The Rare Books and Special Collections Division has several policies regarding access to, and the use of, its holdings. These policies are designed to allow the fullest possible access to the materials by patrons, while controlling the use of those materials in order to protect their integrity.

Using Rare Books and Special Collections Materials

Students, faculty, visiting scholars, researchers, and members of the general public are welcome to consult material in the Rare Books and Special Collections reading room in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. Search tools include UBC Library's on-line catalogue, card catalogues, inventories (in both paper and on-line format), handouts and tutorials, and on-line databases.

Materials must be handled with care. Please do not mark them or erase existing marks. When taking notes, use only pencil - accidental ink-marks can be caused by even the most careful patrons, and marks from pens cannot be removed from materials without damaging them. Also, please do not use paper-clips, tape, "Post-It" notes, or rubber bands. As in most other areas of the Library, eating, drinking, and smoking are not allowed.

New users should be aware that Rare Books and Special Collections is a closed-stack area. Browsing is not permitted, and all materials are non-circulating. Exceptions may be made for offices or persons requiring the use of material which they have transferred or donated to the Rare Books and Special Collectons, provided they receive prior approval. Please contact Ralph Stanton, Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian, for more information.

Registration

• affiliated with UBC should use their UBC Library Card
• unaffiliated with UBC must register for a RBSC Community Card
• present staff with two piece of identification (e.g, Driver's Licence) while consulting materials

Publishing RBSC materials

Permission from the UBC Library must be obtained before any unpublished documents can be published. Patrons wishing to have photographs, maps, or other audio-visual materials reproduced for publication must read and complete the relevant forms. Please go to the Copying section of the website for more information.

In giving permission to copy, quote from, or publish, the Library does not surrender its own right to publish such material or to grant permission to others to do so. The researcher assumes full responsibility for the use of material and for conformity to the laws of defamation, privacy, and copyright, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the University and the Library from claims arising as a result of use of the material so obtained. Literary rights to all unpublished materials remain in the possession of the authors, heirs, or assignees. The user assumes full responsibility for obtaining permission to publish such items in whole or in part.

The use of certain documents may be restricted by statute (in particular the provincial Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act), or the donor. The researcher must assume full responsibility for fulfilling the terms connected with the use of restricted material. For the protection of its holdings, the Rare Books and Special Collections also reserves the right to restrict the use of materials which are not arranged or are in the process of being arranged, materials of exceptional value, and fragile materials.