Visiting In-Person
![Image of researchers in the Marcia Brown Reading Room](https://archives.albany.edu/web/oldDrupal/img/visit1.jpg)
The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
We understand that traveling to the archives is not always feasible, but most of our collections are only available for in-person viewing.
This requires:
- Exploring our Collections to find what you would like to see.
- Traveling to the Science Library on the UAlbany Uptown Campus.
- Visiting our Reading Room on the 3rd floor during business hours.
- Requesting to view certain selections
- "I would like to see the Narcotics Committee Files from the Correctional Association of New York Records"
- "May I see Box 2 of Series 3 of the Helen Quirini Papers?"
- "I would like to view the Myskania Records"
Why are only some materials available online?
Most of our records will never be digitized and will only be available for in-person viewing. This is because we hold tens of thousands of boxes of records. While we try to digitize our most heavily-used materials, it’s actually much easier and more affordable to maintain records on paper. If we spent all of our resources digitizing, we would not be able to preserve as many materials and many records would be lost.
Appointments are recommended as not all collections are immediately available onsite. Advance notice helps staff ensure that the items you wish to view are available when you arrive.
Researchers requesting to review unprocessed collections (those without finding aids or detailed inventories) should contact department staff in advance.
Check out Hours and Directions for more details.
Access restrictions
Portions of the collections may be restricted from access, or be accessible only under certain conditions. We restrict materials to protect personal privacy or because of donor agreements and state records laws. We try to make these restrictions transparent and consistent, and feel free to ask us about restrictions if you have any questions.
Reading Room Rules
- All visitors to the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives' Marcia Brown Research Room are required to sign in upon arrival and complete an "Application to Use Archival and Manuscript Collections" form. Access and use of Special Collections and Archives material is available under supervision in the Research Room during posted hours. The staff will retrieve materials for all researchers.
- Handle all books and manuscripts with care. Do not disturb the filing order of manuscripts, or write on anything placed on top of a book or manuscript. Leave all Special Collections and Archives materials in the Research Room when you leave.
- Please turn off all cell phones. If you need to use a cell phone, please leave the Research Room.
- Use a laptop, pencil, and notepaper or cards to take notes. If you need them, ask a member of the staff for a pencil and paper.
- Bags, backpacks, purses, and briefcases are not allowed in the Reading Room proper and should be stored in the lockers just inside the Research Room entrance.
- No food or drink is permitted near the materials.
- Researchers are encouraged to bring a camera, digital camera, or cell phone to take an unlimited number of images of unrestricted collections free of charge. Staff also will digitally reproduce materials for researchers for a fee. Consult our fee schedule to review what items may be reproduced.
- Users seeking to publish or reproduce either published or unpublished materials held in Special Collections and Archives must secure permission from those legally entitled to claim such rights under U.S. Copyright Law including the University Library. For additional information, consult the Department's Copyright, Publishing, and Citing page.
- The University Libraries assume no responsibility for the failure of a user to investigate and secure literary or reproduction rights to materials in collections.