Special Collections: Policies

Access

The Special Collections Research Center is open to any interested researcher upon presentation of a valid CASE ID or other valid official identification card.

Special tours or presentations may be arranged by application to the Special Collections staff.

The Henry R. Hatch Reading Room

The Henry R. Hatch Reading Room, located in Special Collections on the second floor of Kelvin Smith Library is named in memory of Henry Reynolds Hatch, a prominent Cleveland businessman and philanthropist who was a generous supporter of both Western Reserve University and Adelbert College. Of note in this lovely setting is the Pazyryk Carpet, a reproduction of the earliest and most significant pile-weave carpet discovered in modern history.

Instructions for Use of the Henry R. Hatch Reading Room

• Registration information is requested of all visitors using Special Collections materials.
• If the text of the materials being requested from Special Collections is available in a more widely accessible repository or database, visitors may be asked to use that for all preliminary research.
• Requests for use of material in the Reading Room should be made in advance of a visit to Special Collections by contacting the Special Collections reference desk: (216) 368-0189 or kslspecialcollections@case.edu. On demand requests for service cannot always be accomodated. A limited number of materials may be kept on reserve for daily use by arrangement with the staff.
• The Henry R. Hatch Reading Room is a designated quiet study area of the Kelvin Smith Library. Patrons using Special Collections material will be given preference in seating.
• All briefcases, coats and packages must be stored away from patron work tables.  Readers may be required to submit large handbags for inspection upon leaving the department.
• Food and drink are prohibited in the Reading Room.
• Portable computing devices may be used in the Reading Room; CWRU wifi network available.

Instructions for Use of Special Collections Research Center Materials

• All Special Collections materials are non-circulating. The stacks are open only to the Special Collections staff.
• Extreme care must be taken by the reader in the use of Special Collections materials. Under no circumstances should the reader rearrange, alter or mark materials.
• Books must not be laid open face down or propped open with other volumes or objects. Foam supports and book weights will be provided upon request.
• Pencils only may be used in the Reading Room.
• Readers must not make tracings or rubbings of materials nor write on paper laid on them.
• Readers are asked to bring uncut leaves or any peculiarities or mutilations to the attention of the staff.
• Manuscripts must lie flat on the surface of the reading table and kept in the exact order in which they were received. Any apparent disarrangement should be reported to the Special Collections staff.
• Patrons may use only one manuscript box, or in some cases, one manuscript folder at any given time.
• Publication of manuscript materials requires permission of the Librarian, citation in a prescribed manner and compliance with present copyright laws. Citations should be written as follows: Special Collections Research Center, Kelvin Smith Library, Case Western Reserve University.
• Readers must, in person, return all materials to the staff.

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