Reading Room Policies

Patrons may take reference photographs of collection materials for study purposes only. Photography is permitted based on the physical condition of materials, donor restrictions, U.S. copyright law, and reading room rules. Architectural plans may not be photographed.

Materials Handling guidelines
• Handle the materials with care. Keep materials flat on the table or supported by a book cradle. Page weights and book supports are available upon request.
• Turn off flash and sound on cameras. Tripods and scanners are not permitted.
• Ask staff for assistance with fastened items or plastic sleeves.
• Researchers may not disturb other patrons, place themselves or others in jeopardy, or take extraordinary measures (i.e., standing on furniture) while photographing.

Photograph Use
• Researchers may use photographs for personal use and research only.
• Additional permission is required for publication.
• Photographs may not be donated, sold, or provided to another repository or individual.

History Colorado reserves the right to deny permission to photograph collection materials based on item conditions, donor restrictions, or copyright considerations.

History Colorado's copy and scanning service policy is in place to preserve our collections for future researchers.

• All copies and scans are made by staff trained to handle fragile materials
• We reserve the right to refuse to copy or scan materials that may be damaged in the process
• Copies and PDF scans are intended for research only

Copying Eligibility

History Colorado Collections staff will determine whether materials may be copied based on the physical state of the item and potential damage that copying may cause. Guidelines for copying eligibility include the following:

• General condition: If the material is fragile, delicate, or at risk of being damaged during copying, staff will not make copies.
• Number of pages: History Colorado maintains a limit of the lesser of 20% or 50 pages from a book or collection. In order to protect our collections and their copyright holders, additional pages from the same book or collection may not be requested for copying or scanning at a later date.
• Size: Equipment limit is 11"x17"
• Tight bindings: The researcher will be notified if bindings are so tight that text on the inner margins will be lost during copying. We are not able to unbind or force open tight bindings.
• Scrapbooks: Heat from the copying process can loosen glued items. To preserve our scrapbooks, we are unable to make copies from these materials.

What to expect:

Staff will label copies with identifying information and will alert researchers to copyright or collections use issues that may apply. Copying is governed by copyright law and collections use policies which limit copying to the lesser of 20% or 50 pages per item or collection.

Copy or scanning requests are usually completed within 7-10 business days. Orders can be delivered via email, US Mail, or pickup at the Library during open hours.

Original materials will not be copied if the items or collections are available in microfilm or scanned format.

All copies and scans are intended for personal and research use only. Copies and scans may not be published, sold, or provided to another repository or individual without written permission from History Colorado.

If we cannot copy materials, we are pleased to offer alternative means of reproduction if copying is not possible:

• Researchers may photograph materials in the reading room according to the terms of our Camera Use Policy above.
• Staff may be able to photograph materials for patrons who are unable to visit the research center in person, or if we are unable to copy materials safely.

If you have any questions about our copying and scanning policy, please contact us at cosearch@state.co.us.

Collections Use Conditions

Information about the History Colorado collection is available from the research center. Visitors may take photographs of History Colorado properties and collections for research use only, not to be published in any public forum. Images for any publication or public display must be obtained from History Colorado staff and require written permission. Photographic images of or from History Colorado properties and collections are available, unless restricted, for a fee based on the size and format of the image and its intended use. Obtaining images of the collection, exhibits, or properties requires compliance with the History Colorado collections use conditions as described here and in the Collections Use Agreement completed at time of purchase.

1. The user assumes responsibility for questions of copyright that may arise. History Colorado does not claim copyright for all collection materials.
2. History Colorado departmental policies determine access to and photography of its artifacts, exhibits, and properties.
3. History Colorado reserves the right to restrict use or reproduction of rare or valuable material; to ensure that reproductions are of high quality and in good taste; and that the use is consistent with the mission of History Colorado and donor stipulations.
4. Images may be used only as described in the Collections Use Agreement. Permission is granted when the Collections Use Agreement is signed and dated by both parties, all fees are paid, and all conditions have been met.
5. Rights for single, one-time use are granted unless otherwise stated on the Collections Use Agreement, and further use of any kind requires written permission and may require additional fees. Rights are not transferable without written permission.
6. Published or publicly displayed images must be credited as described in the Collections Use Agreement. Credit must accompany the image in a caption or display label, or on a credit page or screen, to read: "Collection Name, Collection # (Scan #), History Colorado." A signed a fully paid Collections Use Agreement must be completed for permission to use images to be final.
7. Images to be displayed on the internet must be obtained directly from History Colorado, and will be at a resolution of 100 dpi. In some cases, permission may be granted to resize a previously purchased high resolution file to 100 dpi for online display. The image credit must appear on the page or screen on which the image appears.
8. Requests for image adjustment such as cropping, detail shots, or cleanup of historical images must be made in writing. Photo studio staff are available to discuss the final product and provide an estimate of cost.
9. History Colorado requests a complimentary copy of any non-serial publication using collection materials. After receipt of complimentary copies, curatorial staff determine which items fall within the scope of History Colorado's Collection Plan and will be added to the collection.
10. In addition to reproduction fees, additional fees may be charged for use, dependent upon type of use intended. Use fees may be waived for Colorado non-profit organizations, university presses engaging in non-commercial publications, or for the use of photographs by Colorado news media.
11. Images may not be resold, re-used, transferred, or donated to another individual or repository without written permission from History Colorado.

If you have any questions about our image use policies, please contact us at cosearch@state.co.us.

Moving Image Use Policy

Collection Management Policy

Appraisals

Research Services

If you are unable to visit the Research Center in person, we offer research service for the History Colorado collection including manuscripts, film, artifacts, photography, etc. Requests requiring under 15 minutes of staff time are complimentary; additional research time will fall under the fee structure below. Staff will notify you if additional research time will be needed and request payment according to the fee structure below prior to continuing research. Due to limited resources, we may not be able to fulfill all research requests. Payment for research service does not guarantee that the information will be found.