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Reading Room Hours and Use Rules
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IMPORTANT: Effective May 1, 2008: The Archives/Library hours of operation will change to Thursdays (1-9 pm); Fridays (9-5 pm); and Saturdays (9-5). While hours of operation will move from Wednesday to Friday, there will be no reduction in public hours. For more information about the impact of the Society’s budget reductions, see the Archives/Library blog. |
Regular hours of operation are Thursday from 1 p.m. to 9pm, Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library is closed to the public on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Please direct any questions concerning August 2008 hour changes to reference@ohiohistory.org.
Most of the items in our collection are kept in a storage area onsite, but not accessible to the public. We page items from the storage area and make them available to be viewed in the library's Reading Room. Our staff stops retrieving items from the storage area at 4:15pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 8:15pm on Thursdays. The Archives/Library's Reading Room is closed to the public on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Additional holiday hours that may affect business operation will be posted. For more information about hours of operation, please contact the library by telephone at 614-297-2510 or by e-mail.
A fee will be charged for all vehicles parked at the Ohio Historical Center. Visitors to the Archives/Library will be charged a parking fee of $4.00 per vehicle or $10.00 per commercial bus. The fee is waived if an Ohio Historical Society membership card is presented upon request for the parking fee. There is no admission charge for visiting the Archives/Library. Please indicate that you will only be visiting the Archives/Library in order to avoid being charged the price of admission to the museum. Click here for information about becoming a member of the Ohio Historical Society.
Although the staff handles some reference requests by mail, as a part of Archives/Library policy we encourage researchers to visit the Main Reading Room of the Society. This policy allows the Ohio Historical Society staff to provide optimum service to the thousands of researchers who visit our library. It also allows for the allocation of staff to other vital activities such as the processing of collections, the preparation of finding aids, and the acquisition of new materials, all to benefit those who wish to use the facilities of the Archives/Library Reading Room.
1. Patrons must complete a registration form to use the library.
2. No smoking, eating, or drinking is permitted in the library or restrooms.
3. Researchers and their possessions are subject to search when entering or leaving the library.
4. Notes, notebooks, and pencils ONLY are permitted
in the reading room.
5. Any fanny pack, bag, briefcase, purse, or computer case larger than a box of microfilm is not allowed in the Reading Rooms. Lockers are provided in the lobby.
6. Defacing any research materials in any way is not permitted. Extreme care should be used in handling materials. Please report any damage to the staff.
7. Patrons may request materials housed in the closed stacks by completing a call slip. Stack service ends 45 minutes before closing.
8. Please leave materials on the tables when finished. DO NOT RESHELVE BOOKS OR MICROFILM.
9. Photocopy orders are completed by OHS staff. Please ask at the reference desk for further information.
10. Researchers are not permitted to take photographs. Photo-duplication services are available for a fee. Inquire at the reference desk.
11. Manuscript and archival material must be used at designated tables. One box will be provided at a time. Use only one folder at a time. DO NOT remove items from the folders. DO NOT rearrange items.
12. Researchers are responsible for securing written permission to publish material from OHS collections. Copyright laws (Title 17 U.S. Code) and/or other legal requirements may protect materials.
13. In citing materials, please cite the full name of the collection and OHS. Example: The Paul Laurence Dunbar Collection, The Ohio Historical Society.
14. Library patrons shall conduct themselves in a manner that will not unreasonably disturb other users of the library. Cell phones must be set on Manner Mode while in the reading rooms, and calls should be taken in the lobby.
15. Violation of library rules may result in denial of access to the library, and, in the case of willful violations resulting in loss or damage to library materials, may result in criminal prosecution.
