Sender: Rare Books and Special Collections Forum <EXLIBRIS@RUTVM1.BITNET>
Our policy for Special Collections at Emory University is basically the
same as NYPL's. We regard the photocopies as the personal property of
the researcher, and require researchers to sign a permission form as
described by Mr. Shepard. A policy requiring researchers to return the
photocopies, relying as it does on the honor system, is unenforceable.
If a researcher is wants to break your rule, all he need do is find the
nearest photocopy machine.
I'm curious about what you DO with all those returned photocopies--I
suppose they might be useful as use copies (if they constitute long runs
of materials from a collection). If so, do you integrate them with the
existing ms. collections, maintain them in separate files? Could
constitute a real space problem over time, I would think. I also
wonder how you justify charging researchers for photocopies which must be
returned--do you call it a 'use fee'? And how about the administrative end
of all this--do you keep track of who's returned copies, and who hasn't
or just rely on the honor system?
Beverly Allen <libbdb@EMUVM1>
Special Collections
Emory University