Library Policies

What to expect when you visit the Research Library

Checking in:
1.At the front desk, you will be asked to sign in and pay your admission fee. First time visitors will also be asked to complete a research application form.

2. Food, beverages and pets are not allowed in the library.

3. Briefcases, backpacks, bags, books, cameras and laptop cases and all personal belongings must be placed in the lockers provided. Patrons are allowed to take only pencil and paper to study tables.

4. Laptops may be used, but they need to be removed from their bag. Cameras and scanners are not permitted. Mobile phones and pager must be turned off and left in lockers.

5. Please make the staff aware of any reference material you are bringing into the Library.

Patrons will maintain reasonable quiet to avoid distraction of others.

Research – A member of our staff will be available to guide you through our research materials and provide whatever information you may need.  When asking for material, researchers may request up to three items of material at a time.

Collections Care:
Researchers are asked to respect the fragile nature of the research material and to handle it with care.  Do not use post-it notes, fold pages, or mark or erase materials in any way.  When taking notes, only pencil is allowed.

The exact order and arrangement of materials must be maintained.  When working, please note the order of materials in the box and in the folder, and maintain that order.

Care must be exercised not to exert pressure on material used, such as by resting an arm on a document, page, map, print, newspaper or photograph, or by taking notes on top of the archival material

Cotton gloves will be provided and must be worn when handling certain photographic materials, such as negatives, slides, or transparencies.  At all times, please avoid touching the surface of the photographic image

PHOTOCOPYING: Permission of the archivist is required for making copies. Requests for photocopying of materials will only be permitted when such duplication can be done without damage to the materials. Some materials may be copied only by staff.
There is a charge of 35 cents per copy for documents and a charge of 1.00 per page of photographic materials.

Internet Service: Internet Service is not available in the Research Library at this time, only access to the SDHS website.

Above image:
Lindbergh with Spirit of St. Louis, 1927 #14942