Research Policies for Students

Welcome to the Kansas Historical Society State Archives & Library! We have many types of research materials including books, government records, manuscripts, photographs, and maps. You may use these as long as you follow a few rules. These rules help you find the information you want and protect our valuable documents for the next researcher. We want your visit to be successful. Our staff is happy to help you in any way we can.

Please:

Register at the reference desk.
Bring only paper and pencils or a personal computer into the research room.
Use the lockers or bins to store all other personal items.
Handle all research materials carefully. Old paper is brittle and crumbles easily.
Wear gloves if given to you by the staff.
Always keep documents in the order you receive them.
Use one call slip per item to request collections from the stacks. Our collections are described in the card catalogs and finding aids in the research room. The reference staff can help you locate what you need and show you how to fill out call slips.
Request four library titles or one box of archival material (manuscripts and state archives record groups) or four maps or twenty photographs at a time.
Use only three reels of microfilm at a time.
Be courteous to other patrons in the research room by speaking quietly.
Request photocopies at the retrieval desk.

Please do not:

Bring food or drinks into the research room.
Remove anything from the research room. We will check everything you bring into and take from the research room.
Use ink pens or markers.
Write on documents or erase anything from a document.
Put your elbow on documents or place paper or note pads on top of documents while you take notes.
Rearrange papers in a collection. If something seems out of order please ask the staff for help.
Take more than three reels of microfilm at a time from the microfilm cabinets.
Remove microfilm from the return cart.
Leave microfilm on a reader while you use another item. The staff will remove film left on readers.