To safeguard unique and valuable archival and manuscript material, researchers are requested to observe the following rules:

HOURS: The department is open to the Vassar community and all other qualified persons. The reading room is open, by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 10:00-12:00 noon and 1:00-5:00 pm except for campus holidays.

MATERIALS: Users are to bring into the reading room only those materials needed for research. Coats, books, briefcases, and other personal items should be placed in the closet provided.

REGISTRATION: Readers are required to register with the reading room attendant upon their first visit to the reading room, and to sign in at each visit. Readers are to fill out all their call slips for requested material.

SMOKING, EATING, AND DRINKING: are not permitted in under any circumstances.

EQUIPMENT: Portable computers, typewriters, and photographic, video and audio equipment may be used with permission of the staff. Users are responsible for the security of equipment and materials they bring to the reading room.

HANDLING OF MATERIALS: All materials must be handled with care. Do not: mark material or erase existing marks; use fountain pens, felt-tipped pen, or similar writing instruments; fold, tear or cut documents; make tracings or rubbings; rest books or other objects on the surface of items; touch the surface of loose sheets or book pages if they can be handled by their edges; apply paper clips, fasteners, tape, "Post it" notes or rubber bands. All materials must be returned to the reading room attendant when the reader leaves the reading room. Material may be reserved fro one week.

MAINTAINING ORIGINAL ORDER: To safeguard the integrity of documents, the original order must be maintained. Please request only one record series/collection at a time and use no more than two boxes at a time. Use one folder from a box at a time. If there is any doubt as to order please notify the room attendant.

CIRCULATION: Ordinarily no materials circulate.

REPRODUCTION: Material may be photocopied in accordance with the limits of the copyright act and department policies. The department may set restrictions to protect fragile or damaged materials.

RESTRICTED MATERIALS: The use of certain documents may be restricted by statute or the office of origin/donor. The researcher must assume full responsibility for fulfilling the terms connected with the use of restricted material. For the protection of its holdings, the department also reserves the right to restrict the use of materials which are not arranged or are in the process of being arranged, materials of exceptional value and fragile materials.

PUBLICATION: Department permission must be obtained before any unpublished documents can be published. In giving permission to copy, quote from, or publish, the department does not surrender its own right to publish such material or to grant permission to others to do so. The researcher assumes full responsibility for use of material and for conformity to the laws of defamation, privacy, and copyright, and shall indemnify and hold harmless Vassar College and Archives and Special Collections from claims arising as a result of use of the material so obtained. If the donors have retained literary rights, the researcher must obtain their permission before publication.

CITATION: If permission to publish is granted, location of the material must be indicated in the work. Examples of footnote citations are available.

REFERENCE SERVICES: Our staff can provide reference assistance via email or by phone regarding the contents of and access to our collections as well as brief answers to factual questions; however, we do not have the resources to do extensive research for our patrons. If a question requires more than an hour of staff time, we may suggest arranging for an on-site appointment at Archives and Special Collections.