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Plan Your Visit to the Archives & Special Collections

The NMSU Library Archives and Special Collections is open to all researchers Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm during the Fall and Spring semesters. We are open by appointment only during the Fall, Spring, and Summer breaks. Please request an appointment through the Request for Research Materials form or by emailing archives@nmsu.edu. Please allow 24 hours’ notice for appointments. The Caroline E. Stras Research Room is located in Branson Library, 4th floor. We are happy to provide virtual reference services for those who cannot visit our facility in person.

NMSU Library Archives and Special Collections, located on the fourth floor of the Branson Library, welcomes members of the campus and local community, as well as independent researchers. Appointments are not necessary; however, to provide better access and service, prior communication with members of our staff is helpful. Please note, the Archives and Special Collections material does not circulate and is only available for use in the Caroline E. Stras Research Room.

Browse Our Collections

Please take a moment to look over the following discovery resources:

New Mexico Archives Online

New Mexico Archives Online provides detailed descriptions of archival collections in the NMSU Library Archives and Special Collections, as well as several other archival repositories in New Mexico.


Library Catalog


Search Photographic Collections

Photographs from the NMSU Library Archives and Special Collections cover more than 150 years of image-making in New Mexico and the border region.

Steps to Take Before Arriving:

Hours and Visitor Information

We are open Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm during the semester and by appointment during the fall, spring, and summer breaks.

Subject to prior approval and staff availability, researchers who cannot visit during regular hours, may request accommodations for evening or weekend hours. In general, these requests are designed for those traveling at a great distance or for whom the regular research hours make it impossible to visit. All requests must be made at least 72 hours in advance as we are unable to retrieve additional material requests on the day of the visit.

To schedule a research appointment, please complete the Request for Research Materials Form.

Request Research Materials

While appointments may not be necessary, we do appreciate advance notice of your visit and the material needed. By completing and submitting our online request form below, the material can be ready for use when you arrive.

Instruction Sessions and Class Visits

Archives and Special Collections offers scheduled sessions and visits. If you are interested, please Contact Archives.

  • Class Visits
  • Instruction Sessions
  • Introductory Sessions