You must agree to this policy below in order to conduct research at Special Collections Research Center.
Collection materials including unpublished documents may be subject to laws governing copyright (Title 17, U.S. Code). Materials are provided under fair use and only for the purpose of personal study unless otherwise arranged. Permission of the copyright holder may be required for uses exceeding “fair use.” If researchers wish to use materials from SCRC for publication, exhibition, broadcast, or performance, researchers agree to secure prior written permission from the copyright holder. Researchers will give credit as outlined in the Fair Use Policy in the Research Policies and Procedures Guidelines. Furthermore, researchers acknowledge that they are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials they use. This will all be outlined in our Reproduction Request form, which will need to be completed if using these materials for anything other than Fair Use.
All photocopying and scanning of materials is done by Special Collections Research Center staff. Some materials may not be available for duplication or publication due to donor restrictions, privacy restrictions, preservation issues, or copyright. Assessments will be made by Special Collections staff.
Reading Room Regulations
Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance and are dependent on staff availability and the number of other appointments scheduled. No-show appointments (after 30 minutes without notice) will be canceled. For more details please refer to the SCRC Late/Cancellation Policy 2024.
Researchers may not under any circumstances remove collection materials from the reading room.
Researchers agree to handle all library collections gently and to keep loose documents in the order they are found. Researchers will abide by the specific guidelines, provided by SCRC staff, on proper handling and safe positioning of loose documents and volumes.
Pencils, limited sheets of loose paper, laptop computers, and phones are allowed in the reading room. Lockers are provided for researchers’ other personal belongings such as jackets, coats, pens, markers, and bags/purses are prohibited. Lab coats will be supplied for those who want additional coverage. Food and beverages can be left on the designated table outside of the Reading Room.
The SCRC reserves the right to apply access or use restrictions on collections, parts of collections, or individual items based on a variety of factors. These include, but are not limited to: compliance with federal, state, and university regulations, deed of gift restrictions, as well as archival and preservation best practices. For more details, please refer to the full policy:
SCRC Restrictions Policy 2024.
Researchers may mark pages to be photocopied with paper strips provided by staff. Please do not remove the materials from their folders.
Permission to use digital cameras to take pictures will be granted on a case-by-case basis and require the completion of our Digital Photography Terms of Use. Restricted items, such as those containing third-party personal information, are not permitted to be photographed.
SCRC staff will examine laptops, notes, and other items when researchers exit the reading room.
