Skip to Main Content
green divider line
green divider line
Special Collections Policies and Procedures

Introduction

Materials are placed in a Special Collections area in order to preserve their use for research. These materials require special storage, handling, and security. We request that you participate in the preservation of our holdings by adhering to the following procedures. Although we hope that all of our patrons are trustworthy and careful in their handling of materials, our staff expects everyone to follow our rules and guidelines. This will help maintain the condition of Special Collection materials for future research.

General Procedures

  1. All readers must present photo identification and fill out an Application for the Use of Archival Materials. A copy of the photo ID will be made and kept with the registration.

  2. Any personal property (coats, purses, hats, bags, backpacks, briefcases, research materials, etc.) will be stored in the administrative assistant's office.

  3. All the materials must be handled with great care. Patrons who carelessly handle materials may be denied further access.

  4. Cell phone use is not permitted.

  5. Personal scanners and digital cameras may not be used to reproduce Special Collections materials.

  6. Digital cameras, including cell phone cameras, may not be used to take pictures of the Special Collections exhibits without the permission of Special Collections staff.

Material Usage Procedures

  1. Patrons must fill out a Research Material Request Form for the items they wish to use.

  2. Only Staff members can retrieve archival materials from the closed stacks. The public is not allowed into the closed archival stack areas.

  3. All materials housed in Special Collections are to remain within the designated area. At no time are materials allowed out of the research areas. All materials stored in vaults are ONLY available through the Coordinator of Special Collections.

  4. ONE archival box will be brought out to a reader at a time. Only one folder is allowed on the research table at a time.
  • Materials must remain on reading tables during use. They are not to be placed in the lap or propped against the table edge.
  • Readers are asked to handle materials with clean hands, turning pages slowly and carefully, touching only the margins if possible.
  • No marks are to be added or erased from the materials.
  • No tracings or rubbings may be made without specific permission by the staff.
  • The order and arrangement of the materials must be preserved. Apparent irregularities should be called to the attention of the staff.
  • Patrons are asked to sit at the table properly. No feet are allowed on the tables, no sitting on the tables, no sleeping or lounging at the tables.
  • No food, drink, tobacco, or gum is allowed in Special Collections.
  • Researchers using photographic materials must wear special gloves.

5. When conducting research with collections of high value the researcher will be under direct supervision of a staff member.

6. Identification must remain with the materials at all times. Please use acid-free tabs located on the research table to mark your place when pulling items from boxes and folders.

7. Notes during research should be taken with pencil and paper provided by the staff.

8. Material must be returned to staff when the researcher leaves for the day. All items assigned to researchers must be returned no less than 15 minutes before closing time.

9. Readers must present all personal materials for inspection as requested by the Special Collections staff.

Publication and Duplication Procedures

1. All requests for reproductions must be accompanied by either a Request for Photocopying Form or a Request for Scanning Form.

2. Patrons are not permitted to photocopy archival materials. Patrons may be permitted to photocopy bound periodicals and books with staff permission. Copy requests may be denied due to the condition, size, or restrictions placed on an item.

3. Patrons must complete a License for Reproductions Form if they plan to use archival materials for publication, profit, or commercial purposes.

4. It is the researcher's responsibility to conform to all legal literary and copyright provisions attached to the materials used. The Special Collections Department will not be responsible for the infringement of any such laws.

Contact Information

For more information contact The University of Texas at Dallas, Special Collections Department, P.O. Box 830643, Richardson, Texas 75083-0643, Paul Oelkrug, Coordinator for Special Collections, Phone: (972)883-2570.

 

Skip to Main Navigation