Bizzell 5th Floor Special Research Collections Research Services
Service Overview
Special Collections materials are non-circulating and may not be checked out or borrowed. However, they can be accessed in a variety of ways. We offer onsite access to collections by appointment, remote research assistance via email, and online access to some collections through our digital collections.
What We Offer
Anyone can use our collections for their personal or professional research. You can use our Library Catalog or Archival Finding Aids database to identify materials of interest. For viewing materials in person, you can request an appointment. Some of our collections are available online in our Digital Collections repository. If you need assistance, please contact us at lib-hos@ou.edu.
- Research consultations
- Onsite appointments
- Remote research assistance
Get Started
How to Find Resources
You can use these resources to identify research materials:
- Library Catalog: This database includes records for books, journals, and archival collections located in the Special Research Collections at the University of Oklahoma Libraries, including the Western History Collections.
- Archival Collection Finding Aids: This database contains inventories, also known as finding aids, for archival collections at the Western History Collections.
- Digital Collections: This repository provides access to digitized archival collections. Please note that any collection available online is not available for in-person research.
You can also find these resources on the Search Special Research Collections page.
Booking an Appointment Working with Onsite Materials
Research appointments are recommended because some collection materials are stored offsite. To ensure your materials are onsite for your appointment, please provide us with a list of the materials you will need for your visit either via email or through the appointment request form. If possible, please list the materials you need in priority order.
All American School requests require an appointment due to many of the materials being stored offsite and delivery times.
Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Please note that there is a 48-hour buffer when requesting an appointment. Booking a same-day and next-day appointment is not possible through our appointment requesting system. Once you book an appointment, you will receive a second email confirming your appointment. Staff may reach out to you if they need more information before approving your appointment.
Users of the Reading Room are required to complete an annual Reader Registration Form and provide photo identification upon request.
If you need assistance identifying relevant resources or have questions about booking an appointment, please contact us.
Viewing Materials
All appointments occur in the Duane H. D. Roller Reading Room located in Bizzell Library on the 5th floor. The 5th floor can only be accessed from the west side stairs or elevators of the library. The west side entrance of the library is near the clocktower.
When you arrive for your appointment, you will be:
- Asked to show identification
- Asked to register if you did not complete the form before your arrival.
- Informed of our reading room policies. See the Policies page for more information.
- Asked to place your bags, food, and drink in designated lockers.
- Instructed on the best practices for viewing materials.
- Provided additional in-person support for your research.
Other Ways to Request Materials
- Request an appointment and include the materials you would like to request in the form
- Send a request through the 5th Floor Special Research Collections Contact Form
- Request materials via item records in the Library Catalog
- Request materials via item records in the Archival Finding Aids Database
Offsite Researcher Assistance
Researchers are welcome to contact us to set up a virtual consultation. Researchers can contact us to request copies of materials. Please see the Policies page for more information.
Staff members do not interpret information contained in collection materials.
We cannot perform in-depth research. For research that requires more than one hour of staff time, we will direct you to a researcher-for-hire.
Contact Information
FAQ
The reading room is reserved for researchers using the 5th floor special collections materials. Anyone is welcome as a researcher using our materials but general studying is relegated to the many other study areas within the library.
Many of our collections are housed on site and can be viewed within the same day with the exception of American School and some other collections that we service such as the Romanoff collection. It may take time (15 or more minutes) for a request to be fulfilled. Researchers are advised to make appointments and to check the catalog for materials prior to a visit to ensure that materials are ready for viewing during their visit.
When materials are requested ahead of time, an email is sent to verify the requests are ready. If an appointment is created ahead of time, it will be approved once it is determined that items can be available in time. Walk ins have the option of waiting for the requested items or coming back at a later time if the wait is more than they anticipated.