Planning your visit to the Archives

CONSTRUCTION AND NOISE UPDATE: Starting March 12, 2025 through May 2026 there will be various construction projects in Steenbock Library that involve two elevators and renovation of the first floor. There may be increased noise and traffic in the UW Archives reading room, and throughout the library. During June and July 2025 the public elevator will be out of service. If you are visiting the UW Archives during this time and need access to an elevator, please contact us (or call 608-262-5629) and a staff member can help you. The stairs in Steenbock Library will be available during all construction projects.

We welcome the UW-Madison community and the public to visit our reading room during business hours. There are several things to consider and plan prior to visiting. We’ve outlined a few helpful hints and guidelines below. The UW-Madison Libraries strives to provide the best service possible to our patrons visiting the UW Archives. Please contact us at uwarchives@library.wisc.edu or 608-262-5629 if you require accommodations or if there are any accessibility considerations you would like to make us aware of. We have additional information related to accessibility online. The address for UW Archives is 550 Babcock Drive, 425 Steenbock Library, Madison, WI 53706.

Before you visit 

• Create an Archives and Special Collections Account. This allows you to request collections from the library catalog, and schedule a time when you’d like to view materials in our reading room.
• Depending on your request, it may take up to 24 hours to retrieve (especially for collections housed offsite) so please contact the Archives if you have questions about when your collection will be ready for viewing.
• Review Reading Room Guidelines.
• If you anticipate requesting duplications, please review our Duplication and Use Policy.
• Parking is available at the Lot 36 ramp which is entered off Observatory Drive. Accessible spaces and ramp to the library entrance are available. If Lot 36 lot is full, you can park in Lot 67 off Observatory Drive. See campus parking map for more details. More parking information.

Onsite guidelines

• You will need to present a valid ID or campus Wiscard in the reading room.
• Please wash your hands thoroughly after arriving. Hand sanitizer will be available for use, but hands must be thoroughly rinsed or washed after using hand sanitizer and before handling collection materials to ensure that no sanitizer residue is transferred to the materials, as it may damage them.
• Place your belongings in a designated locker. Please bring your own water supply to be stored in your locker.
• Researchers may bring into the reading room only silenced cell phones, digital cameras, pencils, paper, and laptops or tablets without cases. Power cords and headphones for electronic equipment are also permitted.
• Food and drink are not allowed in the reading room.
• Researchers should only wear gloves when working with photographs and metal objects.
• No materials will be retrieved within 15 minutes of closing.

Services available

All reading room services are contingent upon availability of staff and all building services may not be supported.

During your visit, supported services include:

• view materials in reading room at designated tables
• limited self-service scanning (including use of mobile devices)
• onsite research assistance
• microfilm access
• duplication services by staff (restrictions may apply)

At this time, we are NOT able to support:

• printing services
• computing support

Course and Instruction Support

The Archives staff can provide limited course and instruction support. Please contact us for additional information.