Research Guides: Requesting Special Collections Materials at UMD: Submit Requests from the Archival Collections Database

Important Links

For more information about accessing our collections in-person or remotely.

To view materials or place duplication orders from the collection.

To view materials in the reading room.

Reading room locations, what to expect, and more.

Fees, citations, and other guidelines for requesting copies of special collections materials.

Locate items in the Archival Collections database.
Click "Request Box”, located at the top of the record.
- If the "Request Box" option is not available, the collection may be unprocessed. Material from unprocessed collections will require staff assistance request. Contact us to request material from an unprocessed collection.
Click “Request Box” on the following page, which will display the entire contents of the box to confirm your selection.
You will be prompted to sign in to your Special Collections Account at this point.
A list of your requests will appear. Selecting the item(s) you would like to request to view.
Choose a date for your visit.
- If you have not already done so, schedule an appointment to visit the reading room before placing your request.
- All requests to view materials during an appointment must be placed at least 3 business days in advance.
- Materials located offsite in Severn Library may take up to 4 business days to be made available in the reading room.
Click “Submit Information”.
- You can also choose to keep your request as an "Unsubmitted Requests" in your account and submit it at a later date. This is helpful if you have already reached your limit of 12 active requests or if you do not have a firm date for your visit.

Place your request as instructed above.
From your Special Collections account, open the request from the “Request in Processing” menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
Select “Clone to Copy” at the top.
Complete duplication order details.
- Be specific as possible about the materials you would like to have copied.
Select "Submit Request"