Special Collections Department

403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011

phone: 515 294-6672
email: archives@iastate.edu

Special Collections Department

Special Collections Department - Collections - Using the Collections

Using the Collections

 

To safeguard the valuable and unique materials housed within the Special Collections Department, researchers are requested to observe the following rules:

  1. Food and beverages are not permitted. Outer clothing, attache cases, backpacks and other similar items are to be left in the appropriate place.
  2. Researchers are asked to use pencils. Fountain pens, felt-tip pens, bottles of ink or similar writing materials cannot be used. Laptops and tape recorders may be used; please avoid disturbance of other patrons.
  3. Cameras or photographic equipment may be used with permission of the Department Head.  Scanners are not permitted due to copyright issues and the fragility of Special Collections materials.
  4. Patrons must fill out a registration card with their name, address, telephone number, and research topic prior to materials being requested.  An out slip for each collection or item should be submitted.
  5. Patron’s hands must be clean and free of lotions or hand sanitizer.  Materials must be handled with care; they must not be marked, torn, cut, folded, soiled, traced over, nor notes be written on top of the material, nor handled in any manner which might cause damage.
  6. To assist the staff in maintaining original order of the collections, researchers are requested to observe the following: Use no more than four (4) boxes at a time; Use one folder from a box at a time; Maintain the existing order of material within each folder and box. If there is any doubt as to the order or if there is apparent damage, please notify the Reference Desk.
  7. Material may not be removed from the reading area. Material may be photoduplicated in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Special Collections Department. The Department may set reasonable restrictions to protect fragile or damaged materials.
  8. The use of certain manuscripts or other materials may be restricted by statute, by office of origin, or by the donors. The researcher must assume full responsibility for fulfilling the terms connected with any restricted material. For the protection of its collections the Library also reserves the right to restrict the use of materials which are not processed or in the process of being arranged, materials of exceptional value and fragile materials.
  9. Permission from the Library must be obtained in writing before manuscripts, diaries, correspondence, documents and any other published materials from its collections can be published.
  10. If permission to publish is granted, location of the material must be indicated in the works, and a complimentary copy presented to the Special Collections Department.
  11. No tobacco of any kind is permitted in the Special Collections Department.