Visit

The materials in the Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History are non-circulating and cannot leave the building. The vast majority of our collections are not accessible online. In most cases, it is necessary to visit the Center's reading room to consult materials in person. 

The Center is open for visitors Monday through Friday from 10am to 2pm. Appointments are not required, but we strongly encourage visitors to contact us in advance of any planned research visit to discuss your research topic and confirm the availability of collections. 

Prior to visiting the Center, please familiarize yourself with our access and use policies. All visitors will be required to register and present a photo ID. Please note that certain materials are not allowed to be brought into the reading room. Visitors will be provided with access to lockers to store their belongings during their visit.

Click here for parking information and directions to the Center.

Upcoming Closures

• Thursday, April 17th and Friday, April 18th - closed for Good Friday
• Monday, May 12th through Friday, May 16th - closed for annual inventory

Contact Information

Phone: 910-962-7810 
Email: csencah@uncw.edu 
Website: https://library.uncw.edu/archives_special/

Physical Address (for GPS directions): 
     5162 Randall Drive 
     Wilmington, NC 28403

Social media:
     Facebook 
     Instagram

Access and Use Policies

Click here to view the Center's access and use policies

FAQ

What are your hours?

• The Center is open Monday-Friday from 10am to 2pm. The Center will be closed for university holidays, fall break, and spring break.

Do I need an appointment to access the collections?

• An appointment is not required; however, please be advised that research assistance may be limited on a walk-in basis. We strongly encourage you to contact us well in advance of a planned visit to discuss your research topic and confirm the availability of relevant materials.

How do I search for materials?

• For information about searching our collections, visit the Find Material page.

What can I bring into the reading room?

• Visitors may bring laptops, cell phones, digital cameras, pencils, and notepaper into the reading room if they wish. Pens, food and beverages, bags or cases of any kind, and any other personal belongings will need to be placed in a locker for the duration of your visit. Personal research materials may be permitted subject to inspection and approval by a staff member.

Am I allowed to photograph the collections?

• Visitors may photograph materials themselves using digital cameras, touch-free overhead scanners, or mobile devices under the following circumstances:
  • The materials are not restricted
  • A staff member approves the request
  • No flash or exposure to light is used
• The following is not permitted:
  • Personal scanners that require physical contact with the materials or expose them to bright light.
  • Removing items from folders, or positioning them in a way that might damage them, in order to get a good photograph.
• If a visitor is seen to be damaging materials or handling them roughly trying to get a good photograph, permission to photograph will be revoked.
• Collections may be photographed for personal use only; permission to photograph does not constitute permission to publish. 

What if I can't visit the Center in person?

• If you are unable to visit the Center in person, we will be happy to try to assist you remotely. Please contact us using one of the above methods.

How do I request copies of materials?

• Photocopies of materials may be requested in person, by phone, or by email. As long as there are no restrictions or preservation concerns associated with the materials being requested, we can usually provide users with a limited number of photocopies or scans of material via email. We offer this service free of charge. Due to the high volume of inquiries we receive, please allow up to one week for a response to your request. Any copies provided will be for personal reference only and subject to copyright restrictions
  • Limits on photocopying requests are determined on a case by case basis, but generally may not exceed more than 100 pages per user.

Can I publish materials from your collections?

• We are happy to assist with publication requests. Most materials in our collections require permission prior to being published or otherwise disseminated.  Please contact us via email, phone, or in person to discuss your needs.

Can you accommodate group or class visits?

• We welcome visits from community groups or classes to use the Center's collections. Please visit our Instruction page for more information about how to request a group visit.

What if I have materials I want to donate to your collection?

• We accept donations of original materials that fit the Center's collection development policy. Please note that the Center's staff cannot accept unsolicited donations of materials in the reading room without advance notice. Please contact us to discuss the materials you wish to donate before bringing them to the library.