Access to Collections
Collections are available for legitimate scientific, educational and religious uses, subject to terms and conditions of the collection owner as well as those necessary to protect and preserve the condition, research potential, religious, or sacred importance of the collection.
The collections manager should be contacted to schedule a time when staff assistance is available and the collection is not already committed to another use.
Collections are to be studied in areas of the repository set aside for this purpose. If necessary, a loan agreement subject to collection owner approval may be arranged for institutions and agencies for of-site use.
Costs of preparing collections for loan, including packaging, transportation, inventory and re-shelving upon return, are the responsibility of the borrower.
To avoid damage or reduction in their scholarly and scientific value, all materials should be handled with great care; failure to be reasonable and prudent in the use of collections will result in the loss of access to them. Insurance coverage may be required for off-site use of a collection.
Materials in use are not normally available for concurrent use by another researcher. In some cases, special arrangements may be made for on-site study of material in exhibits if the material can be returned expeditiously. In the case of materials already under study, the consent of both the collections manager and the individual directing the study is necess