Scheduling Your Visit
Location
Archives & Special Collections is located on the UConn Storrs campus in the Dodd Center for Human Rights. Our collections are open and accessible to the public.
Scheduled Appointments (Monday - Friday)
All our holdings can be viewed in the John P. McDonald Reading Room. To consult materials in-person you can request an appointment through our appointment booking system, Aeon. Once you request your appointment, you will receive an email indicating we have received your request, however, you will still need to request materials you wish to consult during your visit and associate them with your appointment before we can confirm your appointment. You can request archival materials directly through our online finding aids or published works directly through the UConn Library’s catalog. Once you have requested materials for your appointment, staff will follow up with a separate confirmation email. Please refer to our patron guide for information on getting started with Aeon.
Walk-in Hours (Thursday & Friday)
During the Fall and Spring semesters, we are open on Thursdays and Fridays from 9am - 12pm and 1pm - 4pm for walk-in appointments on a first-come, first served basis. Researchers are always encouraged to prepare for their visit as much as possible before their intended visit by using our patron guide, but we will do our best to get you set up to conduct research as quickly as possible regardless of what step in the research process you may be at.
Please note: Our regular hours change during intersessions (winter and summer) and breaks (such as spring break) so please be sure to check our hours page before making your trip to campus.
Pre-Visit Checklist
UConn Alert
We recommend that visitors check the UConn Alert website and/or download the myUConn app before travelling to campus to stay up to date with the daily operations of the university during their stay, especially during times of inclement weather which can significantly impact operations. Whenever an emergency or change in the university’s regular schedule occurs, it is reported through the UConn Alert system to keep you informed.
Parking
We do not have onsite visitor parking, so we recommend our visitors park in the South Parking Garage. The South Parking Garage is the closest option available and is only a short walk from our building.
There are handicap-accessible parking spots in the parking lot directly behind the Dodd Center; however, UConn Parking Services requires a UConn parking pass and a valid handicap parking pass to park in this lot. Please reach out to UConn Parking Services in advance of your visit to make proper arrangements.
We are unable to validate parking.
Walking Directions from South Parking Garage:
Cross Hillside Road (Gampel Pavilion will be on your left). Walk straight toward the Whetten Graduate Center with the Student Recreation Center on your right. As you approach the Whetten Graduate Center, you will see a small staff-only parking lot on your right. You can enter the side door of the Dodd Center for Human Rights and follow the corridor to the front lobby or continue straight to the plaza between the Dodd Center and Homer Babbidge Library and enter through the Dodd Center’s front door into the lobby. The McDonald Reading Room will be immediately in front of you.
Lodging
If you are planning to stay overnight, there are options for lodging both on-campus and off-campus. Linked below are a few on-campus of nearby options to consider.
- Graduate by Hilton Hotels in Storrs, CT
- The Inn on Storrs - Mansfield Center, CT
- Hotel | Storrs | Spring Hill Inn
Transportation
UConn and the State of Connecticut offer some public transportation options that may be helpful to consider while planning your visit.
Dining
The John P. McDonald Reading Room closes from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. We encourage researchers to use this time to take break, grab some lunch, and explore the Storrs campus.
There are a variety of cafes on-campus in the Student Union (credit only) that are open throughout the academic year (Spring, Fall), with limited hours during breaks (Summer, Winter).
There are also many on-campus restaurants in Storrs Center/Downtown Storrs (South Campus):
Activities
We encourage you to take some time to explore the campus and the various activities it offers while visiting Storrs. Here are a few recommendations:
- The UConn Dairy Bar
- The William Benton Museum of Art
- Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
- UConn's Recreation Center
- Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry
- Mansfield Public Library
- Joshua’s Trust Nature Preserve
- UConn’s Animal Barns
- Mansfield Drive-In Movie Theater
- Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
- Downtown Storrs | CTvisit
Contact
Please contact us at (860) 486-2524 or by email at archives@uconn.edu if you have any questions in advance of your visit. We are happy to help!
Archives & Special Collections
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road, Unit 1205
Storrs, CT 06269-1205