Rare Books
Search for material in the rare book collections in Usearch. Access the rare book collections by visiting the Special Collections Reference and Reading Rooms, level 4.
The Rare Books Department of Special Collections holds more than 80,000 books, maps and ephemera documenting the record of human communication from clay tablet to artists' book. Collection strengths include illuminated manuscript facsimiles; Mesoamerican codex facsimiles; Arabic papyrus, parchment and paper fragments; Middle Eastern manuscript and print material; published works on science, travel and exploration; the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; fine press and artists' books; and the works of twentieth century authors such as Robinson Jeffers, Ernest Hemingway, Wallace Stegner and others. Smaller but equally important collections include material on European politics, law, literature, philosophy, medicine, and performance arts; United States constitutional history and much more. The rare book collections preserve a heritage of thought, artistic endeavor, and innovation that inspires the human spirit today. By actively collecting, preserving, and digitizing material of historical and aesthetic importance, the Rare Books Department provides reference, research and educational access to local, regional and international communities – strengthening the ability of faculty to teach, students to learn, and communities to find common denominators.
Please note a change to our open hours. Starting Monday, August 6th, Rare Books will be open:
Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm
Some Saturdays* 10 am - 5 pm
Sundays Closed
*Open Saturdays for fall semester include:
August 25th
September 8th
September 22nd
October 6th
October 20th
November 3rd
November 17th
December 1st
December 8th
Contact
801-585-6168
Luise Poulton
Managing Curator & Department Head
801-585-6168
Email
Scott Beadles
Rare Books Specialist
801-585-6168
Email
Hours
Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm
Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday Closed
General Library Hours
Access and Services
Accessing and Handling Rare Material
Digital Humanities
Open Book - Rare Books News Blog
Rare Books Digital Collections
Related Links
Usearch: University of Utah Libraries Catalog