Reading Room Regulations

The books and documents housed in the Library and Archives are unique or rare, and many are irreplaceable. Therefore, researchers are requested to observe these directions and precautions:

1. Please schedule your visit with us in advance.
   
   
2. Please sign the visitors’ register in the reception area each day. You will also be asked to complete a Registration Form annually.
   
   
3. No food, beverages, smoking, or pets are permitted in the Reading Room.
   
   
4. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and supervised at all times.
   
   
5. Please make certain your hands are clean before using research materials. Avoid applying creams or lotions to your hands immediately before handling materials.
   
   
6. Use only pencils when taking notes. Pencils are provided on the large Reading Room table.
   
   
7. Do not lay papers or cards on materials when taking notes or lean on materials. These habits will shorten the life of the book or document.
   
   
8. Use the proper book supports if supplied by the archivist to support fragile or oversize volumes.
   
   
9. Do not place open books facedown or employ harmful bookmarks such as pencils, rulers, other books, paper clips, post-it notes, etc. Broken spines and torn pages are the result of such treatment. Please ask the archivist for paper slips to use as bookmarks.
   
   
10. If you need to use paper slips as bookmarks please remove all of them before returning the books. If left inside the book they can eventually cause discoloration of the pages.
    
    
11. Be gentle when opening books and turning pages; always lift the top corner of the page. Please do not lick your fingers before turning pages.
    
    
12. Items in folders should be examined one at a time and kept in order flat on the reading table. Do not hold materials extended in midair while reading, or on your lap or the floor.
    
    
13. No marks may be added or erased from any materials.
    
    
14. Do not make tracings or rubbings of archival material without specific permission and assistance from the archivist.
    
    
15. Cotton gloves must be worn when handling historic photographs and other especially vulnerable items.
    
    
16. Please consult the archivist to request photocopies before removing documents from their folders. Some items are too fragile to be copied or require special precautions. The Society reserves the right to refuse photocopying requests.
    
    
17. Permission to publish images or extensive quotes must be obtained in writing from the Public Services Archivist or Vice President for Information Services. Strict compliance with the Copyright Act of 2003 is required.
    
    
18. The Society reserves the right to inspect all research material and all personal articles before a patron leaves the building.
    
    
19. Use of materials may be restricted if unprocessed or in poor physical condition, by donor request, to protect personal privacy or legitimate proprietary rights, or to maintain reasonable administrative confidentiality of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Thank you for your consideration. Following these directives will help us preserve our collections so that researchers can continue to benefit from the information they contain.

April 2007