Frequently Asked Questions

How can I contact a Dodd Research Center staff member?

You may call, write, or email a staff member. The Dodd Center's staff directory displays names, titles, telephone numbers, and email addresses of Archives & Special Collections staff. The University of Connecticut Libraries directory has information for all library staff, including at regional campuses. If you are not sure whom to contact, call the Reference Desk at 860.486.2524.

What kinds of materials are at the Dodd Research Center?

The Dodd Research Center houses the Archives & Special Collections for the University of Connecticut Libraries, including manuscript collections, specialized serials collections, and rare books. The Collections by Subject page describes the Dodd Center's main areas of focus.

How do I find books and published items in the Dodd Research Center's collections?

Most books, films, serials, and manuscript collections are cataloged in the University of Connecticut Libraries online cataglog, HOMER.

To search only Dodd Center collections, click on the "Advanced Search" tab in HOMER.

Then, click "Set Limits Before You Search " in the lower right corner. That will bring you to a new menu. In the Location box, scroll down and select "Dodd/Archives & Special Collections", and then click "Set Limits."

How do I search for manuscript collections?

You can search HOMER for catalog records of manuscript collections, or you can browse finding aids for collections in the Alphabetical List of All Collections or Collections by Subject page.

Where is the Dodd Research Center located?

The Dodd Center is located on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, CT, off of Whitney Road, facing Homer Babbidge Library. The mailing address is 405 Babbidge Road, Unit 1205, Storrs CT 06269-1205. The closest parking area to the Dodd Center is the South Campus Garage. Please refer to the Lodewick Visitors Center website for directions and maps of the Storrs campus.

What are the Dodd Research Center's hours?

The hours of the Reading Room are Mondays through Fridays, 10a.m. to 4p.m. The Dodd Research Center building and the exhibit gallery are open Mondays through Fridays, 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.

Are the Dodd Research Center's collections available for use by the public?

Yes. The Dodd Research Center is open to the public, in addition to the University of Connecticut community. All patrons are required to complete the Application for Use of Materials (19KB PDF) and show valid picture identification. Groups are requested to make prior arrangements with the Reader Services Coordinator.

Is the Dodd Research Center/Konover Auditorium handicapped accessible?

Yes, the Dodd Research Center, including Konover Auditorium, is handicapped accessible.

Can I check out materials from the Dodd Research Center?

Materials in the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center do not circulate and must be viewed in the McDonald Reading Room. The Reading Room Policy governs conduct in the reading room and is designed to secure and protect materials for future use. Access to materials is subject to any restrictions placed on materials by donors or by the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center staff for preservation purposes. Researchers may be required to use reference copies in place of originals. Curatorial staff are able to advise you regarding the availability of particular collections or materials.

How do I schedule an archival instruction session for my class at the Dodd Research Center?

Contact individual curators to schedule archival instruction, orientations, tours, or classes on a variety of topics relevant to the materials collected by the Center. A list and description of the major collecting areas, with contact information for the curator, is available in the Subject Areas section of this website (under Collections).

How do I schedule an event in the Dodd Research Center?

University of Connecticut departments and other associations and organizations affiliated with the University may use Dodd Research Center facilities for special events and programs, particularly public presentations featuring University faculty or visiting lectures.

Dodd Research Center facilities may not be scheduled for regular classroom use or other regularly recurring activities that are primarily of an internal nature. Information on facilities, scheduling, and fees is available here.

May I ask reference questions by telephone and email?

The Dodd Research Center's staff can answer general reference questions by phone or email. In-depth reference questions or questions requiring consultation of library resources should be submitted in writing to the individual curator.

Will the Dodd Research Center's staff do research for me?

The Dodd Research Center's staff can answer reference questions and coordinate reproduction requests, but does not perform extensive research. If you are unable to visit the library, University of Connecticut graduate students may be available for hire as research assistants.

Is funding available for travel to Connecticut to conduct research at the Dodd Research Center?

Yes. The Dodd Research Center has a limited amount of funding for travel grants for researchers to use our collections. Information on our travel grants is available here. Applications for travel grants are accepted on a rolling basis, but should be submitted at least 2 months before the intended date of travel.

May I go into the stacks to browse the shelves?

No. Archives & Special Collections at the Dodd Research Center is a closed stack library, and only library staff can enter the stacks. Researchers may request books and manuscript collections from the Dodd Center Reference Desk for use in the John P. McDonald Reading Room only.

Does the Dodd Research Center's staff offer tours of the building?

Yes, by appointment only. The Reader Services Coordinator or individual curators may offer tours of the Dodd Research Center.

What is the Dodd Research Center's reproduction policy?

Reproductions are made available for research, teaching and private study. Permission to reproduce materials in for-profit or not-for-profit publications or to use reproductions for any commercial purpose must be obtained in writing. Reproductions are made available for one-time use for the purpose stated in the Reproduction Request Form. Reproductions may not be further copied or made available to another researcher without prior permission. Each researcher must assume full responsibility for any legal questions that may arise as a result of use of the reproductions. A free copy of all publications is to be presented to the Library as soon as the work is published. Credit shall be given to Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.

Can I photocopy or photograph materials in the Dodd Research Center's collections?

There are no public photocopiers at the Dodd Research Center. The Dodd Center does accept small orders of photocopies of manuscripts in good condition for a fee. The Dodd Center will not photocopy whole works or large quantities of manuscripts from a collection, and all copies are made at the discretion of the curator for the collection. Researchers may use their own film/digital cameras in the reading room, but must first consult with the curator for the collection and complete the Reproduction Request Form. Some collection materials are too fragile to be subjected to any reproduction process.

Reproductions must not be further copied or made available to another researcher. Supplying or obtaining a reproduction is not an authorization to publish.

Detailed information on reproduction services, including forms, fees, and policies can be found here (under Research Services on the Dodd Center's website.)

Do I need permission from the Dodd Research Center to publish its holdings?

Yes. Permission to examine materials is not an authorization to publish from them. A separate written application for permission to publish must be made to Archives and Special Collections identifying the items to be published. Further permissions to publish must be obtained from the owner(s) of the copyright. Researchers who plan eventual publication of their work should inquire about possible copyright restrictions. Each researcher must assume full responsibility for any legal questions that may arise as a result of use of materials. A free copy of all publications is to be presented to the Library as soon as the work is published. Exclusive rights to examine or publish materials will not be granted.

What are the rules for the Dodd Research Center's reading room?

The Dodd Center's reading room rules are comparable to the rules of other special libraries and research centers. Researchers should familiarize themselves with the rules before handling library materials.

May I use a laptop computer in the Dodd Research Center's reading room?

Laptops are allowed in the McDonald Reading Room; however the cases and all other bags must remain outside the reading room. The Dodd Center's public spaces have Wi-Fi access, but non-University of Connecticut affiliated researchers must first register to gain access to the network. A registration kiosk is located outside the reading room at the Dodd Center.

How do I determine the value of my books?

The Dodd Research Center staff are not appraisers. Professional appraisers and booksellers can authenticate and evaluate your books and documents.

How do I find a bookseller or appraiser?

Professional book appraisers and most booksellers appraise and evaluate books and other documents. The booksellers of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and local booksellers listed in your telephone book's yellow pages can appraise books.

How can I donate to the Dodd Research Center?

Archives & Special Collections acquires most of its collections as gifts from donors or as transfers of official archives from the University of Connecticut. It has a limited budget which is used to add to existing holdings and to acquire reference materials. Any additional funds available for the acquisition of collections are used to purchase collections which are identified as a high collection priority.

To make a financial contribution, please see the University of Connecticut Libraries Giving Guidelines, or contact Betsy Pittman, Interim Director of the Dodd Research Center at 860.486.4507.

The Dodd Research Center's Collection Development Policy provides information about active collecting areas for the Dodd Center. Please contact the Director or individual curators for further information.

This page is maintained by V. Love