Visit Us

Materials held in Special Collections and Archives are often rare, unique, or fragile. For this reason, they are not available for checkout but may be used in the archives room, L014 on Lower Level 2 of the Reed College Library (down staircase D or lobby elevator).

Wireless access

Campus visitors can register and connect to the guest wireless network. We encourage you to register in the main level of the library, before you get to archives. You will need to receive your guest password via your cellular network, and service is typically unavailable in archives.

Select Reed Guest from your list of wireless networks.
Open a web browser and you will be directed to Reed's network registration page.
Members outside the Reed community should click "Register as Guest" and enter a name and e-mail address or phone number.
We will email/text a numerical password to that address or phone number.
Log in using your e-mail address as the username and the password sent to you.
After registering, you may be warned by your browser that you're being redirected; this is normal as we redirect you to Reed's homepage, and you can ignore any such warning.

Handling materials

Help us ensure materials are preserved now and for centuries to come by following some rules on materials use and care:

Patrons may use paper, pencils, camera phones, and/or laptop computers. No pens please.
Patrons must accept the responsibility of carefully handling all materials. Manuscripts and books may not be leaned on, written on, folded, traced over, or handled in any way that may damage them.
In most cases, patrons may handle collection materials with clean, bare hands. Photographic materials should be handled at the edges only. Manuscripts and archival materials are to be maintained in the order in which they are received by the patron. If any material is discovered to be out of order, please notify the staff member on duty. Do not rearrange papers.

No food, drink, or pets are allowed in Special Collections and Archives. Service animals are welcome.