Plan Your Visit

The Department of Special & Area Studies Collections is an extensive department with several service points and collection spaces. The Smathers Library Building houses the Map & Imagery Library on the first floor, the Grand Reading Room (GRR) and the Judaica Suite on the second floor, and the Latin American & Caribbean Collection (LACC) on the third floor. Maps and LACC have circulating, browsable collections; materials handled through the GRR are non-circulating and are requested at the desk. Some materials are housed off-site and require advance notice for retrieval and use. In addition, the circulating collections of the Isser and Rae Price Library of Judaica and Africana Collections are located in Library West.

Using the Collections

Researchers are encouraged to email (special@uflib.ufl.edu), telephone, or write at least 5 business days in advance of their visit to ensure materials are available for use. University Archives collections must be reviewed for portions that may be restricted due to the requirements of applicable state and federal laws; other collections’ materials  may be housed offsite and must be retrieved. 

For information on using individual collections, see the Overview of Collections.

Parking on Campus

UF offers paid parking on campus at the Visitor Welcome Center in the Reitz Union. The garage is about a 15-minute walk to the Smathers Building.
Reitz Union Garage, 655 Reitz Union Dr.
General Information on UF Parking

Suggestions for External (non-UF) Paid Parking

  • Roberts Stadium Club parking, 16 NW 18th Street, 10-minute walk to Smathers. Rates and payment method subject to change. https://stadiumclubuf.com/parking/
  • The Standard Parking Garage, 1324 NW 2nd Ave, 5-minute walk to Smathers. Rates and payment method subject to change.
  • Midtown Apartments parking garage, one block north of the Stadium Club, 104 NW 17th St. Rates and payment method subject to change.
  • Parking lot across the street from Smathers Library, 147 NW 16th St. Text to pay. Rates and payment method subject to change.

Lodging, UF

Lodging, non-UF

Transportation

  • Gainesville Airport
  • Jacksonville and Orlando airports: both are approximately a 1.5-2 hour drive from Gainesville (the Jacksonville airport is closer; the drive from Orlando includes toll roads)
  • Gainesville bus system (note: campus bus schedules change for different semesters and during intercession)