Policy and Procedures

At the Fort Collins Local History Archive, we have the challenging task of encouraging the use of materials while protecting them for future users. This is often an uneven compromise, but we are sure you will recognize and appreciate that these materials are here for your use because others in years past made the effort to preserve them. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Visiting the Archive
All researchers must sign the Visitor's Register each day they visit the Local History Archive.

Smoking, food, and drink are prohibited in the Local History Archive.

Personal property not essential to research (including backpacks and coats) must be placed in the designated area in front of the Archive Welcome Desk.

Two computers are available to researchers in the archive. Personal computers are allowed as long as they do not disturb other patrons.

Books and all materials are non-circulating and may not be removed from the Archive.

Handling Materials
Only soft-lead pencils may be used for taking notes; ink from pens and highlighters can damage archival materials. The Archive staff will provide pencils upon request.

Researchers will be required to wear gloves (provided by the Archive) while handling archival materials.

Materials should not be written on, marked, leaned on, folded anew, traced, or handled in any way likely to damage them. Immediately notify the staff of any damage noticed.

Unless otherwise stated, items must be kept in the original order in which they are found.

Up to five files, city directories, or maps from the Archive may be requested at one time. Due to space reasons, only two boxes from Special Collections may be brought out at a time.

Many of the Archive's holdings are in off-site storage and will require a delivery time of 2 to 3 business days to retrieve for research purposes. See a staff member for details and retrieval requests.

If use of a collection or item is restricted by a deed of gift or contract, the researcher must have written permission from the donor. If permission is obtained from the donor, the original copy of the letter shall be given to the Local History Archive for its permanent records.

If you have a correction or additional information on an item, please notify the staff.

Citing Archival Materials
In general, the following elements need to be present in a citation of archival materials to assure that others will be able to precisely identify what is being cited and locate it in the future:

• Repository where the item is held. This will always be the Fort Collins Museum Local History Archive, Fort Collins, Colorado.
  
• Collection or main record group in which the item is found, and collection identification number, if available.
  
• Folder title in which the item is found, if available.
  
• The item itself, including title, page, section, date information, and image or map number, if available.
  

Examples:

Photograph of Fort Collins Baseball Team, circa 1896. G.T. Wilkins Studio, Fort Collins. Historical Photograph Collection, H00838. Fort Collins Museum Local History Archive, Fort Collins, CO.

Hodges, Annie P. letter to Mrs. A.L. Washburn. 24 January 1903. Box AW-1. Albina Washburn and Winona Washburn Taylor Collection. Fort Collins Museum Local History Archive, Fort Collins, CO.

Lee Martinez Park Centennial Farm brochure, circa 1973. Martinez, Lee folder, Vertical Biographical Files Collection. Fort Collins Museum Local History Archive, Fort Collins, CO.

Map of the Irrigated Farms of Northern Colorado, 1915. Created by R.W. Gelder. Historic Map Collection, CO00113. Fort Collins Museum Local History Archive, Fort Collins, CO.

Citing the Fort Collins History Connection Website
When citing this website, include as much of the following information as possible:

• Author of page or information (if known)
• Title of section of website, in quotations
• Title of website in its entirety, underlined
• Date website was last updated (if known)
• Date of your visit to the site
• Website URL, in angle brackets

Copying Materials
Local History collections are non-circulating, but copies may be made of many materials unless they are restricted, fragile, or oversized.

Photocopies are .10 each, payable by cash, check, or credit card in the Museum Store.

Local History Archive materials may not be published or displayed, in full or in part, without the written permission of the Curator of the Local History Archive or Museum Director.

Copies of Photographs
Researchers may ask the Archive Staff to make "study" copies on the copy machine of photographs for personal or research use, or as a preview copy before they intend to purchase a photographic reproduction. Researchers are requested to be as selective as possible when making these copy requests since the process is, ultimately, harmful to the materials.

High-quality photographic reproductions may be ordered, unless restricted, from the Archive for both personal and commercial use. See the Photograph Orders page for a full description of reproduction services, or ask a staff member for details and pricing.

Digital Cameras may be used to "copy" documents and published materials in lieu of using the photocopy machine. Cameras may NOT be used to capture photographs in the Archive; a photo reproduction must be ordered. Please note that cameras are prohibited inside the Museum galleries.

Personal Scanners are prohibited in the Archive.

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy of other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.