Before You Contact the Archives

Be sure to do as much research as possible on your topic through secondary sources (books and journals) before contacting the Archives. Know your subject well or as well as possible.

Before you telephone, write or email the Archives, define your needs as clearly as possible:

• what information are you looking for
• time period
• what format or type of record you are looking for (e.g. only photos)
• how extensive you expect your research project to be (personal interest, thesis)
• deadlines, if any

Make an appointment to visit the Archives or make arrangements to have the Archivist provide you with the information sought.

Research Services

Researchers are welcomed to use finding aids available in the Archives at no charge. Staff of the Archives will assist researchers for up to thirty minutes in identifying relevant records. At no charge, staff will undertake thirty minutes of research in responding to requests received by mail, email, fax or telephone.

Beyond the first half-hour, staff of the Archives will conduct expert searches based on their knowledge of the records and electronic finding aids for a fee (see Fee Schedule). Upon request, staff of the Archives will also provide researcher with the names of professional researcher who, for a fee, will assist in more extensive searches.

Reading Room Regulations

Registration and Collection of Personal Information

Archives staff will register each researcher upon arrival. Personal information gathered at this time is used to administer the Reading Room and to compile statistics for the Archives.

Use of Archival Materials

• Coats, briefcases and bags must be left with the Archives staff for the duration of each visit. No smoking, eating or drinking is permitted in the Reading Room.
• The Archives staff will retrieve all material for the researcher.
• Researchers must handle all records carefully and must not mark, tear, fold, or otherwise damage the records in any way. Any damage found in material issued should be reported to staff immediately. Cotton gloves are also available for use when handling photographs or fragile records identified by Archives staff.
• Use only one file at a time to avoid misplacing or re-arranging the order of archival material.
• Only pencils are allowed for use in the Reading Room. Pens, felt-tip markers, highlighters, and correction fluid contain substances that can cause damage to records.
• Researchers must return materials to Archives staff once they have finished using them (do not refile material).
• No research material is to leave the Reading Room except with the permission of the Archives staff.

Restrictions

Access to some material held by the Archives is restricted due to donor request, conservation considerations or the Freedom of Information and Protection of Personal Privacy Act (FOI). The Archives staff will inform researchers of any restrictions. Access to some unprocessed records may be restricted (see Copyright and Other Restrictions).

Reproductions and Copyright Restrictions

• Photocopying will be carried out by staff of the Archives. Do not fold or mark pages to be copied. Staff will provide acid-free page markers for the use of researchers. Copyright restrictions may apply (see Copyright and Other Restrictions and Fee Schedule).
• Photographic reproductions will be arranged by Archives staff. The researcher is responsible for the cost of any reproduction. Copyright restrictions may apply (see Copyright and Other Restrictions and Fee Schedule).
• Restricted material cannot normally be reproduced.

Research Privileges Revoked

Researchers who fail to comply with the above regulations may be asked to leave the premises and may have their research privileges revoked.