Health Rare Books and Special Collection

The Health Sciences Library has a Rare Books collection of almost 2,000 titles, and a Special Collection of almost 1670 titles, both housed in closed stacks locations. All monographs with a pre-1850 imprint are shelved in Rare Books. Selected books with imprints between 1850 and 1914, as well as a very small number of post-1914 imprints, are shelved in the Special Collection. Materials are identified in the UW Libraries Catalog with shelving locations of Health Rare Books or Health Special Collection.

Access Policy

Monday – Friday
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, holidays excluded.

To make an appointment, send email to hsl@u.washington.edu.

These collections are available to all University of Washington affiliated faculty, staff, and students with UW identification, and to non-University of Washington users with a current state driver's license or state photo identification card. Identification cards are held at the Information Desk while material is in use. Browsing is not permitted within these two collections.

Library Use Only

All rare books are Library Use Only. Selected monographs in the Special Collection may also be Library Use Only, based on the physical condition of the material. Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery requests also adhere to this policy.

Room Usage

Material will be viewed in the Rare Book Room. Ink writing tools are not allowed. No food or drink is allowed in the Rare Book Room.

Photocopying and Photography

Photocopying of fragile, narrow margined and otherwise compromised material will be done by library staff. Request photocopy assistance at the Information Desk. Materials to be photographed may be taken to the Health Sciences Creative Services, (206) 543-9275, if arrangements are made in advance with the HSL Rare Books Collection Manager.

For further information about these collections, contact Colleen Weum, Rare Books Collection Manager, at (206) 543-3439 or send email to hsl@u.washington.edu.