• Each reader must have a current registration form on file at the front desk. Registrations forms are good for one academic year (September - May) or one summer (June - August).
• Readers must fill out a material request form, in person or online, for each visit to the ALSC Reading Room.
• Photographic identification must be left on deposit at the front desk while materials are in use.
• All coats and bags must be left outside the reading room. There are lockers and a coat closet near the front door for your convenience.
• Notebooks, sketchbooks, laptops, or other note taking devices are permitted. The staff reserves the right to inspect personal papers at any time.
• Only pencils may be used for note taking. Pencils are provided at the front desk if you do not have one.
• Readers may pull any materials on open shelves in the reading room. We request that these items be used only on the reading table. Do not stand and read the materials. Do not reshelve any books, however briefly you consulted the item.

Classes must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance with a Special Collections staff member. Such classes are by appointment only and at the discretion of the staff pending classroom availability and staffing coverage. Every effort will be made to accommodate a preferred time and date, however availability is limited. Classes are limited to 15 participants, including accompanying teachers.

For Yale groups, materials requested by the professor to be used during class time must be submitted to the contact person for approval at least one week before the scheduled class. ALSC staff will pull approved selections so they are ready at the time of the class. ALSC staff will strive to make materials available, but reserves the right to limit the use of fragile, in process, or other restricted materials. ALSC staff can provide consultation in the selection of materials with ample notice.

For non-Yale groups, materials to be used during class time must be selected by the teacher of the class and submitted to the contact person for approval at least one week before the scheduled class. ALSC staff will pull approved selections so they are ready at the time of the class. ALSC staff will strive to make materials available, but reserves the right to limit the use of fragile, in process, or other restricted materials. ALSC staff are not able to spend more than one hour creating lists of materials for a class to review. Additionally, ALSC staff are not available to give drop-in tours.

Arts Library Special Collections welcomes visits from non-Yale affiliated researchers. Please contact Jae Jennifer Rossman, Assistant Director for Special Collections, or Molly Dotson, Special Collections Librarian & Curator, Bookplate Collection, at least two weeks in advance of your visit to discuss your needs. We will offer extended hours when staffing coverage permits. Visiting scholars must follow all policies and procedures outlined on this page.

On site materials are indicated with the location code Haas Arts Special Collections (Non-Circulating) in Orbis. These materials can be requested and used within 30 minutes of a paging request. Requests are not accepted after 3:30pm for the same day. Each reader must register and leave a photo ID on deposit while using materials. Up to five items may be requested per person per day. For more extensive requests, make an appointment with Jae Jennifer Rossman to discuss your needs.

Off site materials are indicated with the location code   LSF--Contact haasalsc@yale.edu to request item in Orbis. These materials are housed at the Library Shelving Facility (LSF) and thus require at least two business days notice to retrieve.

Readers can place requests in person in the Arts Library Special Collections Reading Room or use the online request form. Readers will be notified by email when requested materials are available to view. Each reader must register and leave a photo ID on deposit while using materials. Up to five items may be requested per person per day. For more extensive requests, make an appointment with Jae Jennifer Rossman to discuss your needs.

Requests for Master of Fine Arts Theses from the Graphic Design and Photography programs also require two business days notice. Readers can place a request in person or with the MFA Thesis Request online form. Up to five items can be requested at a time. Readers will be notified by email when requested materials are available to view. Each reader must register and leave a photo ID on deposit while using materials. Finding Aids for each collection are available online: Graphic Design | Photography

When condition permits, reproductions of materials in the collections can be made by ALSC staff. In some cases, copyright restrictions apply. For detailed information on costs and size restrictions, consult the full policy in PDF format.

If students are consulting ALSC materials placed on reserve for a class in which they are enrolled, the rate of photocopying will be reduced to the same as the public access machines (currently $0.15 per page). Sales tax is still applicable to this transaction (currently 6.35%).

If faculty need digital images for teaching purposes, the request must be made through the Visual Resources Collection (VRC), next door to the ALSC Reading Room. ALSC staff will work with VRC staff to make ALSC materials available for reproduction. ALSC reserves the right to prohibit the reproduction of fragile or light-sensitive items.