To make an appointment, please fill out the Appointment Request Form. We do not accept walk-ins.

Directions: 

Special Collections Research Center is located on the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University in the Fenwick Library in room 2400 (second floor). For off campus visitors, we recommend you park in the visitor parking section of Rappahannock Parking Garage, as it's the closest parking area to the library. Visitor parking is on the bottom floor of the garage, with an hourly pay rate. You can pay at the Park Mobile stations on your way out of the garage or by using the app on your phone. If you don't have a car, you can also take the Orange line/CUE bus to campus which drops you off right next to the Rappahannock Garage.

Map:

Access Policies

• Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance and are dependent on staff availability and the number of other appointments scheduled.
• Researchers are considered late if they arrive 30 minutes after their appointment without notice, and three consecutive late arrivals may result in declined future appointments. Cancellations must be communicated in advance, and failing to show up for two consecutive appointments without notice could also lead to future requests being declined. For more details please refer to the SCRC Late/Cancellation Policy 2024. 
• Researchers can request up to 10 boxes per appointment. No other materials can be pulled during the appointment due to staff availability. 
• Researchers agree to handle all library collections gently and carefully and to keep loose documents in the order they are found.
• Researchers may not under any circumstances remove collection materials from the Reading Room.
• All food and beverages (including water bottles) are prohibited in the Reading Room, but may be left on the designated table outside of the Reading Room for easy access. 
• Pencils, limited sheets of loose paper, laptop computers, and phones are allowed in the reading room. Lockers are provided for researchers’ other personal belongings such as jackets, coats, pens, markers, and bags/purses are prohibited. Personal scanners are also not allowed unless given express permission. Lab coats will be supplied for those who want additional coverage. 
• Please refrain from talking on your cell phone in the Reading Room.
• Permission to use digital cameras or cell phones to take pictures will be granted on a case-by-case basis and require the completion of our terms of use form. Restricted items, such as those containing third party personal information, may be viewable in the reading room but are not permitted to be photographed.
• Researchers may mark pages to be photocopied with paper strips provided by staff. Please do not remove the materials from their folders.
• The SCRC reserves the right to apply access or use restrictions on collections, parts of collections, or individual items based on a variety of factors. These include, but are not limited to: compliance with federal, state, and university regulations, deed of gift restrictions, as well as archival and preservation best practices. For more details, please refer to the full policy: SCRC Restrictions Policy 2024. 
• Special Collections Research Center staff may ask to examine laptops, notes, and other items when researchers exit the reading room.

*Policies, procedures, and available services are subject to change at any point during the semester, based on university and library operations status, state guideline updates, and SCRC staff availability.