USING MATERIALS IN THE SEARCH ROOM

Welcome to the Manuscripts Department. We hope that your research visit will be pleasant and productive. Thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with our search room policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are an effort to balance the needs of researchers with the security and long-term preservation of our unique holdings. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.

THE SEARCH ROOM:

• Manuscripts are only used in the Search Room during the Department's hours of operation.
• You may ONLY bring the following items into the Search Room:
  • laptop computers (and accessories) or PDAs;
  • hand-held portable cameras;
  • pencils;
  • the Department's finding aids.
• The Department provides notepaper and note cards.
• All other items--including purses, bags, folders, binders, notebooks, books, and your own paper--are prohibited. Lockers are provided to store your belongings.
• Please ring the doorbell next to the Public Services window for assistance.
• Keep conversation in the Search Room to a minimum. Cell phone use is prohibited.
• Return all materials to the Public Services window.
• Do not exit the Search Room with manuscripts.
• Exit the Search Room at least ten minutes prior to closing (Monday-Friday 5:50 p.m. and Saturday 12:50 p.m.).
• Upon leaving, present all items (computers, notes, note cards, etc.) for inspection.

REQUESTING:

• Use call slips to request collections.
• Complete one call slip per collection or call number. We will accept one call slip at a time.
• We will not pull materials after 5:30 p.m. on week days or 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

HANDLING:

• At all times, please be as gentle as possible with the materials.
• Keep the documents flat on the table.
• Do not place any items (e.g. laptops, note cards, etc.) on top of the manuscript material.
• Keep manuscripts in their original filing order.
• Bring any misfiled items to our attention. Do not attempt to re-organize collections.
• Do not remove metal fasteners from the manuscripts. We will remove them for you.