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Using the CollectionsCONDITIONS OF USEThe national manuscript collection may be consulted by any adult engaged in serious research who presents a valid Library of Congress issued reader card, completes the Manuscript Division's registration process, and agrees to adhere to the division's rules for the use of rare materials. The Manuscript Reading Room is open to researchers age 16 and above. All researchers must have a current Reader Identification Card; the Card must be displayed when entering the Reading Room.All researchers are advised to e-mail or telephone the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site, and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use. Restrictions on the use of certain materials have been imposed by donors or for reasons of national security. Information governing the use of any specific group of manuscripts will be supplied upon request. Prospective readers should bear in mind the restrictions on photocopying and publication imposed by the Copyright Act of 1976. It is the responsibility of the prospective users or their publishers to determine the copyright status or obtain the required permissions before publication of manuscript material from the Library's collections. READING ROOM RULES AND REGULATIONSPrior to entering the Manuscript Reading Room, readers will be asked to read and sign a statement similar to the following: Researchers are required to observe the following rules: 1. ADMITTANCE. Use of the Manuscript Reading Room is limited to readers age 16 and above who have a specific need for access to the collections of the Manuscript Division and associated materials. Readers shall refrain from disruptive behavior; personal conduct is subject to Library of Congress regulations (LCR 1812 S 6). Readers should be aware that surveillance cameras are recording all activity in the Manuscript Reading Room. 2. REGISTRATION. Readers must present a verified Library of Congress Reader Identification Card. First-time users must complete a registration card at the reference desk. 3. PERSONAL PROPERTY. No personal belongings, including briefcases, notebooks, books, folders, envelopes, or purses are allowed in the reading room. Outer garments, including hats, vests, sweaters with pockets, coats, suit coats, and sports jackets, are subject to search. Free lockers are provided to secure personal property. Locker keys must be returned at the end of the day.
4. ALL CONTAINERS MUST STAY ON CARTS. Only one container at a time may be opened and only one folder at a time may be withdrawn from a box. Placeholders are provided to mark where folders should be re-filed. The existing arrangement of manuscripts within each folder must be preserved. Report any serious disarrangement to the reference staff. 5. REPRODUCTIONS.
6. SURROGATE EDITIONS. To promote preservation of original manuscripts, readers are required to consult surrogate editions as available. 7. HELP SAVE THE NATIONAL COLLECTIONS. Exercise the greatest possible care in handling manuscripts. Do not make marks on manuscripts, do not write notes on top of manuscripts, do not rest books or other objects on top of manuscripts. Handle loose sheets or bound pages by their edges; avoid touching the surface as much as possible; do not remove manuscripts from protective housing. Reference staff can furnish gloves for handling photographs and other vulnerable items. 8. COPYRIGHT. The status of copyright in the unpublished writings in the custody of the Manuscript Division is governed by the Copyright Act (Title 17, USC). It is the obligation of the reader to fulfill the requirements of the Copyright Act. Since the Library of Congress ordinarily does not own the copyright in either published or unpublished manuscripts in its custody, it can neither grant nor deny permission to publish or quote in published form from manuscripts in its collections. 9. INSPECTION. All material that a reader wishes to remove from the reading room must be examined by the security officer or reading room staff. It is a violation of federal law punishable by fine and/or imprisonment to steal or willfully damage or destroy manuscripts, books or other Library property. See 18 USC 641; 18 USC 1361; 18 USC 2071; 22 DC Code 3306; and LCR 610 S 5, LCR 1812. 10. Researchers must follow all directions of the reference staff regarding the handling of manuscript material. I have read and agree to abide by the above rules and regulations of the Manuscript Division Reading Room. I understand that if I do not follow these rules, the Manuscript Division can deny me access to its facilities and collections. Revised April 12, 2016 COPYRIGHT INFORMATION AND PERMISSION TO QUOTEIt should be noted that the Library of Congress ordinarily does not own the copyright in either published or unpublished manuscripts in its custody. Therefore it can neither grant nor deny permission to publish or quote in published form from manuscripts in its collections. It should also be noted that neither titles nor facts can be copyrighted; therefore, permission is not required to cite a collection as a source or to use facts from it. In general, when copyright interests do subsist in unpublished manuscripts, these interests are the property of the author or of the author's heirs or assigns. Copyright ownership does not accompany physical ownership of a manuscript, although the owner of copyright interests may assign or sell such interests to the owner of the physical property. For more information about copyright, please refer to the U. S. Copyright Office Web page at <http://www.copyright.gov>. COLLECTIONS STORED OFF-SITEReaders interested in consulting any of the division's collections are advised to write or telephone the Manuscript Reading Room at (202) 707-5387 before visiting. Many processed and nearly all unprocessed collections are stored off site, and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.Processed collections stored offsite are listed below. Please contact the Manuscript Reading Room several business days before your visit to request containers from offsite collections to be delivered to the Manuscript Reading Room in advance of your arrival. When you arrive to consult containers delivered from offsite, reference staff will ask you to complete a paper call slip to have containers brought out to your table for use. Although the list of off-site collections is updated periodically, the storage location of collections can change without notice. You are urged to contact the Manuscript Reading Room in advance of your visit, even if the collection you wish to use does not appear on this list. Contact Us:
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