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Rules for Use of Center Materials

  1. To obtain materials the researcher must complete a registration form. Positive identification, usually in the form of an ID card from your institution or a driver’s license, is required of all prospective researchers.
  2. Shelves and coat racks outside the reading room are to be used for the storage of personal belongings (e.g. briefcases, coats, notebooks) and must be emptied each day. Only materials needed for research (paper, pencil, notecards, laptop & tablet computers) may be brought into the Reading Room, and such materials may not be removed until they have been inspected.
  3. No food, smoking materials, beverages, or oral tobacco products are permitted while using Center materials.
  4. All materials are to be used only in the Reading Room of the Center. Books and journals are self-service. Other materials require staff assistance for use.
  5. Listening facilities are provided for those doing research of a specific nature and may not be used for purely personal study or appreciation. All Recordings/tracks may be heard a maximum of two times, and repeated starts and stops are not permitted. Access to 78 rpm discs requires special arrangements which must be made in advance; please consult staff for instructions.
  6. Materials are not to be marked, rearranged, or handled in any way likely to cause damage. Only one box or folder of loose papers may be opened at a time to avoid mixing. Extreme care should be exercised when handling fragile items.
  7. Materials should be returned to the reference desk when use is completed or at the end of the day. Do not reshelve materials.
  8. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure permission to publish copyrighted material obtained from the Center.
  9. In citing original materials held by the Center, please cite the full name of the collection and of the Center. Example: 
    From the Kenneth S. Goldstein Collection of American Song Broadsides, Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University.
  10. Copying of recordings is not permitted and recorders may not be taken into the listening area. "Ripping" of CDs is strictly prohibited. The Center will make copies of recordings for a fee, providing such a request complies with the “fair use” provisions of the U.S. Copyright statute.
  11. The Center is willing to photocopy selected materials from the collections but cannot copy entire collections, books, or journals or large portions thereof. Copies are provided solely for researchers’ personal research needs and may not be given to another individual or placed in another archive, library, or other repository. The Center reserves the right to refuse a copying request which would in our opinion violate copyright law or restrictions placed on materials by donors or which might cause damage to fragile items. Researchers desiring photoduplication services should consult Reading Room staff to complete necessary forms and receive instructions on marking material to be copied. Do not remove materials from folders or mark items for copying except as instructed by staff.
  12. Persons refusing to comply with Center rules, presenting a danger to the collections, or disturbing other researchers may have their permission to use the Center revoked.