Where to search for materials:
Books from Special Collections are individually catalogued and are listed in the library’s main discovery tool. Books held in Special Collections will show the location “Archives and Special Collections TFDL Reading Room Use Only” and may be requested directly from the catalogue. Books are then available to be consulted in the Glenbow Western Research Centre (GWRC), located on second floor, Suite 220 of the Taylor Family Library. Special Collections books cannot be borrowed or taken outside the GWRC.
Archives are described in online finding aids, arranged by the name of the creator of the materials. Finding aids are accessible through our archival database.
Consult the research guide to begin your research and learn more about finding materials here.
How to request materials to view in the reading room:
For questions and general inquiries, or to request materials to view in the Glenbow Western Research Centre (GWRC), please email or phone us with your question. You can find our contact information on our website at https://asc.ucalgary.ca/contact/
Books, archival and other special materials held in Archives and Special Collections are available for consultation in the GWRC. Items cannot be borrowed or consulted in any other location.
Materials held in Archives and Special Collections need to be retrieved from storage vaults and may be held in another campus facility. We ask that researchers provide us with a minimum of two business days’ notice regarding which books or archival materials they require. If you are planning to consult a higher volume of materials (e.g. multiple boxes of archival materials) please let us know in advance, and we will work with you.
While the majority of records are available for research, some materials that you request may be restricted. Any restrictions will be noted in the fonds level record available through our archival database. If you are requesting records from the permanent corporate record of the University Archives, note that the corporate record is restricted for 15 years from date of creation as per the Freedom of Information/Protection of Privacy Act. In the case of any access restrictions, it may be possible to access the records via a researcher agreement.
If you have any questions or need assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.