Visiting the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center
The H.J. Lutcher Stark Center is now open for academic research. Find out more about what is in our collections, read our usage policies, or contact our librarian Cindy Slater if you would like to set up a research appointment. Our galleries are currently under construction and will be open in 2010.
Directions to the Stark Center
The H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports (The Stark Center) is located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The Stark Center is in the North End Zone (NEZ) building of the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. To find The Stark Center, enter the NEZ building, immediately turn left and enter the elevator lobby. Take the elevator to the 5th floor.
Hours and Contact Information
The Stark Center is open:
Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm.
Hours are subject to change during University breaks and interim sessions. Please call before you visit to confirm that The Stark Center is open.
Main Phone Line |
512-471-4890 |
Additional contact information can be found on the Contact Us page.
Directions
From I-35 South or I-35 North:
- Take exit 235B, Manor Road exit
- Merge into the service road to prepare to go west on Manor Rd
- Turn onto Manor Road going west. Manor becomes Clyde Littlefield Dr.
- Stay on Clyde Littlefield; look for the garage entrance to the left.
From Manor Garage to The Stark Center:
- Exit the garage (remember your parking ticket!) and cross the street (Robert Dedman Dr) to the stadium
- Turn to the right and walk to the north end of the stadium.
- Turn to the left and walk to the main entrance of the North End Zone building.
- Enter the NEZ building and immediately turn left to the elevator lobby. Take the elevator to the 5th floor.
Parking
Public parking is available in the Manor Garage located immediately to the east of the stadium. Garage entrances are located on Robert Dedman Dr. and on Clyde Littlefield Dr. The cost for all-day parking is currently $10.00. At staff discretion, researchers visiting The Stark Center may have their parking tickets validated for a reduced-fee; please bring your parking ticket with you.
Please note that most parking on the UT campus is restricted to permit holders. Do not park in any space designated as a permit spot. Illegally parked cars will be ticketed by Parking & Transportation Services
Lodging and Transportation
The Stark Center does not offer any discounts for any lodging or transportation options. The University of Texas is located just north of downtown Austin, which has many lodging, meal and transportation options. Two web sites that offer visitor information about the UT and Austin area are the UT Visitors page and the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Click the star for a detailed view of the Stadium Area where the Stark Center is located (23rd st NEZ #5.700):
A printable visitor's map and a parking information map is also available for download.
Research at the Stark Center
Read our policies concerning the use and reproduction of the Center's resources.
Contacting The Stark Center
Please write, telephone or email The Stark Center staff before you visit. The reading room of The Stark Center is open to the public. However, we encourage researchers to contact us. This will allow staff to check University and Stark Center schedules for any potential conflict. It will also allow time to determine availability of resources.
To assist staff with the identification of relevant resources, please include the following in your letter or email to us:
- a description of your research project, including names of primary individuals, time periods of interest, any other information that will narrow the search;
- other primary and secondary sources have you already checked;
- what record formats you are seeking (textual, photographs, electronic, etc.);
what you hope to find in our materials, the goal of your visit.
Arriving at The Stark Center
All visitors of The Stark Center must check-in at the reception desk. To protect The Stark Center materials, all bags, briefcases, coats, hats, and purses must be checked in with a staff member before materials may be used.
Notepaper and pencils will be provided. Pre-written notes must be on loose paper and must be stamped by The Stark Center staff before you enter the Reading Room.
Personal electronic devices such as cell phones or i-pods may not be used in the reading room. Up to five (5) books may be brought in but must be indicated with a Stark Center identification strip. All personal items are subject to search by a reading room attendant.
Laptop computers removed from their cases are permitted.
Reference Services
The Stark Center staff encourages students, researchers and the public to contact us with any relevant questions. However, due to staffing constraints, staff can answer only the simplest of reference questions via correspondence (mail, telephone, or email). You may be invited to the The Stark Center to research on your own or you may hire a proxy researcher.
Proxy Researchers
The Stark Center staff recognizes that it may be necessary for researchers to hire or appoint a proxy researcher to work with Stark Center materials on their behalf. The Stark Center staff will accommodate such requests subject to the following:
- Proxy researchers will read and follow all policies and procedures regarding use of The Stark Center materials
- Financial arrangements are negotiated directly between the proxy researcher and the patron. The Stark Center staff will not participate in those negotiations nor will the staff recommend any rates of hire
- Patrons must communicate their research needs to the proxy researcher. The Stark Center staff will provide routine assistance.
- The Stark Center staff have compiled a list of graduate students and other individuals who are interested in being proxy researchers. Inclusion on this list does not stand as an endorsement by The Stark Center of the individual’s abilities.
Locating Materials
The Stark Center collection is composed of books, manuscript collections, scrapbooks, ephemera, photographs and other miscellany. As we begin to thoroughly process this material, we will catalog all books into the UT Libraries Catalog. Searches may be limited to The Stark Center’s materials by using the “Collections” pulldown menu available on most search screens. Non-book material will be accessible through a variety of collection-specific finding aids, all of which will be posted to our web site upon completion.
However, because at this time much of the collection is still unprocessed, researchers should contact The Stark Center staff for advice. Please review the Reference Services section below.
The Stark Center provides two computers in the Reading Room. Use of these computers is restricted to research related to The Stark Center materials and holdings. General internet searching or e-mail is not allowed.
Once useful materials have been identified, request slips must be completed for each item or group of items. Patrons must provide valid photo identification, to be held by staff as security while collection material is being used. Patrons will be allowed only five items for use at a one time. All items must be returned before other items are pulled.
