Researchers making a first visit to the library at the Massachusetts Historical Society must fill out a registration form and present a current form of photographic identification. A member of the reading room staff will explain library policies and introduce the reader to the library catalogs. The library stacks are closed to readers; except for reference works, library users must fill out call slips for all items. Research materials do not circulate and can be used only in the reading room under the supervision of library staff. Reference staff members will be available throughout the day to answer questions and assist readers with library research.

The Society seeks to make its holdings accessible to researchers while at the same time taking care to preserve fragile documents and books. Accordingly, readers must observe reading room guidelines for handling research materials. Whenever a collection is available in microcopy or other facsimile, readers must use copies instead of the originals. The Society has microfilmed many manuscript collections.
What to Bring

Readers may bring only personal computers or digital cameras into the reading room. The reading room staff will provide you with pencils and colored note paper. We do not allow pens, notebooks, and folders, as well as backpacks, briefcases, bags, and outer clothing of any kind in the reading room. Free lockers are available to store personal property. The library staff must approve any additional material or equipment in advance of bringing it into the reading room.

We permit digital photography in the MHS reading room with the approval of the Reference Librarian. Advanced notice is required to photograph materials requiring special handling or lighting, and permission to do so will be granted at the discretion of the Librarian. For more information, please contact the Reference Librarian library@masshist.org, (617)646-0509.

The MHS offers free wireless internet access in the public areas of the its building, including the reading room. You will need a laptop or PDA supporting "WPA" encryption (most newer WiFi cards support this standard). The password for WiFi access changes periodically. Please see a Librarian for more information and access instructions, including the current password. Please note we do not lend WiFi cards to readers. We also can provide wired jacks on an as-needed basis.

The Massachusetts Historical Society is able to offer researchers a variety of options for obtaining reproductions of many of our holdings, including photocopy service, low resolution digital files (PDF), and high resolution digital files (TIFF). The MHS will reproduce research materials from our collections with some restrictions. The staff will not make copies of materials in violation of copyright, or of items that are too fragile to be reproduced. We do not photocopy materials that are available in another format (facsimiles or microforms).

Researchers may not photocopy or scan materials themselves. Researchers visiting the library may create non-flash photographs of materials in our manuscript reading room (see Using the Library) and may also create digital files of collections available on microfilm as equipment is available.

Statement on Copyright
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

Placing Reproduction Requests
Researchers visiting the library must fill out a reproduction request form, available in the reading room, listing all items they wish to have copied. It can take up to two weeks for the library staff to process each request. If the staff is unable to complete a photocopy order during your research visit, copies will be held for pick-up or mailed per researcher preference.

Researchers who cannot visit the library can place requests via email, telephone, fax, or post. All requests should be directed to the attention of the Reference Librarian at:

Email: library@masshist.org
Phone: 617-646-0532
Fax: 617-859-0074
Massachusetts Historical Society
1154 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215
Attn: Reference Librarian

All requests placed via email, telephone, fax, or post should indicate the collection title, call number, and the particular items to be reproduced, indicated by dates or page numbers. Library staff will review the request and will photocopy materials as time permits, typically in within four weeks of confirming the request. Researchers are required to sign a copy of the reproduction form (which we send via email after the request has been placed) and must return it to the library staff (via email, fax, or post) before reproductions are made.

Photocopy Service
The MHS will photocopy or create low resolution scans of most material that can safely lie flat on our photocopier and is less than 11 inches x 17 inches in size. Larger items, material contained in volumes, and other fragile items are assessed on a case by case basis at the time of the request.

The MHS will create digital low-resolution files of material available on microfilm which is not protected by copyright. In our online catalog the call number pre-fix 'P' (ex. P-525) indicates that a collection is available on microfilm.

The cost of all reproductions, both photocopies and low-resolution digital files, is $0.50 per page/image. Additional shipping costs will be assessed for mailed materials. There is a minimum charge of $10.00 for all reproduction requests placed by email, post, or telephone. Low resolution image requests that require more than 20 images created from our microfilm collections cannot be emailed through our mail servers. These images will be burned onto CD and sent via post. An additional $5.00 shipping and supply fee will be assessed for all such requests.

Large orders (more than 75 pages) or orders that require additional staff preparation must be approved by the head of reader services or reference librarian before processing and will incur an additional processing fee of $15.00 per hour. Estimates for additional fees will be arranged in advance.

High Resolution Digital Files (TIFF)
This service is best for researchers seeking publication or exhibition quality images. In most cases when creating high resolution images of manuscript items the MHS produces 600 dpi uncompressed TIFF files on CD. Small three-dimensional items (including books and items contained in manuscript volumes that cannot be placed on a flatbed scanner) are imaged using our digital camera. These images are generally RGB TIFF files with pixel dimensions of about 3900 x 2600 pixels.

The cost for high resolution reproductions varies from $40.00 per image for scans created from digital masters to $50.00 per image for scans that must be produced from the original item or an existing negative or transparency. Additional licensing fees may apply.

For more information about obtaining and publishing high resolution digital images please visit our Rights and Reproductions page.

Payment
The MHS accepts cash (from in-person researchers only), personal checks, money orders, and most major credit cards. Researchers who pick up photocopies at the library pay for photocopies at the time of pick-up. Researchers who receive photocopies via post, digital files via email, or low-resolution images on CD via post will receive an invoice with their reproductions and can remit payment upon receipt of the invoice. The MHS requires pre-payment for all reproduction requests that exceed $100.00.

The MHS has filmed all or portions of over 300 manuscript collections. There is a list of some of the collections available on microfilm.

UMI sells copies of 66 microfilm editions of MHS manuscript and research collections. To order copies of these microfilms, contact UMI directly at http://www.umi.com/hp/Support/Research/Files/107.html or (800) 521-3042. Please note that UMI does not sell individual reels of microfilm sets.

To inquire about ordering MHS microfilms not sold by UMI, contact the library at library@masshist.org.

The MHS holds duplicate positive copies of more than 100 collections filmed by the Society. When available, the MHS will loan entire small film sets or portions of large film sets for 30-day periods. All interlibrary loan requests should be directed to the senior cataloger, Mary Fabiszewski, at mfab@masshist.org.