Guidelines for Research in SCUA
Special Collections and University Archives materials are available for use in the Special Collections Reading Room, and do not circulate. Special Collections & Archives staff retrieves all collection materials from its stacks and other storage spaces for researchers. To prepare for your visit, please review our Reading Room Guidelines below.
- Materials in Special Collections and University Archives are non-circulating, and may only be consulted when the department is open. Materials requested 15 minutes before close will be available the following day.
- Researchers must complete a Researcher Registration Form and present a current form of government-issued photo identification. Students of CSULB or any other CSU may present a Student ID card.
- Researchers must store personal belongings such as backpacks, purses, briefcases, computer cases, and loose articles of clothing at the front of the room, away from research tables.
- Notes should be taken with the pencils and paper provided by reading room staff or with personal digital devices. Ink pens and mechanical pencils are strictly prohibited.
- Digital and cell phone cameras can be used with the flash turned off. Photos are for personal study only. Permission to photograph does not constitute permission to publish.
- Please respect others in the reading room. If you need to talk, please keep your voice low.
- Please silence your cell phone. If you need to take a call, please step outside.
- No food or beverages, including water, are allowed at the research tables.
- Special Collections & Archives reserves the right to inspect all research materials and personal articles before researchers exit the reading room.
Using Materials:
- If necessary, reading room staff will provide specific handling instructions. Freshly washed hands are necessary to handle most items. Cotton or nitrile gloves will be provided as needed for film and photographs.
- Keep materials flat on the table at all times. Please do not lean on, write on, mark, fold, erase, or trace over collection materials.
- One box or book is allowed for consultation at a time. The exact order of documents, folders, and unbound materials must be maintained. Only one file folder may be removed from a box at a time. When removing a file folder, please insert the “Out” card or placeholder provided to mark your place. Use the flags provided as place markers for duplications.
- If you discover mistakes in filing or damage to materials, please alert Reading Room staff. Do not rearrange materials yourself.
- Please let Reading Room staff know when you have finished working. If you plan to return, we can hold materials under your name for one week.
Please contact Special Collections & Archives staff with any questions prior to your visit at LIB-Archives@csulb.edu.
SCUA LibGuides (Research guides created by your archivists)
Research in Special Collections & University Archives
Copyright and Citations:
Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) welcomes you to use materials in our collections that are in the public domain and to make fair use of copyrighted materials as defined by copyright law. Please cite us (see information about citations below).
Materials held by SCUA may be protected by United States Copyright Law and/or by the copyright laws of other countries. Copyright law protects unpublished as well as published materials.
SCUA does not claim to control the rights for reproduction for all materials or images in its collections. Certain images or materials may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by CSULB.
If CSULB does not clearly hold the copyright to an item, SCUA cannot grant or deny permission to use that material.
In obtaining a reproduction from SCUA, you assume all responsibility for determining whether any permissions relating to copyright, privacy, publicity, trademark, or any other rights are necessary for your intended use, and for obtaining all required permissions. Written permission from the copyright holders and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use.
SCUA will not do research concerning the existence and/or whereabouts of rights holders. To the extent that we provide available information, the Library does not warranty the accuracy of such information and shall not be responsible for any inaccurate information. SCUA will not facilitate or execute requests for permission.
The Society of American Archivists provides further guidance about using copyrighted and unpublished materials. The U.S. Copyright Office provides information about How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work (PDF). When you cannot identify or locate the current copyright owner of a copyrighted work, the copyrighted material is sometimes called an “orphan work.” Columbia University Libraries provides advice about documenting searches for copyright owners and using orphan works.
When you use material, you must properly acknowledge CSULB Special Collections and University Archives as the source of the material.
You also must not use the name of Special Collections and University Archives, the University Library, or CSULB in any manner which creates any false association between you and the image, materials, the University Library, and/or CSULB, or that incorrectly implies any sponsorship or endorsement by the University Library, CSULB, or any third party rights holder.
Citations and Credit Lines
Citing and crediting Special Collections and University Archives in all uses helps others find these rare and unique resources in the future.
If you intend to use any collection materials for publication (including use in social media, website, presentation, etc.), contact us at LIB-Archives@csulb.edu
Preferred citations
Consult with your instructor or publisher to determine which citation style and information they prefer. Use the library's citation style guide for help with using the most common citation styles.
Citing entire collections
[Collection name, collection #], Special Collections & University Archives, California State University, Long Beach.
Citing a specific item within a collection
[item name or description, date], [folder name or #], [box name or #], [Collection name, collection #], Special Collections & University Archives, California State University, Long Beach.
Credit lines for non-scholarly circumstances
Courtesy of Special Collections and University Archives, California State University, Long Beach.
