We're here to help you access and use our Rare & Distinctive Collections including archives, government information, maps and rare books. Below find information about accessing and searching our collections, how to plan your visit (open hours) and research assistance including virtual consultations and our in-person reading room.
We offer appointments Mondays through Thursdays, please email us at rad@colorado.edu to schedule in advance. In Fall 2024, we are offering student drop in hours on Fridays (Norlin N345 classroom). Please see University Libraries hours for exact times and exceptions.
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Accessing our collections
RaD's published material (books, pamphlets, sheet music, magazines, maps, government documents, etc.) can be found by searching the library catalog.
Our archival collections, including manuscript material and original photographs, as well as their finding aids, can be found by keyword searching our repository on ArchivesSpace.
Explore our digital collections in the CU Digital Library.
Researcher assistance
- Email us at rad@colorado.edu with inquiries or to schedule an appointment
- We may take longer than usual to reply to email reference requests, as our staff are onsite for limited hours each week. We can fulfill PDF reproduction orders in limited quantities with priority given to CU Boulder faculty, staff, and students. Very limited photocopy or other digital reproduction orders can be fulfilled at this time.
- Visit our Reading Room (See below)
The Rare & Distinctive Collections Reading Room
Our Reading Room, located in Norlin Library M350B (see Norlin Library floor plans), is open to the public by appointment only during open hours. Same-day appointments and drop-ins cannot be accommodated at this time. Please schedule an appointment by emailing rad@colorado.edu. You may also call us at 303-492-7242 for further information.
All visitors must complete a short registration process upon their first visit, including completing our Reading Room Registration Form (PDF - also available on-site). Please bring a photo ID (driver's license, student/faculty card, etc.). Only pencils, paper, laptops, and mobile phones/cameras are allowed while accessing RaD collections. No food or drink are permitted in the Reading Room.