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

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Note: Appointments are required to visit the reading room within these hours.
More Andersen Library hours

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 (September 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, 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.

Directions and parking

Driving and delivery directions

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. The lot lies directly north-west of Andersen Library. University Parking and Transportation Services has up-to-date information about transit options, biking, parking, and other campus transportation needs.

Accessibility

Nearest accessible parking is located in Lot C86, north-west of the building.

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 1st through 3rd floors.

Restrooms

Restrooms are located on the ground floor, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd 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.

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Building information

About Elmer L. Andersen

The building is named in honor of former Governor Elmer L. Andersen. Learn more about the man who was a stalwart friend to both the University and the Libraries.

About the building

Learn more about the building that stores, preserves, and protects over 1.5 million volumes of books, manuscripts, illustrations and artifacts.

Room reservations

Conference rooms and the atrium are available for rent by University Departments with EFS numbers. Learn more about reservations and policies.

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