Hours, Access, Directions, and Services
Hours:
During fall and spring semesters, 1-4 pm, Sunday through Thursday, and 7-10 pm, Tuesday, and by appointment (call 847-735-5064 or e-mail amiller@lakeforest.edu; also 847-735-5071 or e-mail vignocchi@lakeforest.edu). The Fall semester generally runs from late August to mid-December and the Spring semester generally runs from mid January to mid May.
Between Spring and Fall semesters, during the summer, access is by appointment; the library is open 8 am to 4:30 pm, Memorial Day to mid August; until 5 pm before Memorial Day and in the week or so prior to the opening of the Fall semester.
Between the Fall and Spring semester, Winter Break, access is by appointment only, and the building generally is not open.
Exhibits can be viewed in the lobby outside the department whenever the library building is open.
Access:
Archives and Special Collections is open to researchers at the discretion of the College, and some materials may be restricted. Generally, though, books and periodicals as listed in the College’s catalog are available during posted hours, for campus community and other users, upon presentation of identification, completion of registration, etc. For access to archival and manuscript record groups or photographs, though, visitors should arrange an appointment.
Directions:
The Mr. and Mrs. James R. Getz Archives and Special Collections, Donnelley and Lee Library, is located on Lake Forest’s Middle Campus, from the loop drive which goes east from the main gate at Sheridan and College Roads (one block south of Deerpath) to approximately one block south, at the drive entrance near the Blackstone and Harlan Halls gates, just north of the ravine. The library is at the east end of the loop, opposite Faculty Circle and between the Mohr Student Center (south) and Hotchkiss Hall (north).
Parking is restricted, especially between 8 and 5 weekdays, and visitors should leave a note on their windshield, noting that they can be reached c/o Archives and Special Collections. If a parking ticket is received in a regular parking place (vs. in front of a fire hydrant), please notify us.
The library is approximately a ten-minute walk from the Lake Forest station on the Metra North Line, from Chicago’s Ogilvie Transportation Center (not the northwest line from Union Station, which goes to west Lake Forest—well beyond walking distance).
The department is on the library’s lower level, down the main staircase from the main lobby and then off to the left across the lobby/lounge, behind plate glass windows. From the elevator, on the lower level turn left and go to the wall; then turn right and the reading room will come along on your left.
Services:
Archives and Special Collections materials are consulted in the reading room during posted hours, or by appointment. Books and materials do not circulate, but can be held between visits usually, to prevent waiting upon return.
Depending on the condition of the books and materials, copies can be requested, to be made by staff on a supplies-cost-recovery basis only (ten cents each). Photographs and scans also can be made internally, and in some cases sent out for processing by professional photographers, etc., again on a cost recovery basis. Copies may be subject to copyright restrictions.
Permission to publish images or from manuscripts, etc. requires completion of a form.
Reference queries by e-mail (amiller@lakeforest.edu) or mail—and perhaps by phone--are welcome, and will meet with a prompt reply especially when they are brief, specific, and relate to materials in our collections. Whenever possible, questions beyond the scope of this collection will result in some referrals to other appropriate repositories. In theory, at least, detailed and longer-term research in this collection can be arranged for, by a paid researcher--student or otherwise, depending on the subject and depth of the query.