User Agreement

Access Agreement 23.27 Kb in pdf format

The Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives and Records Office welcomes you and enlists your support and cooperation in order to protect and preserve its vital records, books and collections.

  1. Access
    1. Individuals interested in accessing the Archives and Records of the Archdiocese of St. Louis must complete an application for every project, establishing their identity and purpose. This application will be an aid to locating materials and may be used to develop statistical and topic summaries.
    2. Access and use of select archive and records holdings may be restricted by Canon Law, the Archbishop, the Chancellor, by statute, by the office of origin or by the donor. For example, certificates of records after 1930 are available only to the person named in the record (or legal guardian) or church personnel for sacramental purposes. Others need a signed release from the person named in the record. Materials that are exceptionally valuable or fragile or are confidential in nature are not available to the public.
  2. Utilization
    1. Once a researcher has an application on file, the researcher is expected to sign in each day and work within established procedures for security of the collections in a designated area.
    2. Staff will store personal belongings, such as briefcases, purses, and backpacks.
    3. Researchers will be responsible for all material brought to the reading area. They are not allowed in the closed stacks. Requested item will be used in limited quantities in the following manner:
      1. No food or beverages are allowed
      2. All materials must be handled with utmost care and without alteration by a.) pen or pencil, b.) erasures, c.) folding or d.) tracing or rubbing for reproduction.
      3. Researchers will be held responsible for any damage to materials used
      4. Use of cameras and other reproduction equipment is forbidden. Photocopies are available by Archives and Records Staff.
      5. Special directions for use of the microfilm reader and film are available.
    4. Federal and state copyright laws govern the duplication and citation of both previously published and unpublished manuscripts.
    5. Permission to view materials at the archives does not constitute permission to publish them.
    6. A separate application for such permission must be made on the designation form.
    7. No materials are to be removed from the Archives and Records Office. If photocopies, reproductions or photographs are permitted, these will be done by the Archives staff on the premises or arranged for by the Archives and Records staff. A nominal fee is charged for such services.
    8. As a security measure, the Archives and Records Office reserves the right to inspect all articles used at the reading tables. Mutilation, destruction or theft of any materials from the Archives and Records collection will be prosecuted.

As this is an archives and records center and not a general library, researchers are asked to make a donation based on the length of time spent and amount of assistance provided.

Your signature is your assent to the foregoing:

X______________________________________ Date: ________________

Your understanding and cooperation are very much appreciated.

The Archives will be preserved and protected for future generations. (Last reviewed 11/17/10-APN)