Special Collections in Kelvin Smith Library supports the teaching and research of Case Western Reserve University’s faculty and students and makes its holdings accessible to the local, national and international community of scholars and researchers.
All are welcome to contact us with questions, make reading room appointments, and request photoduplications or materials. An Aeon account is required to submit requests and use materials in the reading room.
The Henry R. Hatch reading room is open to all for exhibit viewing and quiet study Monday through Friday 10:00am - 4:30pm. Appointments to use materials in the reading room are available Monday through Friday 10:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 4:30pm.
To request an instructional session for a class please complete Kelvin Smith Library's Instruction Request form.
Examples of our activities and services include:
- Working one-on-one with our users to Identify and provide Special Collections material for use in teaching and research
- Contextualizing historical objects and events through engagement with our collections
- Teaching primary source and visual literacy
- Introducing special collections, archives, and their use with asynchronous modules available through KSL’s Instruction Hub
- Conducting a Student Book Collecting Contest
- Exhibits, symposia, and conferences relating to our collections
- Support of digital research projects involving our diverse collections
- Support of Student Freedman Fellows projects