If you must have an item digitized and reproduced, you may email the repository that has the item. Every repository has separate rules, pricing, and procedures for ordering a reproduction. Find more information about general rules and specific instructions for some repositories in this LibGuide page on reproductions.
If you know you will not be able to visit the reading room and don’t or can’t get a reproduction of the item sent to you, check out the Yale University Library Digital Collections first. There’s a variety of already digitized materials in there that you may find useful. Some of the items in the Digital Collections are also born-digital.
The Digital Collections does not contain all special collections materials, only a sampling. It would be impossible to digitize every item in all the repositories due to the sheer size and volume of the collections. It would be extremely time consuming, and that’s assuming that everything is of correct size, format, and quality to be able to be digitized!
- Depending on what the item is and its location or repository , it’s possible to request something for same day viewing but this is not the case for the majority of items.
- Some storage locations for items are different from the reading room location, so expect a few business days for access services staff to retrieve your item(s).
- Check to see if the item you want is in the Digital Library first before booking a visit to save yourself time!
- Not all items can be digitized due to various reasons such as being too fragile or copyright.
- Turnover time for getting materials digitized may take a while due to a high volume of materials in the work queue from university classes, non-Yale researchers, and COVID-19, so plan out your research schedule accordingly.
- For details and up-to-date policies on accessing collections in the reading room and requesting reproductions, visit the Guide to Using Special Collections at Yale University.
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