Welcome to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center! We are are excited to facilitate learning with our collection materials. To learn more about SCARC, visit our main guide.

In Fall 2021, the Special Collections and Archives Research Center is open by appointment only. Beginning Week 2, appointments will be offered during:

Monday: 10am to 1pm

Tuesday: 1pm to 4pm

Wednesday: closed

Thursday: 1pm - 4pm

Friday: 10am - 1pm

Please email scarc@oregonstate.edu when you know what day you'd like to come. If you would like to visit in a pair, please specify that ahead of time. Please also select which set(s) of Selections and Questions (see left) you would like to work from and specify this in your email. Our friendly reference staff will get in touch regarding availability and to finalize your appointment.

We will ask you to fill out a quick registration form. When you arrive in SCARC, we will ask you to put your coat and bag away in our locker room.

Then, staff will set up your materials on the table for you and give you some pointers on handling (see Reading Room Guidelines below).

You'll have the entire appointment block to consult materials.

Using Materials

1. Food is not allowed in SCARC. All drinks must be stored in sealed containers in the coatroom.
2. All personal items, excluding writing utensils, notepaper, laptops, and cameras, must be placed in the coat room or personal locker for security purposes.
3. All cell phones and other electronic devices must be silenced while in SCARC.
4. Pens and other non-erasable writing utensils are prohibited in the reading room. Pencils are available at the reference desk.
5. Adhesives including glue, tape, and post-it notes are prohibited in the reading room.
6. Materials may not be marked, folded, or handled in any way likely to damage them.
7. No more than one book or archival box may be accessed at a time.
8. Protective gloves must be worn when examining photographic collections.
9. No research materials may be removed from the reading room.
10. All unbound materials (papers within folders and folders within boxes) must remain in the exact order received.
11. Flash photography of SCARC materials is not allowed.
12. Face coverings are no longer required in the Valley Library or SCARC, but are always welcome.

Using Lockers:

SCARC offers use of personal lockers to its researchers on the conditions that:

1. SCARC materials may not be brought into the coatroom or placed inside a locker.
2. No items may be left in the lockers after closing time.
3. Any items left in a SCARC locker after closing will be transferred to the Valley Library Circulation Desk Lost & Found.
4. For safety and security reasons, the SCARC staff reserves the right to open a secured locker at any time.
5. The patron agrees to pay a $25.00 fine for loss of or damage to a locker key in their possession or damage to a locker.