Guidelines for Copying and Obtaining Digitized Material

To assist with research, the Church History Library allows a variety of methods for copying and digitizing materials in its collections.

Copying Items in the Open Stacks

Researchers may make their own copies of materials in the open stacks, which is the collection of books, periodicals, and microforms available in the main public area.

There is no charge for making photocopies or printouts, and guests may copy up to 20 pages per day from items in the library’s collections.

There is no charge and no page limit when scanning images to a flash drive. Researchers should abide by the United States copyright law when making copies.

Copying Items in the Reading Room

Researchers may obtain copies of items that are open to research from the secure stacks. Such copies are for note-taking purposes only. If researchers require large portions of an item or collection, they should request that the item be digitized through the library’s Ask Us service. The following are approved processes for obtaining copies of materials that are open to research:

Digitized Materials

• If an item is digitized and available for download, researchers may download images directly from the Church History Catalog by clicking the Download icon in the viewer. Detailed instructions can be found on our “Request Digitization or Duplication” page.
• Researchers can request a higher-resolution image, through the Ask Us link.

Microform Materials

• For items on microform (either microfilm or microfiche), researchers may scan images to a flash drive or other portable storage device using the equipment provided.
• Patrons may also print up to 20 pages per day for free to the printer in the main public area.

Hard Copy Materials

• Please note that hard copy materials are used only when no other format is available. Making photocopies of original materials is not permitted.
• Researchers may take pictures of materials using cameras or other photographic tools on personal electronic devices, such as cell phones or tablets. Such copies may be made for private study or scholarly research.
• Handheld or tabletop scanning devices are not permitted in the reading room.

The following rules apply to researchers using photography:

• The use of flash is not permitted.
• Lighting equipment is not permitted.
• Archival materials must remain in their protective housings.
• Items must remain on the tables.
• If the item is oversized or requires special handling, researchers should request digitization through Ask Us.
• Researchers may not stand on furniture to photograph materials.
• Researchers may not photograph library staff, other researchers, or the facility.
• Cell phones being used for photography must be silenced.

The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. Researchers must determine and satisfy all copyright or other restrictions when using, copying, publishing, or distributing any material found in the library’s collection. For more copyright information, visit copyright.gov.

Requests for permission to use, copy, publish, or distribute materials held by the Church History Library may be submitted online at permissions.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. For more information, please consult Information Regarding Rights to Use Materials in the Church History Catalog. If researchers plan to scan or photograph large portions of a collection, they should request digitization through Ask Us.

Requesting Digitization

Researchers may request that materials be digitized and made available by the Church History Library. Requests must be made online via the Ask Us service and can be submitted from any location with internet access.

When submitting a digitization request, researchers should:

• Give the call number, title of the collection, and any applicable box or folder numbers.
• Describe the reason for the request, including what the collection will be used for and if the request is for a Church calling.
• State any specific deadlines.
• Submit the request several months before the intended use.

Upon receipt of the request, library staff reviews the request and notifies researchers if the request cannot be filled. Otherwise, collections are digitized, reviewed, and published online. A link is sent via email once the images are available online. Because of the large number of requests, digitization requests may take several months to complete. Requests are completed in the order received. Researchers are asked to be courteous and limit their requests.

Our staff makes digitization decisions based on our Access Policy and submitting a request does not guarantee an item or collection will be digitized. If a request is denied, it is likely because the requested materials do not meet a requirement for access.



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