Information for Readers

Collections and Reading Rooms

The Library collections are divided into three main groups: manuscripts, rare books (including all rare printed materials, such as photographs, historical prints and ephemera, printed maps, and architectural plans), and secondary materials (referred to as Reference materials at the Huntington). There are also two reading rooms: the Ahmanson Reading Room and the General Reading Room. All manuscripts and rare printed items must be requested at the Ahmanson Reading Room desk and viewed in that area.

The Reference collection, which includes monographs, serials, and microfilm, is on open shelves and may be browsed or retrieved by the reader. Reference books may be used in either reading room or in other public areas of the Library. They may not be removed from the Library building. 

Computer Services

The Library allows the use of laptops, but does not permit the use of any portable imaging devices such as scanners or cameras. Readers who bring a laptop may connect directly to the internet in the Ahmanson Reading Room if their computer is configured for Ethernet connections and they provide their own Ethernet cable (standard Ethernet patch cable for an RJ45 connection). There is wireless access in the General Reading Room and the adjacent Readers’ Lounge.  Several computer terminals are located throughout the library for readers to access the Internet, the online catalog and other electronic databases available through the Huntington. There is no word processing software available on public terminals.

Interlibrary Loan Services

The Library offers readers an interlibrary loan service which may be used to procure materials from other institutions or to verify whether materials are held by libraries in the vicinity of their home or other institutions.  Materials borrowed from other libraries must be used onsite and may not be removed from the Library building. Please inquire in the Reader Services Department to use this service. The Huntington does not lend library materials. 

Onsite Photograph and Reproduction Requests

Within the constraints of copyright law and consideration for the physical condition of the materials the Library provides reproductions in a range of formats, including digital files and prints, slides and transparencies, photocopies, and microfilm. Forms and instructions for ordering reproductions of rare materials may be found at the Ahmanson Reading Room desk. For reproductions of reference materials please consult the Reader Services staff. Photocopies from reference books may also be ordered at the Photo Services window in the Library, Monday through Friday. 

Only Huntington staff members may make copies of items in our collections. Permission to publish images or text must be obtained from the Director of the Library. 

Housing Arrangements
The Huntington is happy to assist readers who need housing by providing a list of rooms, hotels and motels, apartments, and houses for rent. For housing information, please contact:
Susi Krasnoo
skrasnoo@huntington.org

626-405-3432

The Huntington is a sponsor of the Athenaeum, the faculty club on the campus of the California Institute of Technology, approximately one mile from The Huntington, and offers single and double rooms at reasonable rates. Children under 16 are not accepted. Breakfast and dinner are served on weekdays. Reservations for the Athenaeum must be made through the Research Department. Less expensive housing at Caltech is sometimes available during summer months for single persons. The Huntington has a cafeteria open to staff and readers for lunch Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Transportation  

A number of shuttle services operate vans directly from Los Angeles area airports to local destinations. The Union Station Flyaway Bus from LAX will connect to the Gold Line into Pasadena and taxis are readily available.