The Rare Books Collection consists of library materials that are remarkable because of their:
The Texas Tech Rare Books Collection is primarily made up of 38,000 volumes of books in the sense of the traditional Western codex, but it also contains handwritten and typewritten manuscripts; artistic prints; and ancient documents in clay, stone, and bone. The collection differs from other Special Collections units in that we collect more broadly across time and space. Rare Books spans 5,000 years of history with creators represented from across the globe.
Just because a book is "old" does not necessarily mean it is rare. The following guide is a great resource for collectors or those curious about items in their personal libraries:
Texas Tech University students, staff, and faculty as well as members of the public are welcome to view and study our materials in the Holden Reading Room. Due to the fragility and historical value of our items, they must remain in the building; you cannot "check out" the materials as you would in the main library.
While we accept walk-in requests, for the best experience, we encourage you to search our catalogs and let Reading Room staff know at least one business day in advance what you'd like to see. Time to retrieve materials may vary, and some may be inaccessible during extended hours, especially vault items (coded "SPL" in the call number).
The Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library is in a building situated between the University Library and the Agricultural Pavilion. The quickest way to the Reading Room is to use the entrance directly across from the Agricultural Pavilion. See the Google Maps link below:
Check the following link to see our operating hours and holidays. Please note that we offer extended hours Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings during the fall and spring semesters.
Visitors who do not have a TTU parking permit have free, timed, and paid parking options as highlighted in the map linked below.
Reading Room visitors are required to fill out a registration form once per academic year. By signing the registration form, you agree to abide by our Reading Room Procedures; please review this document before your visit. Note that food, drinks, ink pens, outside books, and bags among other personal items are not permitted in the Reading Room for the safety and preservation of our historic materials. We provide lockers for you to securely store these items during your visit. You can bring your laptop to take notes, and we can provide pencils and paper if needed.
Rare Books offers students enriching interactions with primary source materials and historical artifacts through class visits! TTU instructors can schedule class visits through the SWC/SCL Reference Department by emailing reference.swco@ttu.edu with your preferred date(s), time(s), and number of students who will be visiting. We encourage you to submit your class requests as early as possible since space is limited.
If you would like one of our Rare Books librarians to help you select materials or present to your class, please email the Assistant Rare Books Librarian the following information: