Special Collections Operations Update

Last Updated: 2/18/2025

Please note: As of December 20, 2024, Special Collections is now closed to all researchers and classes. Please direct any questions to our departmental email at AskSpecial@library.wisc.edu. We aim to answer your inquiries to the best of our ability, but access to our collections will be unavailable even to our staff for the majority of this project. We look forward to seeing you again in January 2026!

The Department of Special Collections is updating its fire suppression systems. This update will involve a major construction project in all of the Department’s spaces, and as a result, Special Collections will be closed to all researchers and classes for the entire year of 2025.

Our current timeline for this project is as follows:

• December 20, 2024: Special Collections will close in order to begin preparations for the construction.
• January – December, 2025 (projected): Special Collections will remain closed due to ongoing construction.
• January 2026: The department will resume operations and begin welcoming researchers back into our reading room. Please watch this space for additional announcements about our reopening, including information about exhibits and class instruction.

This schedule is subject to change. We will update this page as more information becomes available. If you have any questions, please contact the department at askspecial@library.wisc.edu.