Elmer L. Andersen Library West Bank

The Elmer L. Andersen Library is home to the University's Archives and Special Collections Department (ASC) and the Digital Library Services' digitization center used for scanning services.

Visit Andersen Library

Elmer L. Andersen Library

Hours

Today: Closed
Mon, Aug 2: Closed
Tue, Aug 3: Closed
Wed, Aug 4: Closed
Thu, Aug 5: Closed

Visit: 222 21^st Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55455; Parking information
Call: 612-624-7469
Email: ascref@umn.edu

Collections access

All are welcome to use archival collections and rare materials in the University’s Archives and Special Collections.

Due to the unique and historical nature of archival collections, all collections are stored in secure storage only accessible by staff and collection material can only be viewed by the public in our Reading Room.

Contact unit staff for more information or to make an appointment to view collections. Archives and Special Collections unit webpages may also include links to digital content, online exhibits, and other resources.

Appointments

Updated policies (August 2021) Appointments are required and must be made a week in advance.

This allows staff time to pull items ahead of time for your use. Staff are not able to pull items on demand.

To make an appointment please contact unit staff who manage the collection you are interested in using. Staff will confirm your appointment day/time and send you a link to fill out an online access form. Do not arrive at the library if you have not received your email confirmation.

Please contact the unit that has the collections you wish to use to schedule a time for your research visit.

Updated procedures

Do not travel to the library if you have not had a confirmation email from us confirming your appointment time and that your materials are available.
For everyone’s safety the Wallin Center reading room will be open to researchers in a limited and controlled capacity. Eight researchers will be allowed in the reading room at a time.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we require face masks for those who are not fully vaccinated. In addition, we request that everyone continues to practice physical distancing of six feet apart as best they can.
If you are not feeling well, we ask that you please respect everyone’s safety and email our staff to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
Building doors are locked and access to the building is limited to one entrance. A staff member let you in when your appointment is scheduled to start.
Materials that you have requested will have been quarantined prior to your arrival.

Directions and parking

Driving and delivery directions

GPS systems can give incorrect directions for our location (222 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis), so if you are driving to Andersen Library and are unfamiliar with campus or with our location on the West Bank, please contact a staff member for assistance.

View detailed directions with step-by-step directions on how to get to our north entrance for small deliveries or our caverns for large deliveries.

Parking

Elmer L. Andersen Library (Andersen Library) sits on the West Bank of the Mississippi River near Willey Hall and the University Law School’s Mondale Hall.

University parking lot C86 is the closest parking facility to Andersen Library. University Parking and Transportation Services provides up-to-date information about transit options, biking, parking, and other campus transportation needs.

Accessibility

Nearest accessible parking is located in Lot C86 and Lot C88, north of the building.

Paging services at Andersen Library can be arranged by appointment Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Accessible entrances to the building are located on first floor on the south and northwest sides and on the ground (street) level on the north side.

The south elevator connects the first floor to the ground floor of Wiley Hall for access to the tunnel system. The north elevator connects the ground floor to the 1^st through 3^rd floors.

Restrooms

Restrooms are located on the ground floor, and 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd floors next to the north elevator.

There are no all-gender restrooms in the Elmer L. Andersen Library. The nearest all-gender restrooms are

Mondale Hall, 4th floor, rooms 461 and 462,
Social Sciences Building, first floor, rooms 129, 136, and 177, and
Heller Hall, rooms 155, 555, 755, 919, 1019, 119, and 1219.

For more information, see the map of all publicly accessible gender neutral restrooms maintained by the University of Minnesota campus.

Welcome to our new site!