Reading Room Access and Research Services
The Special Collections and the SC Historical Society Archives Reading Room is open by appointment, Monday – Friday, 9:00-noon and 1:00 – 4:00.
General Information
- Occupancy in the Reading Room is socially-distanced and limited. All in-person research will be by appointment only. Walk-in appointments will not be permitted.
- To submit a request for research or an on-site appointment, contact Special Collections at https://speccoll.cofc.edu/about/contact-us/.
- Each day, a number of appointments are reserved specifically for members of the College of Charleston community. CofC students, faculty, and staff can book appointments via LibCal. If an appointment is not available, please reach out via our contact us form and we will work one-on-one with you to get your visit scheduled.
- Learn more about Special Collections Research and Access Services here https://speccoll.cofc.edu/using-special-collections/access/.
Virtual Services
Special Collections also offers virtual research services. The Special Collections Research Services Desk will be staffed online at http://answers.library.cofc.edu/speccoll/ Monday – Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with a midday break between noon and 1:00. Staff are also available via telephone (843-953-8016) and email (specialcollections@cofc.edu).
We welcome inquiries from all users, regardless of affiliation. Researchers can get in touch with Special Collections’ reference professionals using the Ask Us form on our website. College of Charleston students, faculty, and staff can schedule a research consultation with a faculty archivist here: http://libcal.library.cofc.edu/appointments.
Researchers can also explore collections via our Discovery Service, the Lowcountry Digital Library, or through various Research Guides.