Special Collections & Archives

General Rules Governing Use of Materials in Special Collections

The books, photographs and manuscripts in Special Collections are available for research use and are subject to the following rules:

Material from these collections does not circulate and must be used in the Reading Room under supervision, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Researchers must sign the register and present valid photo identification.
• Researchers are permitted to use one book or manuscript collection at a time. Exceptions may be made by the person on duty if appropriate. Examples include researchers using multivolume sets or working on textual comparisons.
• All inquiries concerning photocopying must be referred to a librarian.
• Special Collections material must be handled with great care. Use pencil only. Do not make any marks on the materials, and do not open uncut pages.
• Keep Special Collections materials on reading room table surfaces at all times unless the desk attendant provides special supports for the materials.
• No books, papers, or other objects may be laid on Special Collections materials.
• When using manuscript material, do not disturb the arrangement of papers or folders.
• When you have finished using material, please return it to the desk and wait until it has been checked in.
• Material may be placed on hold if you plan to use it repeatedly within the week. Please inform the librarian if you will use the material again during the following week.

• Applications to reproduce Special Collections materials must be submitted for approval by the Special Collections librarian.
• All requests for photography must be approved by a Special Collections librarian.
• Approved photography is allowed by appointment only. Please call (606) 783-5122 to make an appointment.
• Permission to reproduce or photograph materials does not imply permission to publish them.

The manuscript collections of Morehead State University are available for research use by students, faculty, and visiting scholars. All manuscript users must complete a registration application form, provide valid photo identification, such as an institutional ID or driver's license, and sign the register. Special permission may be required for access to restricted collections. All material must be used in the Special Collections reading room in accordance with the general Special Collections regulations. Morehead State University reserves the right to limit the amount of material issued to a researcher at any one time.

Researchers can locate manuscripts through a variety of finding aids, including manuscript accession sheets, separate indexes, calendars, and inventories for individual collections. Selected collections have also been cataloged in the Morehead State University online catalog. Researchers should consult a Special Collections librarian for assistance in locating manuscripts.

Morehead State University will permit a reasonable amount of photocopying from its manuscript holdings but reserves the right to restrict copying from any of its collections and to deny requests for copies. Photocopies are for reference use only and may not be transferred to another person or institution without specific permission from the Morehead State University Special Collections and Archives. A librarian must approve all photocopy requests, which may be submitted using an application to reproduce Special Collections materials.

Permission to consult or reproduce manuscripts does not constitute authorization to publish them. Permission to publish manuscript materials in the Morehead State University Special Collections and Archives must be obtained in writing from a Special Collections librarian. The application letter should specify the materials to be reproduced and the publication in which they will be used. Permission is granted insofar as the University owns the property rights and does not include literary rights, which must be obtained by the researcher or publisher from the author or the author's heirs, estate, or literary executor.

Other Rules May Apply