You're welcome here!
The University of Nevada, Reno Special Collections and University Archives department is open to all.
How to start your research
Whether you want to browse our collections online, spend weeks with us onsite, or just stop by for a quick fact check, here’s what you need to know to get started.
Searching
We use three different platforms for our materials, and searching each one will bring you different results. Use Library Search for books, journals, medieval manuscripts, and other published items. Archival Collections is for manuscripts, unpublished documents, scrapbooks, ledgers, and similar items. Finally, search the Digital Archives for digitized or born-digital photographs, documents, and audiovisual recordings. If you have questions or need help, please contact us.
Books and Journals
Search the library catalog
Archival collections
Search guides to all our archives
Digital materials
Access digital selections from our archives
Looking for copy and permission to publish information?
On site visits
Planning to visit us on site? Read about our location and what you can expect during your visit.
Visit us onsite!
Planning your research
Research Assistance
We do our best to support long-distance researchers and those unable to visit in person. We can provide you with scans or digital copies of materials from our collection. You get ten items scanned for free every six months, and there’s a fee per item after that.
Student researchers
If you’d like more intensive on-site help, we will try to connect you with a local student who will contract with you directly to conduct research on your behalf. The student will set their own fees and communicate with you directly once we make the introduction. Please contact us if this is an option you wish to explore.
Please also contact us to let us know about your experience. Your feedback helps us refine our selection and training processes.
Want to be a student researcher?
Let us know!
Important access notes
Some materials in our collections are subject to access restrictions or special procedures. Please give us advance warning if you think your research will involve these materials so we can review them ahead of your visit. A small percentage of these items are fully restricted; others need extra steps or time to get permission.
Materials in this category include:
- Architectural drawings of public buildings (per NRS 239C.210)
- Archaeological reports (per National Heritage Preservation Act, 54 U.S.C. 307103; Archaeological Resources Protection Act)
- Records identified as falling within the scope of the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials [hyperlink to page]
- Collections involving human subjects research data
- Harry Reid Papers, 90-89 (per deed of gift: physical papers open in November 2026; digital papers in November 2036)
- Materials falling under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
- Materials that include personal identification information such as social security numbers, bank accounts, or other sensitive data about living people
FAQs
Unfortunately, we do not have staff available to conduct extensive research on behalf of patrons. If you are unable to visit in person, we recommend hiring a local research assistant. We can try to put you in touch with a student willing to contract with you for the work, if you would like. They will set their own fees and interact with you directly once we make the introduction.
Copyright is complicated! UNR does not hold the copyright for most of the items in our collection, so we cannot license those for use. We suggest you consult Stanford University’s fair use resources to help you figure out if your planned use is covered.
Only on Fridays! The rest of the week you can just drop in. All of our materials are stored in the building so it is very easy to pull things on short notice. Make a Friday appointment in advance using our online booking form.
It varies. Architectural forms are available in the reading room and that’s all that’s needed. If you’re looking at something with a more complex situation, it might take significantly longer – you may need to consult directly with tribal representatives or we may need to contact donors on your behalf.
Please see our guide for more information.
Liber Chronicarum (Nuremberg Chronicle) (1493), D11 .S32 1493, page 11.
Telegram to John Sparks from Theodore Roosevelt, February 7, 1908. Sparks Family Papers, 2015-24_2_1_13_3.
Nobel H. Getchell Library, ca. 1995, University Archives, UNRA-P3558-1
Sketchbook 1, page 01, "Map of Southern Nevada," 1878. Walter S. Long Sketchbooks and Drawings, NC1056_1_3.