[Genealib] Alternatives to personal camera use

[Susan Scouras]

Thank you to those of you have expressed interest in having a discussion
on the list.  I still need to hear from those of you who are already
dealing with creation and implementation of a personal camera use policy
involving photographing pages of books and documents. Some of my
specific concerns:

*	Are certain staff members designated as decision-makers on
whether something can be copied?
*	If all decisions are made on a case by case basis, what
guidelines are used in decision-making?
*	Have you found that a staff member needs to physically oversee
the patron while the camera is in use?
*	Do you allow personal scanner use as well as personal camera
use?
*	Have you set up a defined space as a camera use area? If so, do
you provide a book cradle or other aid, such as something weighted to
hold pages flat?
*	For those of you who have allowed patron camera use for a year
or so, how has it worked out for you?

I also want to make clear that we offer full services (for fees) to
those who want copies, including digital copies sent by e-mail or stored
on a disc (obtained from us only, not patron supplied).  We have an
in-house archival photographer who can expertly make copies of
photographs, maps, etc., by either standard photography, digital
photography or scanner.  We do not think our charges are high by
national or regional comparison, and we charge lower fees for personal
use copies and copies for educational projects and publications than we
do for professional use and/or publication.  We have a physical
limitation on the size of items that can be scanned or photographed in
house, and use a very reliable local firm to make our oversize
photographic and scanned copies.  Fees and copy policies are posted on
our Web site:  http://www.wvculture.org/history/rr.html.  
 
As a state agency, all of our fees and policies are subject to
administrative review and are entered as Procedural Rules following a
public posting and public comment period.  The last time we updated fees
and policies, we put a notice of the proposed new rules and the public
comment period on our home page and I publicized it in our monthly
newsletter in addition to the usual state government legal notices that
are posted. Because we have to follow these procedures, if we are going
to change our policy I only want to do it once, and do it the best way
possible.  Help!!
 
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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