Other Considerations

• Copyright
• Restrictions on User Access to Gift Materials
• Care of Materials

Copyright

Copyright belongs to the creator, or his or her heirs, of writings or other original material (such as photographs or music) within a collection, but may be legally transferred. Although maintaining copyright permits individuals to maintain control over and/or receive commercial benefits from a work, the RBMSCL encourages donors to consider transferring copyright for donated materials to the Library, so that researchers can more easily obtain permission to use quotations from these gift materials. The transfer of copyright applies only to those materials created by the donor, as an individual or organization. If your gift contains materials created by other parties (such as correspondence received from others), copyright interests are held by those creators, though you have the right to transfer the physical object. An agreement to transfer copyright to the RBMSCL, therefore, applies only to materials for which you are the actual creator.

Restrictions on User Access to Gift Materials

The RBMSCL seeks to make donated manuscript materials freely available to the public for research and therefore discourages the placement of restrictions on collections. Because collections donated to the RBMSCL may contain sensitive material, however, temporary limits on user access may be warranted to protect the privacy of the donor or individuals represented within the collection. Staff will be happy to discuss possible restrictions with donors.

Care of Materials

When the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library adds gift materials to its holdings, it takes care to ensure their long-term preservation and to make them accessible to researchers. Materials are housed in closed stack areas under environmentally controlled conditions, are protected by an electronic security system, and do not circulate outside the RBMSCL reading room. Acid-free boxes, folders, and other containers are employed to house materials, and item-level conservation steps are taken when appropriate. To permit research use of materials, items and collections are arranged, described, and cataloged in accordance with standard library and archival procedures. To promote widespread awareness of holdings, the RBMSCL makes descriptions of collections and items available on its own web site, on the Duke University Library system's online catalog, and through national databases such as OCLC. Reading room regulations and close staff supervision promote the security and proper use of materials by researchers.