Visit SCA

Everyone is welcome in SCA. Please let us know if you have name and pronoun preferences. We will also make every effort to ensure your time in the department is as comfortable as possible by facilitating specific access, physical space or environmental preferences, where and when possible. You can expect: 

• Elevator or stairwell access based on your needs
• Doorbell entry to the department
• Dimmable lights
• A scent free space
• Single researcher bookings (by request)

• First-time visitors will need to complete a researcher registration form.
• Review the Archives 101: Find Primary Sources in Special Collections & Archives research guide.
• Search the Archives Database or the library catalogue Omni to identify items you want to review.
• Contact us to make an appointment.
• Review the department access policy
• Bring a USB flash drive or memory key if you intend to use SCA's self-serve scanning kiosk

Special Collections & Archives is located on the bottom (first) floor of the Dana Porter Library.

• Enter the library through the sliding doors at the south side of the building.
• Travel to the first floor (basement) by stairs or elevator: 
  • Take the stairs immediately to the right and across from Browsers Coffee Shop down one floor
  • Take the elevators located on the left side of the main lobby, behind the circulation desk, down one floor.
• Ring the doorbell mounted on the double doors of the department.

SCA is open for appointments:

• Monday to Friday
• 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 PM to 4 PM

Please consult the University of Waterloo Libraries Hours of Service before coming to the department for updates about building closures or service interruptions.

• Directions to the campus
• Campus map (we are LIB)
• Campus parking. If you come in the middle of the day, finding parking in a central location can be challenging.

  • The closest parking lot to the Dana Porter Library is D Lot. The cost is $3.10/hr to a maximum of $21.75. Guests can utilize this lot by driving up to the gate and pressing a button for an entry ticket. On exit they would insert the ticket and submit Visa, MasterCard, or Debit only (no Visa Debit or Mastercard Debit) payment for the duration they were in the lot. Reservations can be made at strnsprt@uwaterloo.ca at least 48 hours in advance.

    If the cost is an issue, the closest $7.00 flat rate parking is available in C Lot across University Avenue.

    As of January 20, 2025, the university is using the AMP mobile pay app in all visitor lots. Alternative options to using the mobile app:

  • Pre-book online: Book your ticket online through the AMP mobile website before traveling to campus. Step by step instructions are available on the Sustainable Transportation website.

  • In-person purchase: Once on campus, you can visit the Sustainable Transportation office, located on the first floor of the General Services Complex, to either:

    • Purchase a visitor parking ticket for the day.
    • Purchase scratch cards, which can be bought in advance in bulk or individually. Scratch cards need to scratched and displayed in your vehicle.
  • Book upon arrival: Use the AMP desktop app to purchase parking as soon as possible after arriving on campus.

Material housed in Special Collections & Archives does not circulate and can only be used in the Doris Lewis Reading Room. Access to some archival material is restricted for preservation and privacy reasons. 

The following requirements are in place to ensure the longevity and security of our collections:

• SCA is a scent-free space
• Coats and bags must be left in the secure storage lockers provided on-site.
• Food and drink are not permitted in the Doris Lewis Reading Room.
• Pens, highlighters or mechanical pencils are prohibited. Pencils are provided for use in the Doris Lewis Reading Room.
• All material must be handled with clean hands and with care. Staff will advise researchers about the appropriate way to handle the collection being consulted.
• The order of files in archival collections is to be maintained.