Special Collections is open by appointment Tuesdays through Fridays from January 20 to April 20, 2021.  The reading room is closed Saturday through Monday.  Appointment blocks are available from 9AM to 12PM and 1PM to 4PM. The reading room is closed from 12PM to 1PM.

Due to the changing situation regarding the COVID 19 pandemic, please be aware that policies may change with little advance notice.

STEP 1: Pre-register and request an appointment.

Complete the online Pre-Registration Form (https://www.lib.utk.edu/special/pre-registration-form/). A staff member will contact you to confirm your requested appointment. 

STEP 2: Requests for manuscripts and archival collections must be received by Wednesday at 5PM for use the following week.

Manuscript collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and are retrieved for researcher use once a week. Please limit collection requests to 6 or less boxes total per requester.

Requests for Rare Books and University Archives books must be received by Friday at 5PM for use the following week.

STEP 3: Wait for a staff member to contact you to confirm the details of your appointment request. 

STEP 4: Complete a visitor health screening form, SpecialCollectionsUTHealth-Screening-Form for-Visitors-2020, and return it to Special Collections if you are not a UT faculty, staff or student. The form must be completed each day for the duration of your visit.

Visitors are required to maintain social distancing (at least six feet) and wear a cloth face covering while on campus and in the library. 

Materials do not circulate and may only be viewed in the Special Collections reading room during scheduled appointments. Many materials can be located through the library catalog. Finding aids containing descriptions of manuscripts and University Archives collections are available. Many primary documents in Special Collections have been digitized and can be read on-line. Finding aids and digitized items are available through SCOUT (Special Collections Online at UT) at: https://scout.lib.utk.edu/. 

Digital collections can be found at http://digital.lib.utk.edu/.

Requests to scan materials may be available at: https://www.lib.utk.edu/reproductions/request/

Access to subject-specific research guides are available at http://libguides.utk.edu/.

For additional assistance, contact special@utk.edu.