Special & Area Studies Collections

Our department is home to substantial holdings of rare print, maps, archives, and manuscripts, as well as interdisciplinary collections pertaining to geographical, national or cultural regions. Our materials and personnel advance the University’s research mission and spark the minds of its students.

what’s new

New Video

Preserving Pop Culture:
UF’s video team interviewed Jim Liversidge about the history of our popular culture collections and our work preserving them

our spaces

Smathers Grand Reading Room
The Grand Reading Room, on the second floor of Smathers Library

Reading Room Hours


Our reading rooms are operating on slightly reduced hours during Summer 2023.
For holiday and intersession hours please see, https://ufl.libcal.com/hours.

Map & Imagery Library (First Floor)
8am – 6pm Monday – Thursday
8am – 5pm Friday
Email mapsref@uflib.ufl.edu for research assistance.

Grand Reading Room (Second Floor)
9am – 5pm Monday – Friday
Email special@uflib.ufl.edu for research assistance and to make a research appointment.

Judaica Suite (Second Floor)
By Appointment, email rjefferson@ufl.edu

LACC Reading Room (Third Floor)
8am – 6pm Monday – Thursday
8am – 5pm Friday
Email lacref@uflib.ufl.edu for research assistance.

our department & building