Most rare book rooms and archives make you leave your coats, bags and stuff outside. Many of them have coin-operated lockers so your stuff will be secure. Most also restrict you to pencils -- no ink pens allowed in case they spill ink on the books. Many allow you to bring your laptop, though, so you can transcribe stuff. Some will let you pay for them to copy a few pages. I am not sure about digital camera policies -- you might be able to take pictures of pages without a flash (use a copy stand). It's not something I've done yet, but I did hire somebody else to do it for me. Some give you little fabric "book weights" to hold down pages without getting greasy fingerprints on them. I've heard of places that make you wear cotton gloves, but I haven't been to visit those. (Library of Congress didn't do that to me, and I half-expected it.) Anyway, it's always a good idea to call and find out about the policies first, and make sure you bring your pencil and some loose-leaf paper. Happy research! I am always thrilled to have really old books and papers in my hands. - Heather http://hblair.uchicago.edu/ On Fri, 18 May 2007, BJ Martindale wrote: > It is sad, but people steal things, and when dealing with books and > papers that cannot be replaced, it is necessary to limit what goes into > the room so that the things that belong in it stay in it. The TN State > Archives has a room where you can take in only a sheet of paper and > pencil (and some do not allow pens of any kind!) But it is we the public > that have caused this to be necessary. > > BJ Patton Martindale > . > On Fri, 18 May 2007 15:54:54 -0500 Joe Sissom <joesissom@tx.rr.com> > writes: >> I'm not sure I understand///// >> >>> All persons entering the genealogy room are asked to leave large >> items >> What is a 'large item'? I trust that is not a laptop, notebooks, >> research files, etc. I really don't see how much could be >> accomplished >> or I have a very limited vision of this. >> >>> Several years ago my husband, mother-in-law and I went to VA >> researching >>> family history. We could not even go in where the books were. We >> had to turn >>> in our drivers license and they handed us 3 books at a time. >> Yes, I have been to libraries like that and they are a PAIN. As I >> recall the library in the old customs house in Knoxville (the name >> of >> which I have forgotten) is that way... you have to fill out slips >> for >> the books selected from the index. Some wonderful resources there >> but >> an exasperating experience. >>> >>> The library will be open to the public on Saturday BUT MONDAY will >> be open >>> for researchers only. >> >> Joe >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> TNCANNON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >> the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> > > > BJ Martindale > 425-861-1981 > bjmartindale@juno.com > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TNCANNON-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >