Plan an in-person or virtual research visit
We welcome you to explore our diverse collections, but all materials must be viewed in our Reading Room.
If you do not know which materials you want to look at, that is okay! Let us know what your research topic is, and we can work with you to identify material that may be of interest. If you are a remote researcher, you can meet with archives staff to view archives materials over Zoom and/or receive help with your research project.
Special Collections is open Monday through Friday for exhibitions and general questions. Our Reading Room is open by appointment for research. We ask researchers to schedule an appointment at least 2-3 business days in advance so we have time to retrieve the materials for your visit.
We are located in Kennedy Library (Building 35), Fourth Floor – Room 409.
Please email or call us to schedule an appointment.
archives@calpoly.edu
805.756.2305
When you contact us, please include:
Your name, email, and phone number.
Materials you would like pulled for your research appointment and include the Collection title and number with Box numbers or Flat File Folder Numbers
Your research topic (We can use this information to help identify any other possible materials that may interested you.)
Preferred day and time of visit
Before visiting the archives, make sure you have read our Reading Room Guidelines. You might also want to read about copyright guidelines in advance of your visit.
Plan an Instruction Session
Special Collections and Archives encourages instructional sessions with the archives, either led by archives staff or in collaboration with you. Archives instruction can be offered in several formats; in-person, online, and hybrid, to accommodate the needs of Cal Poly faculty, instructors across the Central Coast, and students.
To schedule a session, contact Laura Sorvetti at lsorvett@calpoly.edu.
Duplication Requests
The Special Collections and Archives department provides both quick reproduction and high-quality reproduction services for a fee. Limitations may apply to items, series, or entire collections due to donor agreements, copyright considerations, or fragility of materials.
Reproductions are provided for personal research and do not include permission to publish or otherwise electronically share the reproduced materials. Permission for these uses must be obtained by separate agreement(s) with Special Collections and Archives: please fill out this online form. In addition, drawings from the collection may not be used to build new structures.
To order reproductions of materials from Special Collections and Archives for personal research use, please contact us at archives@calpoly.edu.
Permissions and Licensing Requests
To publish, produce, reproduce, exhibit, broadcast, or share Special Collections and Archives materials, including in electronic formats contact us at archives@calpoly.edu. We will ask you to submit an online form and based on the information provided, our staff will create a Permission to Publish Licensing Agreement. Fees may apply.
| Service | Patron | Price/Copy |
|---|---|---|
| Reference JPG or PDF | All | $1/page (or image) |
| High resolution digital scans of loose-leaf items smaller than 12×18 inches (JPG or TIF) | Students, educators, CSU affiliates (faculty, staff, alumni), San Luis Obispo County residents* | Existing scans: $5 each |
| New scan or adjustment to existing scan: $10 each | ||
| Others | Existing scans: $10 each | |
| New scan or adjustment on existing scan: $25 each | ||
| Large-format, bound objects audio, or audio-visual materials | All | Cost of labor, materials, and/or vendor charge |
| Licensing Fee | For commercial use | $150 per item, per use (No charge for non-commercial use) |
| Additional Fees | ||
| Processing fees | Students, educators, CSU affiliates (faculty, staff, alumni), San Luis Obispo County residents | $5 per order |
| Others | $10 per order | |
| Rush fees – 24 Hours | All | 200% |
| Rush fees – 48 Hours | All | 100% |
| Shipping (excludes digital-only orders) | All | At cost |