There are a variety of services that Special Collections offers to students, faculty, and other researchers. Our reproductions services are some of the most commonly used, but we also handle a variety of research questions. You might also want to check out the Rules for Readers.
View the Collection Development Policy
Reproduction Services
The United States copyright law, Title 17, U.S. Code, governs the making of reproductions, including photocopying, of copyrighted material. Special Collections reserves the right to refuse a copying order if, in its judgment, it would involve violation of copyright law.
All reproductions of Special Collections materials are for reference purposes only. Permission to publish material must be sought in writing from Special Collections as the physical owner of the material. However, permission to publish does not constitute a copyright clearance. Copyright clearance must be obtained from the copyright holder(s) by the researcher. Special Collections can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we retain copyright. Special Collections is not responsible for the misuse of copyrighted material.
Special Collections reserves the right to charge a handling fee of 25% of the total cost for any copying orders, especially for those orders that are large, complicated, or “rushed.”
Photocopying
Special Collections staff photocopies material for all researchers. Book pages are counted to assess the maximum number of pages, not number of copies. There is no self-service photocopying in the department. We reserve the right to refuse to photocopy large, fragile, and/or brittle material and any material sensitive to light such as photographs. Further restrictions may apply to archival material.
Special Collections staff does the photocopying as time permits. You may be asked to wait for photocopies depending on the length of the request queue, staff availability, or the size of the photocopying order. In some cases, copies may be mailed.
Fees:
On-site researchers: 25 cents per sheet
Photocopies by U.S. mail: 35 cents per sheet ($3.00 minimum)
Prepayment is required on all orders over $20.00. Cost estimates provided on request.
Limits on photocopying:
10% of a book, pamphlet, newspaper, brochure
10% of a folder of papers
Photographic duplication
Special Collections does not have an on-site photographic facility. Instead, we can provide researchers who order photographs a list of local photographers who may assist them. A researcher must gain permission from Special Collections staff to use a personal camera in the Reading Room. Special Collections reserves the right to charge a handling fee, beyond photo-duplication costs, for any orders. All orders are subject to the approval of Special Collections staff.
Scanning
We scan images from our collections for research purposes on a case-by-case basis. All orders are subject to approval by Special Collections staff. Advanced notice is required for all scanning orders. Special Collections reserves the right to refuse any request for scanning from our collections.
Scanning Fees:
$5.00 per image for small orders
$40.00 per hour for large orders
Shipping & Handling:
$5.00 domestic U. S.
$20.00 overseas
Specifications:
Specifications may be arranged with the Digital Projects Coordinator (mike.emery@libraries.claremont.edu).
Citing Special Collections Material
Proper credit must be given when Special Collections material is acknowledged, quoted, paraphrased, or reproduced in your research, published or unpublished. When citing Special Collections material in your research paper, please acknowledge the source.
Commercial Use Fees
Individuals interested in obtaining scans of images from our collections for publication must seek permission in writing. We assess use fees for non-exclusive, one time publication of images from our collections. Special Collections reserves the right to judge whether ‘use’ is commercial or not. Alteration of original scans is prohibited.
Use Fee
For-profit, commercial use: $100.00 per image
Non-profit use: $20.00 per image
Claremont Colleges’ use: fee waived
Reference, Instruction, and Research
Reference assistance is available in the Reading Room of Special Collections when we are open. We also provide reference assistance by e-mail, telephone, and letter (view contact information). While priority for reference assistance is given to students, staff, and faculty of The Claremont Colleges, visiting scholars are welcome. Unfortunately, we can not accommodate impromptu tours of the collections, but we are happy to make arrangements for visits to Special Collections with prior notification.
We encourage the faculty to bring their classes to Special Collections to introduce them to primary resources and research. Students in theatre design, California history, linguistics, education, and music, to name a few, have used our collections as the basis of their coursework in the recent past. Contact us for assistance with identifying collections that are appropriate to your course and to schedule an instruction session for your students in Special Collections.
If you are a visiting scholar, to help us anticipate your research needs, we require at least a week’s notice of your arrival in Claremont. We appreciate written notice, but e-mail or a telephone call will suffice. Notifying of us of your anticipated arrival will facilitate our having collections ready for your use. Unfortunately, we can not conduct research for scholars who are unable to travel to Claremont in person to use the collections. We will do our best to answer specific queries, but complex research, taking more than an hour of a staff member’s time, can not be conducted by our staff. With sufficient notice, we may be able to provide you with the name of a local, freelance researcher to assist you for a fee.