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Purpose
of the Department
The
Rare Books and Manuscripts Department at the Boston
Public Library serves a dual purpose: first, to
provide scholars with primary sources for research;
second, to give particular care and handling to
books and manuscripts which - because of age,
scarcity, aesthetic or financial worth, or
association with notable persons or happenings -
merit special attention.
Use
of the Department
In
general, the Rare Books Department is open to any
mature and responsible person whose research
justifies the use of unusual, fragile, and
irreplaceable materials. Every request is judged on
its own merits. Students undertaking exercises in
the techniques of research should not expect to use
rare book materials. Visitors of all ages are
welcome to view our exhibits and to discover our
treasures. An appointment is advisable for all
users and visitors in that it enables us to prepare
material for viewing. Special viewings, class
visits and "treasure tours" can be
arranged.
Reading
privileges are granted subject to the following
rules:
- Readers
are required to fill out a Department
registration
form
before entering the Reading Room. All users must
have a Boston Public Library card or a courtesy
card and a valid picture ID. Additional
identification may be required, such as a
driver's license, university or business
identification card, a letter of introduction
from a university or a research library,
etc.
- The
fragile condition and irreplaceable nature of
many books and manuscripts in the Department may
make it necessary for the Library to limit
access, in many instances, to scholars who will
be sharing their research with the general
public through subsequent
publication.
- Readers
are required to check all personal property.
Only loose paper and pencil(s) are permitted in
the Reading Room. Laptops are also
permitted.
- A
call slip must be filled out for each item to be
consulted. In general, a reader will only be
given one item at a time.
- Here, as with
rare book collections elsewhere, readers are asked to handle materials
with care. Pencils only are permitted for note taking. In particular,
readers must not use ink or pens of any kind (fountain, ball point,
felt tip etc.), place harmful markers in books; lay books face
down, or use them as writing or resting surfaces. Unnecessary
handling, especially of manuscripts, should be avoided.
- Food
or drinks are not allowed in the
library.
Hours
The
department is open Monday through Friday from 9:15
a.m. until 4:45 p.m. and is closed on Saturday, Sunday
and all federal, state and local
holidays.
Location
The
Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts is located
in the third floor of the Research Library. The
entrance door opens to the Koussevitzky Room, named
in memory of the conductor of the Boston
Symphony Orchestra
from 1924 to 1949, and frequent exhibit site for
his memorabilia.
To
the left in the Koussevitzky Room is the Piston
Room, established in honor of American composer
Walter Piston and containing his library and
desk.
At
the rear of the Koussevitzky Room stand two rooms,
one in which the Dwiggins marionettes are
exhibited, and the other housing Dwiggin's stage
and other theatrical instruments.
To
the left is the exhibit room, surrounded by wall
cases, and providing access to the Dwiggins' studio
on the right.The exhibit room serves as display
center for various treasures in the collection.
Here, also, is the readers's registration
desk.
In
the reading room beyond, a quiet area ideal for
research, are the catalogs. A librarian is always
in attendance in the reading room to provide
assistance.
Statement
of Photo Reproduction Policy
The
Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts will
provide photoreproductions of its material when the
character and condition of the items themselves and
the purposes for which they are to be used justify
the processes involved. The Department itself
retains the master negatives from which positive
prints are made.
Reproductions
will not be supplied, except in the most
exceptional cases, when the text requested is
already available on microfilm or in other
forms.
The
Department reserves the right not to reproduce less
than a complete work or bibliographic unit, nor
will it reproduce materials en bloc for
inclusion in institutions or libraries.
A
service fee (normally $10.00 for an individual
item) will be charged for the services of
reproduction, in addition to the cost of the
reproduction itself.
The
Library acts only as an agent in forwarding
materials to commercial firms which execute the
work. The Department will convey special
instructions, but cannot be responsible for their
implementation.
Special
arrangements are required and appropriate fees
charged for further reproduction, publication, or
commercial use of the Library's
materials.
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