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Conducting research
with primary materials in an archive is quite different from everyday
library habits such as checking out books and using electronic resources.
Rules governing the use of primary materials are often more complex,
and access varies from archive to archive.
To make the
most of your visit to an archive, try the following strategies:
Browse the
website: Most archives have websites with very useful information
-- what types of collections are available as well as online finding
aids, steps to take and forms to complete in order to conduct research,
hours, directions, and contact information for archivists who can
assist you.
Contact the
archive: It is a good idea to write or call an archive prior
to a planned visit. Archival staff may be able to give you more
help if they know about your visit and your research interests in
advance. You can also find out if there are any requirements you
have to fulfill before you can use the holdings of the archive.
Search the
archival collections: Special collections make their holdings
available in various ways.
- Some participate
in national databases that include the holdings of multiple institutions.
- At some universities
and research institutions, archival holdings may be available
through the online library catalog.
- Some archives
include a search engine for their collections on their website.
- Still others
rely on in-house finding aids.
Learn the
rules: Because special collections house unique and priceless
materials, access to them is often more restricted than in the average
library. Some typical policies are:
- Resources
are generally not housed on open shelves. Instead of helping yourself,
you must request to use them, sometimes prior to your visit.
- In the reading
room you may be allowed to bring in only paper and pencil or a
laptop computer. The archive will often provide storage facilities
for the rest of your belongings.
- Archives
may regulate if and how you may publish or reproduce materials
from their collections, so it is important to inquire about publication
rights and copyright.
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