The Lewis Walpole Library is delighted to announce that the staff will return to on-site work at the library starting September 8, 2020. In addition to the virtual research services library staff have been providing since onsite services were suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our return to the Farmington campus will enable LWL staff to offer research support services through direct access to the full extent of the library’s collections and reference resources.

In addition, Reading Room operations will resume the week of September 21, by appointment only, providing on-site research access to the Library collections for Yale affiliates with an authorized Yale ID card. Reading Room hours for Fall 2020 will be Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on alternate weeks.

Appointments to use the Reading Room must be made at least 48 hours in advance, and seating is limited to three researchers at a time. Items should be requested in advance of the researcher’s visit through the Yale Library Catalog or Archives@Yale. Yale affiliates must present their current authorized Yale ID, on arrival at the library, to conduct onsite research. 

We encourage all researchers to consult digital surrogates of Lewis Walpole Library collection materials when possible and limit on-site visits to research that requires consultation of the physical item. For further information, please read the Information for Researchers prior to a Reading Room visit.

Although at this time we may only accommodate on-site research by authorized Yale affiliates, and our first priority remains to fulfill requests that support Yale teaching and research, the LWL staff will continue to support all research remotely. We will:

• provide reference services and research consultations
• deliver a variety of digital images of collection materials suitable for various purposes (e.g. for study use only, for publication, and for classroom use, etc.)
• facilitate access and discovery through cataloging and collection processing

In addition, the library will continue to develop and offer scholarly programs accessible remotely. Watch the library website and social media for program announcements.

Please email walpole@yale.edu to let us know how we can best meet your needs, and monitor the Yale University Library’s COVID-19 page.