Access
Virtual Research Services
We are here to help virtually! Special Collections and University Archives is committed
to providing excellent educational and research opportunities to all. Queries can
be made by telephone, e-mail, mail, and fax. We encourage all to contact us for virtual
research consulations, scanning services, and class session planning.
On-Site Research
Physical access to collections is by appointment. Contact: Kristen J. Nyitray at kristen.nyitray@stonybrook.edu.
Special Collections and University Archives at Stony Brook University Libraries continue
to monitor developments related to COVID-19 pandemic and university guidelines.
Interlibrary Loan
Special Collections and University Archives follows the best practices set forth by
the ACRL/RBMS Guidelines For Interlibrary and Exhibition Loan of Special Collections
Materials and OCLC's SHARES Principles and Protocols for Sharing Special Collections
through Interlibrary Loan. These guidelines adhere to and complement the American
Library Association (ALA) Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States, the Association
of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)/Society of American Archivists (SAA) Joint
Statement on Access to Research Materials in Archives and Special Collections Libraries,
the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association, and the ACRL Code of Ethics
for Special Collections Librarians (see Appendix I).
We are glad to consult with researchers and review requests for original source material, and to present alternatives such as digital surrogates, more readily accessible copies or editions, or other options.
Please note: we bear the dual responsibility of making holdings as accessible as possible while setting conditions and methods for lending them that minimize risks. In balancing these responsibilities, we prioritize the safeguarding and long-term preservation of materials requested for loan. All approved loans are non-circulating and require consultation in a supervised reading room.
The initiation of borrowing and lending books for research use falls within the larger context of inter-institutional resource sharing, document delivery, and interlibrary loan operations.