[Genealib] camera use policies

[Local History]

MessageHere is our policy on photography from a public library in a city of 30,000 in a historically significant building that attracts lots of architecture and art students with cameras in tow.  
http://www.forbeslibrary.org/policies/photography.shtml
Item 7 allows for staff discretion when researchers, genealogists, students or teachers want to photograph collections.  We have them sign a form regarding copyright and intended use.  

Julie H. Bartlett
Archivist
Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum 
Hampshire Room for Local History
Forbes Library 
20 West St. 
Northampton, MA  01060
(413) 587-1014
jbartlett at forbeslibrary.org
"In spite of all the other facilities books are the principal permanent repository of knowledge and culture."
>From the syndicated newspaper column "Calvin Coolidge Says"   April 30, 1931

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Susan Scouras 
  To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 4:31 PM
  Subject: [Genealib] camera use policies


  After dealing with several irate patrons recently, we are reviewing our camera use policy, which is actually a total ban.  I searched half a dozen major university library and historical society library sites and discovered that all but one of them allowed patrons to use cameras now.  All required patrons to sign a"personal usage only" statement with a copyright disclaimer, most had statements that patrons could not move furniture or stand on chairs (our chairs are all being re-upholstered as I write), several specified that staff had to examine each item in question and determine whether it could be photograhed, etc., etc.  I cringed at the thought of having to burden our small staff with that much more "stuff" to do.  While an outright ban makes our lives easier, digital cameras and small scanners are not going to go away, and patrons will want to use them, not only to save copy costs, but to obtain better images.  (Many are taking the photocopies home and scanning them into their computer files anyway.)  I liked the Houghton Library (Harvard) policy of requiring a library "flag" to be included in each camera shot.

  I am interested in hearing comments and/or receiving copies of camera use policies from libraries with true archival collections that have primary resource materials, including hand drawn maps, manuscripts, etc.  Unless an interest is expressed from the list, please reply directly to me at susan.scouras at wvculture.org.  

  Thanks,

  Susan Scouras
  Librarian
  WV Archives and History Library
  The Cultural Center
  1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
  Charleston, WV  25305-0300
  (304) 558-0230, Ext. 742




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