Studying Rare and Archives Collection Materials at the Ingalls Library and Archives
Materials from the Rare Book Collection or the Museum Archives are studied in the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) Reading Room, under staff supervision.
Readers wishing to study materials from the Archives or Rare Book Collection are encouraged to make an appointment in advance.
General Guidelines for Using the ASC Reading Room
- Items Allowed in the Reading Room
- Pencil and paper for note taking
- Personal laptop and tablet computer for note taking
- Other reference books, if necessary for studying the material(s)
2. Items Not Allowed in the Reading Room
- Any writing implement other than pencil
- Self-adhesive notes, flags, and page markers
- Bags, briefcases, and laptop bags
- Food or beverages, including mints, gum, and cough drops
- Coats, hats, scarves, and other loose articles of clothing
3. Studying Items in the Reading Room
- Visitors are expected to complete the Patron Registration Form and the Policies and Terms of Use Agreement, and to abide by the stated policies with respect for the rights of others and with respect for the collections.
- Before studying the item(s) from the Rare or Archives Collections, the reader should:
- Request material in advance when possible.
- Check any items not allowed in the ASC at the coat check in the North Lobby.
- Wash their hands. Gloves may be required with certain materials.
- ASC staff will review safe handling practices with the reader.
- If the reader needs to leave the ASC Reading Room while still studying the item(s), they must notify ASC staff.
- When finished, the reader must notify ASC staff.
- Flash photography is not permitted.
- The use of tripods is not permitted.
- Photography must cease if the process is putting the object at risk.
- Readers must adhere to all copyright obligations. Images may not be published in print or online.
Specific Guidelines for Studying Items from the Archives Collection
- Readers interested in viewing archival materials should contact the archives in advance to make an appointment.
- Archives staff retrieve materials from closed stacks as needed and available using archives call slips filled out by either the patron or archives staff. Call slips are a permanent, confidential record of the use of archival collections.
- Researchers may use one box of records or one folder of oversized material at a time. Return material to the supervising staff member before requesting another box or folder.
- Materials MUST be kept in the order in which they are found within each box and folder.
- Reproduction and/or photography of archival material is at the discretion of the archivist.
- All copies will be made by staff. Do not remove items to be copied. Instructions for flagging items to be copied will be provided. Consult archives staff about scanning options.
- Citations should acknowledge the Cleveland Museum of Art Archives and note the collection name, box number, folder title, and date.