Researcher Policy

Welcome to the State Archives & Library! We ask all of our researchers to follow these procedures to help us preserve the collections while providing access to them. When you visit, please feel free to ask our staff for help with learning our procedures and locating the materials you need.

Hours and Location

9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday (closed on state holidays). Researchers can request material from the stacks until 4 p.m. We are located at 6425 SW Sixth Avenue in Topeka, exit 356 on I-70. Map to the Kansas History Center

Registration

• Please register at the reference desk.
• Photo ID required. Patrons without an ID will be given a temporary registration card for one day only.
• Registrations are renewed every fiscal year starting on July 1st.

Personal belongings

Bring only your research materials and/or a personal computer into the reading room. All materials carried in will be inspected at the reference desk as you leave the research room.

Coin operated lockers are available to store your extra belongings. You need a quarter to operate our lockers but the quarter is returned each time you open it. Use the free lockers for personal items, including:

• Coats
• Any bags or boxes, including: purses, briefcases, computer cases and backpacks.
• Cell phones (or turn off the ringers).
• Large file folders or boxes

Finding research materials

Microfilm self-service

Most of our microfilm is filed in the reading room and you can pull the reels yourself. Ask the reference staff to help you look up the reel numbers you need. You can use our newspapers, census and local records web pages to look up microfilm reel numbers before your visit. Please:

• Pull no more than 3 reels at a time.
• Do not refile the reels; place them on the truck by the microfilm attendant's desk.
• Do not leave film on the readers unattended for more than thirty minutes.
• Since we only have 4 printers, please use the readers to search for articles to print, write down the citations and move to the printers when you are ready to make copies.

Books, maps, photographs and manuscripts

Most of our collection is kept in a shelving area that is not open to the public. Consult our catalogs and fill out a call slip to request something from these stacks. The retrieval desk staff will call your name when the item is available. Ask the reference staff for help with the catalogs and call slips.

• Please submit no more than 4 call slips at a time.
• At one time, you will be given no more than:
• 4 printed items
• 1 box of manuscripts or records or
• 20 photo envelopes
• No materials may be removed from the reading room.

Handling research materials

When using our collections, please remember:

• Food or drinks are not allowed in the reading room.
• Use pencils, not ink pens or markers.
• Do not mark or erase on research materials.
• Do not write notes on top of materials, lean on them or hold them in your lap.
• Wear the clean cotton gloves provided when handling photographs.
• Do not rearrange document collections. If you need to order photocopies, ask the staff for instructions.
• Do not photograph, videotape or scan materials without making prior arrangements.

More detailed statements about the care and handling of some materials may be provided when you receive them. Patrons who fail to abide by these policies may be denied access to the collections. Theft and mutilation of documents are crimes that will be prosecuted by the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Photocopies

• Photocopies from paper items must be requested at the retrieval desk.
• Photocopies from microfilm are self-serve. Ask for assistance, if needed, when you are ready to make copies.
• Change for small bills is available for the lockers or microfilm copiers from the retrieval desk.

Citations

Suggested citations for research collections are available upon request. Researchers must obtain formal permission to publish photographs and certain original materials. The Kansas Historical Society must be credited as the source of the item.

Student researchers

Young students are welcome to use the research room when accompanied by a parent or chaperon.

• Students must register and abide by our researcher policies.
• The parent or chaperon accompanying the student must also register and should ensure that the student does not disturb other researchers.

Vending machines

Coin operated snack machines are located in the lobby area of the history museum. Please eat and drink in this area only.

Emergencies

Patrons must cooperate with staff in the event of a fire/tornado drill or emergency situation which requires either evacuation of the building or moving to a safe area within the building until the danger is past. Research materials cannot be removed from the reading room.