A primary mission of the Rubenstein Library is to provide support and instruction for classes at Duke University and beyond. Our librarians and archivists are delighted to introduce students to rare books, manuscripts, and other media (such as photographs, film, and digital media) that relate to their coursework and research projects.

In addition to class presentations, we’re happy to place selected materials on reserve for students to consult during the course of an assignment, or to reserve a room where small classes may meet to work together with Special Collections materials. We can also supply digital images for your course site or other networked presentation.

Please contact us for more information.

How Will the Rubenstein Library Renovation Affect Instruction Support?

Between December 17, 2012 and February 18, 2013, Rubenstein Library staff will be unable to accommodate library instruction sessions.

The Biddle Rare Book Room is now closed for renovation and will not be available for instruction sessions until renovation is complete in 2015.

The Breedlove Room will be closed for renovation beginning May 11, 2013 and will not be available for instruction sessions until renovation is complete in 2015.

The Rubenstein Library’s temporary location on the 3rd floor of Perkins Library will have a dedicated classroom space with projection equipment and space for displaying collection materials.

Please contact us to schedule Spring 2013 instruction sessions.

Students will be able to access all Rubenstein Library collection materials in our temporary location (through Summer 2015) on the 3rd floor of Perkins Library. All materials will need to be requested online at least four days before a research visit.

Visit our renovation news website for our renovation timeline and other updates.

Directions to:

• 3rd Floor Perkins Reading Room and Instruction Space
• Breedlove Room

Middlesworth Awards

The Chester P. Middlesworth Awards have been established to encourage and reconginize excellence of research, analysis, and writing by Duke University students in the use of primary sources and rare materials held by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. The awards are granted annually to the authors of the best undergraduate and graduate student papers based largely on the Rubenstein Library resources. To nominate a student, complete a nomination form, which must be submitted along with a clean copy of the paper.