The W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library actively encourages and promotes use of its collections through research, exhibition, outreach, special events, class instruction, and tours. Organized by University Librarian Dr. William Stanley Hoole in 1945, the library was named in his honor in October 1977. The library moved from the fourth floor of the Gorgas Library to its current location on the second floor of Mary Harmon Bryant Hall, 500 Hackberry Lane, on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1993.
Out of town researchers are urged to
contact us prior to your visit so that we can best assist you with your needs. All visitors are required to sign the visitor register and to provide identification as requested. We reserve the right to limit use of materials due to copyright, condition, or confidentiality, and adherence to state and federal statutes.
The Hoole Library is open to The University of Alabama community and to the public. All visitors are required to sign our guest book completely no matter what their purpose of visit. This included UA staff and visitors to the exhibit space in the Hoole Lobby.
To use the collections and to be admitted to the Gandrud Reading room, all visitors are required to:
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Please check in with the person at the front desk and fill out our guest register completely.
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Place all personal belongings in the lockers provided. No bags, purses, briefcases or laptop cases are allowed in the reading room at any time.
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Paper, pencils and gloves are provided at the reading room desk. Please note that pens are not permitted in the reading room.
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Request forms should be filled out completely before materials are retrieved.
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If you would like to use your laptop, please request permission with the reference librarian. We have two laptops available for patron use. Please check with librarian.
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Food and drinks are not permitted. Cell phones should be placed in the silent or vibrate position. Please do not take calls in the reading room out of respect to other patrons.
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We ask that you handle all materials with care and consideration. You may be asked to use gloves depending on the nature of the materials you are using.
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Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to use the collections.
CONTACTING US
General contact information:
The W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library
Box 870266
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0266 USA
Ph: 205.348.0500
Fax: 205.348.1699
Email: archives@bama.ua.edu
Requests and questions will be routed to the appropriate staff member.
HOURS
Beginning October 3, 2011, The Hoole Library is open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and has extended hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm. while the University is in session.
While no advance appointment is required, it is recommended that researchers call ahead to inform Special Collections staff of their project and upcoming visit and to secure permissions if needed. This is especially true for researchers wishing to use university archives materials, which may require advance preparation in adherence to state and Federal statutes.
VISITOR INFORMATION AND VISITOR PARKING
Visitors are always welcome at The University of Alabama. If you are visiting campus during the week between 7 am and 6 pm, there are three parking decks you may park in as a visitor. The cost to park for the day in each deck is $3.00. The collection machines at the entrance to the decks will accept dollar bills and quarters only or pre purchased tokens. Tokens can either be purchased at the Transportation Services office, located at 103 Student Services Center, or at each visitor parking deck. After inserting either $3.00 or token into the collection machine a receipt will print. Place this receipt on you dash above the steering wheel to avoid receiving a citation. The closest decks are:
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Ferguson Center Parking Deck : The entrance is located off of Campus Drive West at Marrs Spring Road. You must enter the 1st level of this deck in order to pay to park.
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OVERNIGHT STAYS
The University of Alabama has a hotel on campus and within short walking distance to the library.
Another nearby hotel is:
600 Harper Lee Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
Tel. (205) 553-9800
OTHER HELPFUL LINKS
