Rare Materials Use
The Peter M. Laing Special Collections Room houses the Canadiana, Wainwright collections, the Hon. Robert Mackay Collection, and the Law Faculty Publications. Books from these collections do not circulate and may only be consulted within the library.
Members of the »ÆƬÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ community and the general public may consult the Nahum Gelber’s rare materials on-site during our service hours (10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday). Please note that this service is available by appointment only. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate walk-in patrons who have not requested rare materials in advance.
Requesting materials
To request rare material for consultation and book an appointment, please email lawcirc.library [at] mcgill.ca (lawcirc[dot]library[at]mcgill[dot]ca) at least three business days in advance. You will receive an email confirmation once your materials are available.
Please note:
- Some materials may require up to a week to retrieve.
- Limits will be imposed on the number of books that can be requested at one time.
- Certain materials may not be accessible due to preservation conditions or privacy concerns.
- Any physical rare materials sent for digitization cannot be consulted until the project is completed and the materials are returned to the Nahum Gelber Library.
While working with rare materials
- Bags and coats are not permitted in the consultation room. Lockers and locks are available for storing items.
- Food and drink are not permitted in the consultation room.
- Computers and silenced cell phones are welcome.
- Only pencils may be used for hand-written notes.
Copying and reproduction by users
- Personal photography, for personal or scholarly purposes, is permitted with the approval of the Nahum Gelber Library staff.
- Handheld cameras and cellphones with the flash disabled are allowed. Additional equipment, such as lighting or a tripods, is permitted.
- Users must take care to protect the rare material at all times. Books and other items must be set up for photography with the assistance of Nahum Gelber Library staff. Lanyards worn around the neck or wrist to support the camera are encouraged.
- Photography of staff members or other readers is not permitted.