[Genealib] camera use policies

[Leslie Stapleton]

I'm interested in the responses you get as well.   This is definitely a hot
topic, and I'd like to see how others are handling it.

We have a total ban on cameras.  If patrons need a scan we do it for them,
which of course takes up staff time.

 

Thanks,

Leslie Stapleton

 

  _____  

From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Susan Scouras
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 3:31 PM
To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
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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