Registration Procedures and Use of Library Materials

The staff of the Kenneth Spencer Research Library welcome students, scholars and the general public, and encourage use of the Library's collections and services.

Because the Spencer Research Library contains many rare or unique items, the collections may be used only in the Library. All items must be handled with care.

All who wish to use items in the reading room must have completed --on the first visit only-- a registration card (which requires presenting photo identification). Signing the registration card signifies agreement to abide by the Library's regulations.

Participants in seminars, classes or touring groups who do not also use the reading room are encouraged, but not required, to register.

All food, beverages, and tobacco must be left outside the Library.
All personal items (examples: coat, briefcase, purse, backpack, computer bag, camera) must be placed in a locker.
Any material necessary to research (folders, notebooks, laptop computers, etc.) that is taken into the Library's reading room or into a seminar room when items from the collection are present may be searched by staff as the individual departs the reception area.
Only Spencer Research Library-issued pencils (obtainable from the staff) or a laptop computer (four laptop computers are available in the reading room) may be used to take notes. No tracings, rubbings or marks may be made in or erased from any item.
All library materials must be handled with care, in accord with instructions given by staff.
The Library is a quiet area. Pagers and cell phones must be turned off. Conversation in the Library must not disturb others. For this reason, as well as to ensure safe handling of items, users of the reading room must sit one to a table.
Requests for copying must be reviewed by the staff. No personal copying equipment (e.g., scanners) may be used.