Photocopies & Camera Pass
Photocopiers | Policies | Camera Policies | Microfilm & Microfiche Readers | PC Resources
Photocopiers
A self-service photocopier is available for patron use in the Reading Room. All materials must be reviewed by library staff before they may be photocopied. Please review the policies below for rules regarding photocopying of the collections.
Photocopies cost $.25 per page.
Materials photocopied by staff members for patrons visiting the library cost $.25 per page plus Rhode Island state tax.
Patrons are responsible for observing all copyright laws.
Photocopying Policies
All materials must be examined by a staff member before photocopying. Any item determined to be too fragile or rare will not be photocopied. Please contact the Reference staff for more information.
For the purpose of preservation, the following categories and types of materials may not be reproduced by photocopying.
Within the Printed Collections:- Any item for which there is a preservation reproduction in any format (published, copied, microfilmed)
- Items published or produced over 100 years ago from current year.
- Bound volumes of handwritten notes, genealogy or any other information.
- Fold out maps and charts within bound books.
- Oversize books (larger than 11” x 14” or a spine thicker than 2”).
- Genealogical Charts [catalog reference: “Genie Charts”].
- Original newspapers.
- Any item for which there is a preservation reproduction in any format (published, copied, microfilmed)
- Bound volumes of any age with the exception of binders and ledgers created specifically to allow easy and safe removal of individual pages.
- Anything rolled.
- Any item larger than the glass surface of the photocopying machine, 11” x 14”.
- Any item for which there is a preservation reproduction in any format (published, copied, microfilmed)
- Any photographs in cases: daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes (even when not in a case).
- Any collection that has not been cataloged, that is provided to the patron by the Special Collections Curator.
- Anything rolled.
- Any item mounted on board that is cupped or brittle.
- Any item larger than the glass surface of the photocopying machine, 11” x 14”.
- Bound volumes of any age.
- Watercolors.
- Charcoal, pencil, and pastel drawings.
- Negatives of any kind.
- Blueprints and cyanotypes (anything blue or red).
- Museum objects of any type.
Camera Policies
Microfilm & Microfiche Readers
The library has a total of seven microfilm reader stations, (electronic and manual) two of which are capable of viewing and printing microfiche. Printing is available at two of the microfilm stations. Copies from the microfilm cost $.25 per page.
Microfilm and microfiche readers are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Use is limited to one hour if other patrons are waiting.
PC Resources
The library has three computer terminals for patron use. The first terminal has access to the library's Ancestry database subscription. Use of that terminal is limited to work on Ancestry or other genealogical web sites only. The Links section of this website also has listings for local and nationwide genealogical websites.
Another station dedicated to the Rhode Island Cemetery Database (RICD). (An online version is now available as well at http://rihc.info.) The library is one of only six organizations with a complete version of the database. The third station is used for accessing our online catalog.
Printing is available from the Ancestry and RICD computer. Prints cost $.25 per page. Computer stations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are limited to one hour segments if other patrons are waiting.