Requesting Materials from Rose Library

All users must register, request materials, and make an appointment via your Special Collections Request Account prior to their arrival at Rose Library. This can be done through either Emory's book catalog, Library Search, or Emory's Finding Aids database, ArchivesSpace. Once you find an item you want, choose the "Request from..." link to create a user account and then submit the request.

  • We pull up to 5 manuscript boxes/items or 5 books at a time. You may request up to 25 items per day, and we can pull additional materials during your visit, however we will only keep 5 items per person in the reading room at a time due to space limitations.
  • We have scheduled pull times every hour on the hour, starting at 11am and ending at 3pm. At these times, we'll refresh your materials with any remaining requests. You may also make new requests at these times.
  • If the items you are requesting are held offsite at the Library Services Center, two business days advance notice is required for retrieval. The Larry McDonald papers require 5 business days notice for retrieval.
  • Digitized audio/visual or born-digital materials (including the Salman Rushdie Digital Archive) will be made available to you on laptops or iPads in the Reading Room.
  • Microfilm is available on Level 1 of the Woodruff library. You do not need to make a request or appointment with Rose Library to view this material. 
  • If you are planning to return to Rose Library, and would like to put materials on hold for another visit, please notify staff before you leave. You will be required to make an appointment.

Tips for Locating Materials in Rose Library 

Manuscript materials are the personal or business papers of individuals and organizations. When we receive them, we organize the materials and create a finding aid. A finding aid describes our unique primary resources and helps researchers determine if collections contain material of interest to them, and exactly where that material is located. You can search across our collections using our ArchivesSpace database

Our rare book collection can be searched by using Library Search, the Emory University Online Catalog system. You can narrow your search to items located in Rose Library by choosing 'Rose Library' from the available library options on the left.

Emory University Archives paper and book collections can also be found using the ArchivesSpace database and Library Search.

Please request any audiovisual materials (including audio recordings, video recordings, and film) in advance, so staff can ensure that access copies are available. There is at least a two-week wait, possibly more, for materials that are not currently digitized.